| Presentation
addresses
Usha Prashar,
by David Ansbro
Usha Prashar is one
of the most distinguished graduates of this University. Others
recognised her personal qualities at an early age and have continued
to do so. Usha Prashar came to Yorkshire from Kenya with her
family in the 1960s. She attended Wakefield Girls’ High
School and in 1967 she was made Head Girl. This is evidence
of how, from the outset, her many personal qualities not least
leadership and integrity shone through. She went on to read
Politics here in Leeds and then pursued postgraduate studies
in Social Administration at the University of Glasgow.
Usha Prashar then embarked on a stunning career which has
seen her involved in, and as a catalyst for, change in the
fields of social policy, criminal justice, education, equality
of opportunity and race relations.
It is not possible to mention all the organisations that
have benefited from her contribution. The current list is
impressive: she is Chancellor of De Montfort University, Chairman
of the National Literacy Trust, a non-executive Director of
UNITE, Chairman of the Royal Commonwealth Society and a Trustee
of the BBC World Service Trust. She has also been Chairman
of the Parole Board for England and Wales, Director of the
National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Director
of the Runnymede Trust.
Ushar Prashar was made a life peer in 1999 and took the
title Baroness Prashar of Runnymede.
Usha Prashar
became a Civil Service Commissioner in 1990 and was appointed
First Civil Service Commissioner four years ago. She has identified
the core values of the Civil Service as integrity, honesty,
impartiality, objectivity and progression based on merit as
opposed to patronage. Chancellor, Usha Prashar is able to
personally represent these same values which are so essential
to public life in this country. I present to you for the degree
of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, Usha Kumari Prashar.
|
