Les Dawson OBE
Doctor of Engineering

Les Dawson OBE was an executive director of United Utilities a FOOTSIE 100 Company, head of operations at Transco and the former CEO at Southern Water. He will be awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contribution to engineering education and development. His working career began at Pye Television in 1973 where following an apprenticeship he became a student engineer and was sponsored by Pye to attend Brunel University in London where he completed an engineering degree in 1980.

Immediately following graduation he was made redundant during the 1980 recession and since then he has spent his career in various managerial roles in the energy and water industries. A Chartered Engineer he is a Fellow and past President of the Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Managers, a Member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Current President of the Pipelines Industry Guild and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Les was CEO of Worthing-based Southern Water from 2005 to 2010 and during this time, the University of Brighton established and enjoyed a strong working relationship with the organisation which included the establishment of the nationally acclaimed Southern Waters Masters Programme. Les also introduced the young offenders programme to Southern Water and reintroduced their Apprenticeship Programme.

In 2009, Les was awarded an OBE in recognition of his services to the energy and water industries, as well as his extensive charity work for Wateraid, whose mission is to transform lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in the world’s poorest communities.