Kingston alumnus Pamela Hutchinson, honorary graduate Paul Greengrass and former staff member Jayne Aldridge have all been recognised in the prestigious New Year’s Honours.
Pamela Hutchinson, who graduated from Kingston University in 1995 with a postgraduate diploma in law, was awarded an OBE for her services to diversity and inclusion in the financial sector.
Hutchinson, global head of diversity and inclusion at Bloomberg L.P., has made substantial contributions to advancing inclusivity and developing recruitment in financial and engineering firms over a period of more than 20 years.
“I was surprised and delighted personally, but even more delighted that this award shows how far diversity and inclusion has come and that organisations and society are taking it seriously,” she said.
Hutchinson has worked at firms including Northern Trust, Deutsche Bank, Barclays and Goldman Sachs. She advised students interested in a career in diversity and inclusion to consider traditional routes through human resources or joining networks within organisations.
“We waste so much talent if we look through a narrow lens when we recruit and promote from the same pool of talent and whilst there is still so much more to do from a diversity perspective, I am encouraged and optimistic that workplaces will achieve greater diversity, equity and inclusion,” she said.
Hutchinson said she suffered racism while growing up in the UK and that her parents found integration difficult during the 1960s and 1970s.
She recalled her time at Kingston and described the campus as friendly and welcoming.
“It was a great course with a phenomenal group of people, and I am still in contact with some of them. I felt like I fitted in which was not true of everywhere I studied,” she said.
Paul Greengrass was also recognised in the New Year’s Honours and was made a CBE for services to the arts.
Greengrass is well known for his works in directing the Jason Bourne films and his documentary-style filmmaking received an honorary degree from Kingston in 2012 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to television and cinema.
When he received his honorary degree, he said Kingston was a breeding ground for talent and had an important role in preparing young people for a career in the creative industries.
“You have to fight to get your perspective heard and it’s the committed voice with a strong view that cuts through,” he said at the time.
Former Kingston University staff member Jayne Aldridge received an MBE for services to students in higher education. Aldridge joined the university in 2009 and led its student services for six years. She now works at University of Sussex as director for the student experience.
