The graduation ceremonies took place on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 December to acknowledge their achievements and the next chapter of their lives.  

In addition to these graduates, several distinguished individuals were also recognised for their outstanding contributions to wider society – both within and outside of the University. Here, we pay tribute to the Winter 2024 University Medallists and Honorary Graduates.  

University Medallists 

Loughborough University medals are granted to members and partners of the University who have made a distinctive and long-running contribution to the University, championed the values of the University throughout long careers, and consistently performed above-and-beyond the call of their duties. 

Andrew Selby 

Andrew is one of the University’s longest-serving graphics academics, having joined the University in 1997. Prior to the merging of the Art and Design Schools, Andrew was Head of the School of Arts and under his leadership the School became a Top 40 QS World-ranked institution for Art.  

He then served as Associate Dean for Enterprise in the School of Arts, English and Drama overseeing its 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) submission – the result being 100% of Loughborough’s research impact in Art and Design deemed ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. Now working as a Senior Lecturer in the School of Design and Creative Arts, he’s well-respected amongst colleagues and students, supporting many students to achieve notable national and international awards and scholarships over the year.  

Andrew has authored more than 180 research publications and as an illustrator, established an impressive international client list including the likes of Nike, Eurostar, The Guardian, The New York Times, British Gas, and Volvo.  

Jonathan Riall 

Jonathan has worked closely with the University’s Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport for more than a decade to deliver impactful results for the growth of triathlon within parasport. His support for students and researchers has given their work greater exposure and influence, all of which have helped benefit the sport.  

He started his career at British Triathlon in 2005 and continued to be a driving force at the organisation for 18 years. Notable achievements include leading a new Paratriathlon Programme and Pathway, which started his partnership with the Peter Harrison Centre, as well as preparing the team for the debut of triathlon at the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016 and again at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2020.  

In his current role as Head of Performance Services for ParalympicsGB, he has focused on enhancing the support athletes receive for their mental health. At the games in Paris, he successfully secured an additional space within the Paralympic Village to establish the first-ever team lounge dedicated to wellbeing. The team won 124 medals across 18 of the 19 sports they competed in, with eight more gold medals than they won in Tokyo, securing them a second-place finish in the medal table. Jonathan was also named as Deputy Chef de Missions for the Games, responsible for ensuring the specific needs of each sport were addressed.  

Steve Varley 

Steve is an alumnus of Loughborough University whose leadership, vision and commitment have helped shape a better and more sustainable world.  

Steve graduated with a BEng in Engineering in 1990 and has over 20 years of client and consulting experience across a variety of sectors, having recently stepped back from his position as Global Vice Chair of Sustainability at EY, where he championed the integration of environment, social and governance principles into the heart of business strategy. Prior to this, his career started at EY in 2005 as a Managing Partner, before progressing to Chair and Managing Partner for the UK and Ireland. Over the next nine years, he led the $3.5 billion business and its 17,000 employees, pushing the business ahead with an inclusive and green growth strategy that saw revenues double and created more than 8,000 jobs. 

More recently, he was named as Special Advocate for the United Nations Climate Change (UNFCCC), working on resource mobilisation and helping to develop partnerships between the UN, governments and the private sector.  

He served as a lay member of the University’s Council between 2014-2023, and more recently was named the ambassador for the University’s Climate Change and Net Zero strategic theme. His global insight and connections are helping position the University to be a player on the biggest stages, including at COP meetings, and working with world leaders and global companies.  

Honorary Graduates 

Loughborough bestows honorary degrees on individuals who have made a significant contribution to fields the University has close links with, such as sport, engineering, social policy, or one of the other academic or industrial areas in which we are a leading institution. 

Adam Peaty OBE

Adam is a superstar of world swimming. He is an Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion, and the only swimmer in history to hold all major global championships at the same time. With 44 gold, 9 silver and 4 bronze medals to his name, he is the country’s most decorated swimmer. 

Whilst Adam’s accomplishments in the pool are phenomenal, he is also a passionate advocate for mental health awareness. He has shared his own personal experiences of the toll of being an elite athlete which has encouraged others to seek support. He is also passionate about inspiring the next generation, and in 2019 he launched AP Race Clinics to teach young swimmers how to race.  

Adam’s motto is ‘Better than Yesterday’ and he has served as a true inspiration to many, which is why the University has awarded him with the degree of Doctor of the University, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to swimming and the world of sport.  

Professor Rachel Cooper 

Professor Cooper is one of the country’s leading researchers in design, whose work has influenced diverse sectors, from science and technology to health and wellbeing. She is a Distinguished Professor of Design Management and Policy at Lancaster University, a Director of the prestigious Imagination Lancaster Research Centre, President of the Design Research Society, and founding President of the European Academy of Design. 

Throughout her career, Professor Cooper has shown how design is central to the way we all live our lives, and increasingly at the heart of our search for more sustainable futures. She has advised higher education bodies, government departments, and renowned design organisations, enabling her to shape national and international thinking.  

As well as pioneering the way we think about design, Professor Cooper is committed to nurturing the next generation of designers. Alongside her academic role at Lancaster University, she is a visiting professor at the Royal College of Art and serves on the Council of Norwich University of the Arts, ensuring that the students of today will benefit from her expertise, passion and drive to make change. 

Sarina Wiegman CBE 

Regarded as one of the best international coaches in the women's game, Sarina will always be remembered in English football history after becoming the first coach to lead the women’s team to a major title when England won the UEFA EURO Championship in 2022. 

Sarina’s move into national coaching began in 2014 when she was appointed assistant coach of the Netherlands women's national football team. In 2017 she took on the job of head coach, marking the start of what would be an extraordinary period in her career. After four years in this role, Sarina took up the position of head coach of the England Women’s team. Within a year, the Lionesses had won the UEFA EURO 2022 – the first trophy for an English senior team since the men's team won the 1966 FIFA World Cup. It was a historic victory not only for the Lionesses but also for Sarina, who became the first coach to win back-to-back tournaments. 

Following this, she won the UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year Award, was named the Best FIFA Women’s Coach for a third time, and was awarded an Honorary CBE in 2023 for services to association football.  

Many congratulations to all the University Medallists and Honorary Graduates from this year’s Winter Graduation at Loughborough University.