Ian Parkes receives Queen Mary University Honorary Fellowship
Ian Parkes receives Queen Mary University Honorary Fellowship
Former ELBA CEO Ian Parkes has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship at Queen Mary University’s Spring graduation ceremony.
Ian, who stepped down as ELBA CEO in 2024 after leading the organisation for eight years, was celebrated by the University for the valuable support, connections and opportunities he provided to the School of Business and Management.
Ian played a crucial role in ensuring hundreds of students benefited from ELBA’s student and graduate provision, including mentoring support from business volunteers.
He is a committed advocate for Queen Mary’s unique achievements in enabling social mobility for students from low-income backgrounds to succeed in their future careers.
Ian’s passion for community development and equity in access to employment and opportunities is also demonstrated by his commitment to impactful partnerships across the region beyond his ELBA role – through being a Chair of Governors at a London school, his engagement with local employer partnerships and the trust he has built with local and regional authorities.
Ian said:
“I am so delighted and humbled to receive this Honorary Fellowship in recognition of my work with ELBA and in promoting Queen Mary University and the School of Business and Management.”
“Very early on in my time as ELBA CEO I recognised that Queen Mary shared the same commitment to social mobility and equality and to ensuring that all young people of all backgrounds should be able to get a great start to their lives and make the most of their potential. The proportion of students who are from east London, who are the first in their families to go to university, who come from Black, Asian or other ethnic minority backgrounds is unique for a Russell Group university.”
“Together we have built partnerships and relationships with employers from east London and the large corporate businesses in the City and Canary Wharf.”
ELBA’s CEO, Julie Hutchinson said:
“All of us at ELBA are thrilled to see Ian recognised with an Honorary Fellowship from Queen Mary University of London – it is richly deserved, and we warmly congratulate him on this honour.”
A huge congratulations to Ian from ELBA.
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