We are delighted to announce that Gerald Chan, Professor Sir Cary Cooper CBE, Dame Carolyn McCall OBE and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala have been appointed the first Honorary Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences, in recognition of their significant contributions to the promotion of social science. The announcement was made at the Academy’s 2025 Annual General Meeting which took place yesterday.
The award of Honorary Fellowship was established by the Academy’s Council in 2024 to mark our 25th anniversary year and recognises a small number of exceptional, leading, national and international figures who have contributed significantly to the Academy or the promotion of the social sciences.
Will Hutton, President of the Academy, said, “I am delighted to welcome our first most well deserved Honorary Fellows to the Academy, each of whom is an inspirational leader in his or her own right. Their careers are tribute to the value of the social sciences, and thus the promotion of the Academy’s cause through their work. I warmly congratulate them and look forward to working with them each more closely to champion the value of the social sciences across a diverse range of sectors.”
Gerald Chan is a leading global figure in the translation of novel scientific findings from academia to product development in industry. He has founded numerous successful companies at the frontiers of medical science and is a strong advocate for how frontier technology can be applied to business, research and public health for the benefit of governments and society.
Upon hearing the news of his Fellowship, he said, “I am honored to receive a fellowship in the Academy of Social Sciences. I see it as a recognition of the many bridges I have built between academia and industry in the belief that academic science should ultimately inure to the benefit of society at large.”
Professor Sir Cary Cooper CBE is 50th Anniversary Professor of Organizational Psychology & Health at the Alliance Manchester Business School. A long-standing Fellow and former Chair of the Academy of Social Sciences, the award of Honorary Fellowship recognises his outstanding service to the Academy and the social sciences in a long, distinguished career.
He said, “Of all the honours I have received in my career, the award of an Honorary Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences is one of the most prized, given my emotional attachment to the Academy, and my friendships with so many of its members – a true honour to cherish.”
Leading businesswoman Dame Carolyn McCall OBE has a track record of substantial contributions across business, industry, government and learned societies, driving growth and innovation. She is the first female Chief Executive of ITV and prior to that was Chief Executive of EasyJet for seven years.
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the seventh Director-General of the World Trade Organisation and is the first woman and the first African to serve in this role. An economist and international development expert with over 40 years of experience, she has served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister, as the country’s Foreign Minister, and worked for over 25 years at the World Bank. She is an inspiring role model who works to bring about positive change.
She said, “It is a great honour to be selected as an Honorary Fellow of the prestigious UK Academy of Social Sciences. At this time of global turbulence and questioning of multilateralism, I look forward to a stimulating and rewarding interaction with this exceptional community of minds.”
The Academy of Social Sciences will carry out an annual cycle of Honorary Fellowship nominations.