University to host Summer Graduation ceremonies

John Alexander is widely known as having been appointed the youngest council leader in Scotland when he took over the leadership of Dundee City Council in 2017, aged just 28. As leader of the local authority for seven years, Mr Alexander emerged as one of the Scottish National Party’s most prominent local government figures during a period of significant political, economic and social change for the city. This included the dramatic redevelopment of Dundee’s waterfront, the opening of V&A Dundee, as well as leading the city’s response during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Born and raised in Dundee, Mr Alexander was initially elected as a councillor for the city’s Strathmartine ward in 2012, where his work demonstrated a commitment to regeneration, economic development, and social inclusion. 

After standing down from his role as councillor and council leader in August 2024, Mr Alexander has continued his work to champion social equality. He is now Chief Executive of Hillcrest Homes, overseeing the operations of one of Scotland’s largest housing associations as well as Chairing the group leading the fundraising for the Eden Project in Dundee.

Professor Ova Emilia is an academic, medical doctor, higher education leader, and current rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Indonesia. She completed her undergraduate medical education at the UGM Faculty of Medicine in 1987 and later gained a Masters in Medical Education from the University of Dundee. 

Professor Emilia is an obstetrician-gynaecologist, completing her speciality and sub-speciality training at UGM. She also holds a PhD from the University of New South Wales, Australia.

Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser is Regius Professor of Botany at the University of Cambridge and the former Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). 

As a scientist, her research has made fundamental contributions to understanding how plants regulate growth in response to their environment, particularly through the role of hormones such as auxin and strigolactone in shoot branching. Her interdisciplinary work, integrating molecular genetics, physiology and computational modelling, has led to major advances in plant developmental biology.  In 2011, she helped to establish the Sainsbury Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, serving as Director from 2013–2020.

From 2020-2025, Professor Leyser was CEO of UKRI, the national funding agency investing in science and research in the UK. She led it through the Covid-19 pandemic, post-Brexit realignment and re-entry into Horizon Europe, whilst overseeing an annual £8 billion science and innovation budget. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society, a Member of the Leopoldina and EMBO, and an International Member of the US National Academy of Sciences. In 2017 she was appointed DBE for services to plant science, science in society and equality and diversity in science.

Garreth Wood MBE and Nicola Wood MBE are Scottish philanthropists best known for their pioneering work in global children’s healthcare through the Dundee-based charity Kids Operating Room (KidsOR). Motivated by a shared commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children, the couple have become internationally recognised advocates for equitable access to safe surgery and medical care in low- and middle-income countries.

Founded in 2018 following their own personal tragedy, KidsOR has installed more than 140 world-class, solar-powered paediatric operating theatres in around 40 countries, creating capacity for over 250,000 operations annually. Their work has enabled hundreds of thousands of children to access lifesaving and life-changing surgical procedures that would otherwise have been unavailable. 

The Woods have also championed long-term sustainability in healthcare by supporting local surgeons, investing in medical education, and strengthening healthcare systems. Their efforts have attracted international recognition from governments, medical institutions, and charitable organisations. In recognition of their services to health and international charity, Garreth and Nicola Wood were each appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). 

Their impact continues to grow through innovative partnerships, including a research collaboration with NASA to adapt space-derived oxygen delivery technologies for use in remote hospitals. They have also established Global Hospital, a modular healthcare company wholly owned by KidsOR, with all profits reinvested into the charity. Through compassion, innovation, and sustained philanthropic leadership, the Woods have made a significant contribution to advancing global paediatric healthcare and improving opportunities for children worldwide.