Jennifer Bernard Speech (Honorary Doctor of Letters)
Intro
The University of West London’s Chair of the Board of Governors, Jennifer Bernard, has been honoured with a Doctorate of Letters at this year’s summer graduation ceremony as her term as Chair draws to a close. She was appointed to UWL’s Board on 1 April 2012 and became Chair in 2018.
Main body
Jennifer has dedicated her working life to health, social care, and education. She was named ‘one of the ten most important people in the social care sector in the UK’ by The Independent newspaper and is also chair of Rightsnet, the national welfare rights service.
During an illustrious career, Jennifer has been a board member of CAFCASS (the Children and Families Court Advisory and Support Service), Child Poverty Action Group, WRVS, Social Care Association, National Development Team, Mental Health Foundation and National Institute for Social Work.
Presenting her with her award, UWL’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter John CBE, said with heartfelt emotion:
This is the speech I have never wanted to make. Jennifer has been the most successful Chair in UWL’s history. She has a deep sense of public service and public good and the social responsibility that goes with that. Her integrity characterises everything she does. Jennifer is always understated but never to be underestimated in anything she does. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to know her and work with her and it is our honour to bestow this Doctorate of Letters on her which she richly deserves.”
In a moving acceptance speech, Jennifer said, of the high praise bestowed on her:
Sometimes you do not recognise yourself! I am enormously proud to be part of the community of the University of West London and humbly accept this award today."
I have supported people to live their lives as fully as possible. At UWL this has been about stretching and rewarding students. Making our University work as well as it does takes vision, determination, partnership, and very hard work from us all at UWL. Bringing ideas to life takes collaboration.”
Jennifer closed her speech by saying:
I could not be part of UWL without seeing everyone today graduating and getting on with their lives. It is rewarding. To all this year’s UWL graduates I say: take care of yourselves, you are valuable to us and valuable to the world.”
Jennifer has held Director level positions for City & Guilds and the NSPCC. She was previously Chief Executive of Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work and Director of Social Services for Newcastle upon Tyne and her achievements. Early in her career journey she was the youngest policewoman in the country to be made a sergeant at the age of 24.
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