Winter graduates and leaders in education and sustainable enterprise celebrated at University of Brighton graduation ceremonies

Taking place on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 February 2026, the ceremonies will bring together graduates, families, staff and partners to recognise academic success, personal achievement and outstanding contributions to education and society.

The ceremony will see 1,701 students from 65 countries of domicile graduate, with ages ranging from 19 to 76, reflecting the university’s commitment to opportunity, inclusivity and lifelong learning. Alongside student achievements, the university will also honour exceptional individuals whose work embodies its values of equity, inclusion, innovation and social impact.

At the winter graduation ceremonies, the University of Brighton will confer honorary doctorates on Sarah and Mark Driver, founders of the Driver Youth Trust (DYT) and Rathfinny Wine Estate.

Mark and Sarah Driver

The awards recognise their outstanding contributions to education, social equity and sustainable enterprise, celebrating a partnership that has combined lived experience, professional expertise and shared values to create lasting impact across the UK.

As parents of four children, three of whom are dyslexic, Mark and Sarah were inspired to establish the DYT, a literacy charity dedicated to supporting young people with literacy difficulties. Since its founding, the trust has supported more than 15,000 educators and, through a partnership with Kingston University, is helping to embed equality, inclusion and evidence-based practice into initial teacher training, contributing to long-term, structural change across the education system.

Alongside their work in education, Sarah and Mark co-founded Rathfinny Wine Estate in East Sussex in 2010. Evolving from a working arable farm, they are now recognised as one of the UK’s foremost single-site wine producers, renowned for crafting vintage sparkling wines served in some of the world’s finest hotels and restaurants, and for their instrumental role in establishing the Sussex PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) - a certification that guarantees the quality and authenticity of sparkling wines made in East and West Sussex named Sussex Sparkling.

In 2021, Rathfinny became the world’s first grower-producer of sparkling wine to achieve B Corp certification, recognising its commitment to high social, environmental and ethical standards.

Sarah and Mark Driver said: “We are both really honoured and thrilled to have received Honorary Doctorates of Arts from the University of Brighton, in recognition of our shared contribution to education and the promotion of sustainability in viticulture. Being our local university makes it even more special as it links to our close collaboration with our community, and we look forward to working with, and supporting, the University in the future.”

Professor Donna Whitehead, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton, said: “Graduation is one of the most important moments in the our University year, and I am incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of our students as they reach this milestone. Each graduate has shown remarkable talent, resilience and ambition, and they leave us ready to shape a brighter, fairer and more sustainable future for our communities and our world.”

“This year, we are also privileged to honour Mark and Sarah Driver, whose leadership through the Driver Youth Trust and Rathfinny Wine Estate reflects the very best of the values we champion at Brighton. Their dedication to educational equity, social impact and sustainable innovation offers a powerful example of how purpose‑driven work can transform lives and inspire change. We are delighted to recognise their contributions and to celebrate alongside them and our graduates.”

Graduates will also hear from inspiring keynote speakers whose journeys reflect the global reach and values of a University of Brighton education.

Rebecca Porter, a University of Brighton Adult Nursing graduate, will deliver the keynote address at the Thursday afternoon ceremony. Since graduating in 2017, she has volunteered in some of the world’s most challenging environments, most recently providing medical care across Ukraine in support of communities affected by the war.

The Friday ceremony will feature a keynote address from Michele Kana, President of Brighton Students’ Union. An international student from Cyprus, Michele graduated with a BSc in Physiotherapy in 2024 and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Health and Management. As Students’ Union President, she represents more than 17,000 students, championing inclusion, student voice and meaningful change across the university.

Watch it live 

The award ceremonies can be followed on our livestream.  

Thursday 12 February

10am ceremony

• School of Applied Sciences

• School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering

• School of Business and Law

3.15pm ceremony

• School of Education, Sport and Health Sciences (undergraduate courses)

Friday 13 February

10am ceremony

• School of Art and Media

• School of Education, Sport and Health Sciences (postgraduate courses)

• School of Humanities and Social Science

• Partner colleges