IChemE president Raffaella Ocone awarded honorary doctorate by Surrey

Chemical engineer recognised alongside industry leaders including Rolls-Royce chief executive

IChemE president Raffaella Ocone has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Surrey, in recognition of her contributions to chemical engineering and academia.

Ocone, who has been Chair of Chemical Engineering at Heriot-Watt University since 1999, described the award as both “a privilege and a responsibility”.

“I am truly honoured to have received a Doctorate Honoris Causa from the University of Surrey,” she said. “This recognition is both a privilege and a responsibility, and I will carry it with pride and gratitude in the years to come.”

Reflecting on the university, she added: “Surrey is an institution that has built a serious reputation in a relatively short life – and done so by staying curious and connected to the world outside its walls. That is what good engineering looks like, too.”

She also paid tribute to colleagues and collaborators, adding: “A special thank you goes to my students, colleagues and collaborators over the years – without them, none of this would have been possible.”

A Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, IChemE and the Royal Society of Chemistry, Ocone was made an OBE in 2019 for services to engineering. She has also been recognised for her work in engineering ethics and was named among the UK’s most influential women in engineering.

Ocone was one of four figures honoured at Surrey’s spring graduation ceremonies. The others included Rolls-Royce chief executive Tufan Erginbilgiç, pharmaceutical industry leader David Ebsworth and hospitality pioneer Peter Venison.

Erginbilgiç has overseen a major turnaround at Rolls-Royce since becoming chief executive in 2023, while Ebsworth has held senior roles across the global pharmaceutical sector, including at Bayer and Vifor Pharma. Venison, a Surrey alumnus, built an international career in hospitality development, including work on major resort projects.

Stephen Jarvis, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Surrey, said the honorary graduates had each demonstrated “what it means to build something that lasts – whether that is a company, a career or a community”.