Over the course of five days donors from across the globe came together online to experience the very best of Oxford’s world-leading research. The 30th annual meeting of the Chancellor’s Court of Benefactors – the University’s most prestigious recognition society – was held virtually after current pandemic restrictions prevented members from meeting in person.

Beginning on 28 September members of the Court were invited to engage with a range of fascinating topics including: biographical approaches to the study of Tutankhamun; how modelling COVID-19 is furthering our understanding of infectious diseases; and the benefits of transitioning to a zero-emissions economy. A talk from Nobel Prize winner Professor Sir Peter Ratcliffe and an open question time with the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor rounded off the packed programme of events.

Professor Cameron Hepburn, Sugandha Srivastav and Professor Dame Sarah Whatmore discussed sensitive intervention points in the transition to a zero-emissions economy.

While the formal ceremony of induction has been postponed to 2021, several new members of the Court were welcomed this year in recognition of their outstanding generosity:

  • Mr Stephen A. Schwarzman – awarded the Fellowship of the Court
  • Mr Mohammed Alardhi, representative for Investcorp
  • Mr James Del Favero
  • Mr Obum Ekeke, representative for DeepMind Technologies Ltd
  • Mr Yoshiharu Ishibashi, representative for The Ueno Gakuen Educational Foundation
  • Mr Colm Kelleher
  • Dr Katharina Lichtner, representative for the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation
  • Mrs Nicola Manby
  • Mr Max Mosley, representative for the Alexander Mosley Charitable Trust
  • Dr Tetsuya Nakamura, representative for the Tetsuya Nakamura Memorial Foundation
  • Mr Max Peterson, representative for Amazon Web Services EMEA SARL (UK)
  • Mrs Kathleen Russ, representative for Travers Smith
  • Mr Gopal Subramanium
  • Mrs Sarah Taylor

The Rt Hon Lord Patten of Barnes, CH, Chancellor of the University of Oxford said: ‘While we were sorry not to be able to physically welcome our Chancellor’s Court members to Oxford this year, we were delighted to be able to deliver instead an online series of engaging and stimulating talks. We remain enormously grateful to our supporters in helping to ensure the University remains at the forefront of teaching and research in these challenging times.’

The Chancellor’s Court of Benefactors celebrates and recognises Oxford’s most outstanding friends and supporters. Presided over by the Chancellor, The Rt Hon Lord Patten of Barnes, CH, the Court has over 250 members from around the globe whose significant contributions have assisted Oxford in being the world leading institution that it is today.

Members can contact our Chancellor’s Court Liaison Officers, Andrea and Miranda with any feedback or queries.