Oxford Brookes University awards Richard Venables with Honorary Doctorate

Oxford Brookes University has awarded Richard Venables with an Honorary Doctorate of the University, in recognition of his dedication to Oxfordshire charities.

Richard went to school in Oxford before studying at Exeter University for his geography degree. He then returned to Oxford where he has been working for more than 25 years as a Chartered Surveyor specialising in commercial property.

He said: “I am absolutely delighted to receive this Honorary Doctorate from Oxford Brookes. I have been very fortunate to have grown up and then worked in Oxford for most of my life. I consider myself to be very much part of ‘the Town’ and I have learnt so much about both the wealth of talent and socio-economic issues Oxford faces. It is wonderful now to be part of ‘the Gown’, which will add to my own continuing Oxford education."

Richard dedicates considerable time and energy to supporting economic and cultural development in Oxfordshire, and was a board member of Experience Oxfordshire from 2009 until 2020.

He is also currently an Ambassador for Oxfordshire Youth, Patron for Active Oxfordshire and a Vice Patron for Oxford Civic Society.
Richard was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for Oxfordshire in 2016 and was High Sheriff of Oxfordshire from 2018-19.

Richard is one of eight individuals to receive honorary awards from Oxford Brookes during this month’s graduation ceremonies.

Away from his professional life, Richard is a hockey fanatic and plays for Oxford Hawks Hockey Club. He is also an enthusiastic ultra-runner - running distances that can reach up to 50 or 100 miles - and volunteers as an Event Director at Horspath parkrun in Oxford.

Image care of CBRE Group