Dr Desra Percaya, the current Indonesian ambassador to the UK, and City of London Corporation Alderman Alison Gowman were awarded Honorary Doctor of Civil Law on 4 and 5 January 2024.
The honorary recipients received their degrees alongside thousands of the University’s students, drawn from more than 130 countries, as they officially graduated from the University, which holds ceremonies in both the winter and summer.
Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden of Durham University, said: "Our honorary graduates are an exceptionally distinguished group of people who exemplify the highest levels of achievement in their spheres of activity.
"The contributions they have made have improved, enriched and enhanced the lives of so many others and the world around them. They will rightly act as an inspiration to our students as they set out on their own paths into the world.”
Dr Percaya and Dr Gowman both met with Dr Volker Roeben, Dean of Durham Law School, in the weeks leading up to the ceremony, welcoming them back to the Law School and Durham University and thanking them for their outstanding work as Durham Alumni.
Dr Alison Gowman said: “My time at Durham University definitely laid the foundations for my career both as a City lawyer and now in my current work in civil society and the City of London. I am so delighted to be honoured and hope I can continue to sing the praises of Van Mildert College and the ethos of our motto that urges that how we act is not for ourselves alone.”
Dr Gowman’s speech from the ceremony on 4 January has been published on her website and can be read in full here.
Dr Desra Percaya said: “As a proud alumnus of Durham University, I am deeply humbled and honoured to receive this prestigious degree. It reinforces my deep personal commitment to lifelong learning and to making a positive impact to the people, as well as to furthering the friendship and cooperation between Indonesia and the UK in my current capacity as Indonesian Ambassador to the UK.”
Discover more about Dr Alison Gowman
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