Graduations 2025: University stalwart John Mowbray receives honour

Published on 11, July, 2025

The former Chair of the University of Sunderland's Board of Governors, John Mowbray OBE DL, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by the University.

John served on the Board of Governors from 2012 to 2022, becoming Chair in 2017.

Today (Friday 11 July), he returned to the Stadium of Light for the University's Summer Graduation Ceremonies where he received his honour. 

John was born in Fulwell in 1957 and was a pupil at St Benet’s Roman Catholic Primary School in Monkwearmouth and subsequently attended St Aidan’s Comprehensive School in Ashbrooke before studying accountancy at New College Durham.

In 1983, John became General Services Officer at Sunderland and South Shields Water company. Following company changes and numerous mergers, John eventually became a senior member of staff at Northumbrian Water. He held various positions, moving from finance and legal to customer services to finish as Director of Corporate Affairs.

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John retired from Northumbrian Water in 2012 and received an OBE for services to the water industry and to charity.

In the same year, John joined the University of Sunderland’s Board of Governors and became Chair in 2017 where he gave exceptional service until he stepped down in July 2022.

Under his leadership, John oversaw the development of the School of Medicine and encouraged the expansion of the University of Sunderland in London. Not only that, he led the University with great distinction and empathy through the hardest days of COVID.

As Chair of the Board of Governors, John was central to the University’s crucial role in the culture-led regeneration of Sunderland as a city. Among many other roles, he is a Trustee at the Sunderland Music Arts and Culture Trust, co-chair of the Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust and a Trustee at the Ryhope Engines Trust.

In 2016/17, he was High Sheriff of Tyne and Wear and a year later he was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for the county.