A port boss is set to be among those honoured at a University Campus Suffolk (UCS) graduation ceremony.

UCS will present Honorary Awards to two high profile business leaders alongside graduating students during the UCS Graduation Ceremonies to be held this autumn. David Lloyd Gledhill, Chief Executive of Hutchison Ports UK, and entrepreneur Dame Stephanie Shirley, will be made Honorary Doctorates of UCS in recognition of the work in their fields.

A refugee from Nazi Europe in 1939, Dame Stephanie Shirley pioneered the rise of the computer industry in the UK, paying particular attention to the loss to industry of women software specialists. Before floating the company, she transferred a quarter of the company to the staff at no cost to anyone but her so that there were 70 millionaires. As an ardent philanthropist, Dame Stephanie has given away over �60m and since 2000 has focused on funding medical research into the causes of autism.

David Lloyd Gledhill is Chief Executive of Hutchison Ports UK, owners and operators of the Port of Felixstowe, Harwich and London Thamesport - a business with over 3,000 employees.

“Both UCS and the Port of Felixstowe are firmly rooted in the communities they serve and it is a great honour for me personally to be recognised in this way,” he said.

“Preparing the next generation for their future careers is one of the greatest responsibilities we have and essential to the economic future of both Suffolk and the wider economy. I will be thrilled to receive this Honorary Doctorate and to share the graduation ceremony with many young people about to set out on the next stage of their working lives.”

UCS will recognise eight other extraordinary individuals for achievements within their field during this year’s Graduation Ceremonies held across Suffolk and Great Yarmouth, including Michael Morpurgo, author of the Children’s Novel War Horse and Britain’s number 1 female tennis player Elena Baltacha.

David Lloyd Gledhill will be presented with his Honorary Award during a formal ceremony to take place on 24 October at the Ipswich Town Hall and Corn Exchange, whilst Dame Stephanie Shirley will be honoured during an earlier ceremony at UCS Bury St Edmunds on 29 September.