UCEM Graduation Day 2025: ‘You’ve done something extraordinary’
Posted on: 8 July, 2025
“The world needs you now more than ever.” The words of Mina Hasman, recognised as a ‘top 100 Climate Leader’ by TIME magazine, to a hall full of gowned graduates and guests at Reading Town Hall on Friday 4 July.
As one of the guest speakers, Mina formed part of an exceptional day of celebration that started in the morning. The bright sunshine was taken full advantage of outside the Victorian town hall, where elegant black gowns and mortar boards appeared alongside summer dresses and suits as UCEM students posed for photographs with their proud families.
Faculty staff also milled around outside to finally meet the students in person that they had only encountered virtually during the many years of online tutoring. You can watch some of their well-wishes below.
Our global community meant that students and their guests travelled from far-flung places to attend Graduation Day. MBA Construction and Real Estate graduate Menaka Wickramasinghe, 40, had flown in from Dubai, and the sister of MBA Real Estate Infrastructure student Kalivati Bakani had spent 27 hours travelling from Fiji to deliver a handmade traditional Fijian garland that adorned his shoulders.
Mother-of-two Menaka, 40, said: “This has been a cheering moment for me, and I salute myself for doing a hard job with the big commitments in my life.”
Inside the Concert Hall, with its by huge, awe-inspiring organ, the morning ceremony kicked off at 10:15 (BST), with the procession of gowned academics, led by Vice Chancellor Ashley Wheaton, congregating on stage with great aplomb before the ceremonial mace was laid before them.
This was mirrored in the afternoon session, where a second cohort of students and guests filled the hall, ready to collect their degrees and awards.
Peter McCrea, Chair of the Board of Trustees, opened up proceedings and acknowledged the challenges of our students – with most being employed professionals – “juggling work, family, and other life responsibilities”. “That’s why today really matters,” he said, “because it proves that you’ve done something extraordinary.”
Vice Chancellor Ashley Wheaton, followed with an inspirational speech that highlighted how crucial our degree subjects are:
“Graduation is more than a ceremony. It’s a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come – and to look forward to what lies ahead. The world you are entering as built environment professionals is full of opportunity and responsibility. Our sector has a crucial role to play in tackling some of the biggest global challenges: from climate change and housing shortages to urbanisation and infrastructure resilience.
You are the future of this sector – and we need your passion, your knowledge, and your fresh perspective.”
Enthusiastic applause, and even jubilant whoops and cheers, followed as students stepped onto the stage to collect their degree certificates – some punching the air and waving to their families, ready to be, as Ashley put it, “our institution’s greatest ambassadors”.
Patricia Brown, the keynote speaker for the morning ceremony, spoke passionately about how growing up in Liverpool “fuelled” her love of “cities and people, and the endless possibilities this winning combination can spark”. She said “our built environment is the foundation stone on which we build our lives and wider economic prosperity, it is a privilege and responsibility to shape this for the better.”
Some students collected special awards. Mark Simpson, 45, from Middlesborough, won the Chapman Adkin award, having overcome significant challenges to earn his degree over five and a half years.
“The motto I have is that failure is never an option. I have two children, 11 and 16, and I want them to see that anything is possible”.
The day also celebrated our Honorary Fellows, Andrew Keung, Richard Kauntze, and Jat Brainch – all of whom have made an exceptional contributions to the built environment.
Speaking after receiving his fellowship, Professor Keung, who flew in especially from Hong Kong, said: “This is a great moment for me. This is a message not just to me but to my circles, that Andrew has been working hard and contributing to the institution and to the industry, and now he was rewarded.”
The day was not only one of achievement, recognition and celebration, but also one of inspiration.
Speaking at the afternoon ceremony, the keynote speech from Mina Hasman ended with a resounding call to action:
“You don’t have to change the world in one day, but you can start today…. So congratulations again once more to the class of 2025. Go out there and make your mark, the world needs you more than ever.”
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