During the Graduation Ceremonies at Tobacco Dock Dame Ann Dowling OM DBE FRS FREng was awarded a DSc(Hon Caus). Dame Ann is one of the most distinguished engineers in the UK. She was first female Professor in Engineering at the University of Cambridge in 1993 and is now Deputy Vice-Chancellor. She is known for her research in the reduction of aircraft noise and on efficient, low-emission combustion, therefore increasing aircraft efficiency. She was the fifth women to become Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and was the President 2014-2019. One of her achievements has been driving diversity in the Academy and throughout engineering. She was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 2003 and made Dame of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2007. In 2016 she was appointed to the Order of Merit, one of only 24 people at any one time.

She encouraged the graduates at her ceremony to find an area of engineering to enjoy and to find good colleagues and collaborators to work with.

Updated by: Elizabeth Tanner