Brad Roynon receives honorary degree
Tuesday 22 November 2011
The former Chief Executive of Southampton City Council received an honorary degree from Southampton Solent University for his work within the public sector services, today.
The honorary degree of Doctor of Business was awarded to Brad Roynon during a ceremony at Southampton’s Guildhall on Tuesday 22 November.
During his 40-year career, Brad has spent 22 years in the role of Chief Executive for three local authorities.
Originally from London, Brad studied hotel & business administration at Westminster College, before joining the NHS as a management adviser with London Teaching Hospitals.
He then joined the London Borough of Richmond, where he became Director of the Chief Executive’s Office with responsibility for corporate management and policy.
In 1988, Brad secured his first Chief Executive post at East Hampshire District Council before moving to Carmarthenshire County Council in Wales in 1997, where he worked particularly closely with businesses, the Welsh Assembly and the Welsh Development Agency on driving initiatives to improve economic prospects in Carmarthenshire and West Wales.
Brad became Chief Executive of Southampton City Council in 2001, where amongst other things, he spent considerable energies on developing strong partnerships with the business community, other related agencies and local authorities to stimulate the economic performance of the city and the region. This included supporting the creation of the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, Business Southampton and the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire.
Brad also worked to improve links between businesses and Higher Education Institutions in South Hampshire.
Following his retirement from the City Council in November 2010, Brad continues to live in the city and has recently joined Solent Health NHS Trust as a non-executive director.
He said: "You graduates today are now in an enormously important position in relation to the economy of this city and this country. The future does lie in the skills that you have."
The City Council and the University share many common aspirations. These aspirations were and remain centred on the vital importance of higher education supporting business and the economy of the city, creating new opportunities for young people to share in that growth in the city itself.
More than 2500 students are graduating with degrees and professional qualifications during 10 ceremonies at Southampton guildhall from 21 – 25 November.
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