Dr Sally Ann Forsyth OBE awarded Honorary Doctorate of Science
Dr Sally Ann Forsyth OBE, CEO Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Hertfordshire in recognition of her lifetime achievements in science.
The university bestowed Honorary Awards upon 12 of its alumni and other notable figures who have made a significant contribution to the University, the local community or in their own field.
The award was conferred on Tuesday 5 September at the start of the University of Hertfordshire’s annual graduation ceremony taking place over two weeks at St Albans Cathedral.
The event will see more than 6,000 students celebrate graduating from their undergraduate and postgraduate courses alongside their friends, family and staff in ceremonies taking place between 5 – 14 September.
Dr Sally Ann Forsyth OBE with Lord Salisbury, Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire, who presented her with her Honorary Doctorate.
Dr Sally Ann Forsyth OBE is the Chief Executive Officer of Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst – the UK’s first open innovation biomedical catalyst and a leading location for advanced therapeutics.
Over the course of her career, which began in academic research, then Unilever manging a range of scientific projects and a brief spell in venture capital helping start-ups, Sally Ann has overseen four science parks. These included leading the development of Colworth Science Park, and becoming the first Director of Harwell Oxford, which helped to establish the UK’s first national space cluster. In 2013, Sally Ann became CEO, Norwich Research Park, before taking up her current role as CEO, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, in 2018.
Under Sally Ann’s leadership, total private equity investment in biotechnology raised in Stevenage has grown to become comparable with that of Cambridge, London and Oxford, and government awards of Life Science Opportunity Zone and High Potential Opportunity status have been secured. These achievements were recognised when Sally Ann was awarded an OBE in the 2020 New Year Honours list.
Sally Ann said:
“I feel very privileged to have been awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Science by the University of Hertfordshire. Life sciences has underpinned my whole career. I am immensely grateful to all those I have worked with over the years for their generous support that has helped me to achieve this award.”
