Chief Executive of Race Council Cymru awarded Honorary Fellowship

Rt Hon Lord Thomas of Cwmgïedd, Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, presenting Professor Uzo Iwobi as Honorary Fellow

Rt Hon Lord Thomas of Cwmgïedd, Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, presenting Professor Uzo Iwobi as Honorary Fellow

16 July 2024

Professor Uzo Iwobi CBE FLSW FRSA, founder and Chief Executive of Race Council Cymru has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship of Aberystwyth University.

Professor Iwobi qualified as a solicitor and a barrister and was called to the Nigerian Bar. 

After moving to Wales, she founded Race Council Cymru of which she is Chief Executive, as well as founding the African Community Centre Wales and leading the Black History Wales programme.

She has formerly served as Specialist Policy Adviser on Equalities to Welsh Government, Strategic Advisor to the Police National Diversity Team, Commissioner with the Commission for Racial Equality UK, and has sat on the board of several voluntary organisations.

She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to community race relations and South Wales communities, and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to racial equality and championing diversity and inclusion.

Professor Uzo Iwobi was presented as Honorary Fellow by Professor Anwen Jones, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Aberystwyth University, on Tuesday 16 July 2024.

The full conferral presentation is available below, in the language in which it was delivered.

Professor Jon Timmis, Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, with Professor Uzo Iwobi

Presentation of Professor Uzo Iwobi by Professor Anwen Jones:

Canghellor, Is-Ganghellor, graddedigion a chyfeillion. Pleser o’r mwyaf yw cyflwyno Uzo Iwobi yn gymrawd Prifysgol Aberystwyth.

Canghellor, Is-Ganghellor, graddedigion a chyfeillion.  Pleser o’r mwyaf yw cyflwyno Uzo Iwobi yn gymrawd Prifysgol Aberystwyth.

Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, graduates and supporters.  It is an honour and a privilege to present Uzo Iwobi as a Fellow of Aberystwyth University.

Here at Aberystwyth University, we talk about how we can make a difference – to our students, through our research and through our civic mission, and so it is a joy to present this fellowship to someone who has dedicated their life to helping others.

Originally from Nigeria, Uzo holds a law degree, she is qualified as a solicitor and a barrister, and was called to the Nigerian Bar.  After qualifying as a Barrister, Uzo moved to Wales where she founded, and now serves as Chief Executive, of Race Council Cymru.

Among her many roles, Uzo has been a Strategic Advisor to the Police National Diversity Team based at the Home Office, a Commissioner to the Commission for Racial Equality UK, and she was appointed a trustee of the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning, and is the first Black person to be appointed as a Specialist Policy Adviser on Equalities to Welsh Government -advising the Minister for Social Justice and the First Minister. 

Uzo is also a founding member and coordinator of Black History Wales 365 and produced the legacy film of the Windrush Generation in Wales called Windrush Cymru @75. And she has served as project director of the Windrush Exhibition called Our Voices, Our Stories, Our History which is touring Wales now.

Uzo has been recognised for her many contributions, including being ranked the 6th out of 15 most influential Black Icons in Wales by WalesOnline, and being one of only two people from Wales to have their image highlighted on Stonehenge in honour of her contributions to culture and heritage in Wales.

Uzo was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours for her services to community race relations and South Wales communities. She has an Honorary Fellowship and was appointed a Professor at Practice at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, and is a fellow of Royal College of Arts, fellow of Glyndwr University and fellow of Bridgend College.

In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II honoured Uzo in her Platinum Jubilee Honours List with a CBE for her services to race equality and championing diversity and inclusion. That year she also became a fellow of the Learned Society of Wales and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. 

Uzo was appointed an Independent Adviser to the Senedd Parliamentary Commission in 2023.

This year, Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales highlighted Uzo on International Women's Day as one of the UK women worthy of note on their official Twitter and Instagram pages.

Chancellor, it is my absolute pleasure to present Uzo Iwobi to you as a Fellow of Aberystwyth University.

Canghellor, mae’n bleser gen i gyflwyno Uzo Iwobi i chi yn Gymrawd. 

Aberystwyth University Honours 2024

Each year, Aberystwyth University confers Honorary Awards on a small number of distinguished individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievement and contribution.

The 2024 Honorary Fellows are:

  • Professor Sir Stewart Cole KCMG FRS, internationally renowned microbiologist working in global health
  • Jess Fishlock MBE, professional footballer and coach, who has won 150 international caps for Wales
  • Clare Hieatt, co-founder of globally acclaimed ideas festival The Do Lectures and Hiut Denim Co
  • David Hieatt, co-founder of Cardigan-based jeans company Hiut Denim Co and The Do Lectures
  • Professor Uzo Iwobi CBE FLSW FRSA, Founder and Chief Executive of Race Council Cymru
  • Dr Anna Persaud, CEO and Founder of luxury British skincare and wellness brand, This Works
  • Manon Steffan Ros, award-winning author, columnist and scriptwriter