Anglia Ruskin University

• Simon Schama

Professor Schama is a broadcaster and author who has been praised for bringing history to a mass audience by making it accessible and entertaining without compromising facts. He has found most success with his BBC2 series A History of Britain.

• Ronald Searle

As well as collaborating with Geoffrey Willans on the Molesworth books and his invention of St Trinian's, Searle’s work in the fields of satire and reportage has been the subject of numerous exhibitions across the world and appears in several major American and European collections. He studied at the Cambridge College of Art, which is now a part of Anglia Ruskin University

• Quentin Blake

Although best known for his collaborations with Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake has always made a living from illustrating, and had his drawings published in Punch magazine when he was just sixteen. In addition to writing his own books, he has also been a teacher at the Royal College of Art and was appointed as the first Children’s Laureate in 1999.

• Supanee Gazeley

Supanee Gazeley is acknowledged for bringing innovative technology from Europe into Hong Kong and in so doing, making Hong Kong a serious competitor in the global market within the watch and optical industries.

• Steve Freer

Steve Freer was appointed as CIPFA’s Chief Executive in 2000, following a successful career spanning the public and private sectors. He is also a member of the Boards of the Centre for Public Scrutiny and the Local Government Leadership Centre and non-executive member of the Board and chair of the Audit Committee of the National Audit Office.

• Colin Day

Colin Day has had a twelve-year association with Anglia Ruskin University's Board of Governors, serving the university most notably during his term as chairman.

• Brian Couzens

The founder of Chandos Records, Brian Couzens has been recognised for turning his passion for classical music into a personal crusade to champion rare and neglected classical repertoire. His company is one of the world's largest independent classical recording labels.

• Robert Woods

Robert Woods is chairman of P&O ferries, Southampton Container Terminal and Tilbury Container Services and is a special advisor to DP World's parent company, P&F World FZE. Last year he was appointed chairman of the Mission of Seafarers.

• Barry Carpenter

Professor Carpenter is chief executive of Sunfield, a UK national charity providing education and care for children with autistic spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities. He acts as director of research to the Sunfield Research Institute and is honorary professor of early childhood intervention at the University of Worcester.

• Baroness Platt

Baroness Platt is a Conservative peer and has served as a councillor working with Chelmsford Rural District Council and Essex County Council, rising to hold the posts of chairman of the education committee and vice-chair of the council. She is also a deputy lieutenant of the County of Essex and an honorary alderman of the council.

• Hilary Spurling

Hilary Spurling is a biographer and journalist who has been described as a specialist in “uncovering secrets kept”. She is best known for her two-part biography of the French artist Henry Matisse that was described as a masterpiece by the judges of the Whitbread Book of the Year award in 2005.

• Asaf Pirali

Asaf Pirali is recognised as a pioneer of private higher education for the people of Trinidad and Tobago, founding the School of Accounting and Management 23 years ago, in Trinidad.

• Andrew Marsden

Andrew Marsden is recognised for his long and dedicated contribution to Britvic Soft Drinks and his illustrious record as a highly successful marketeer. He joined the company in 1997 and headed up the marketing department for ten years. During that time he led some of the company's biggest launches.