Earlier this week we hosted a Fellowship Luncheon with Imperial College London, held once again at the elegant 170 Queen’s Gate. This prestigious event brought together Fellows of the City and Guilds of London Institute (CGLI) to celebrate excellence and achievement across a wide spectrum of industries.
Originally reserved for alumni of Imperial College London, the Fellowship now honours individuals whose accomplishments reflect the diversity and depth of modern industry. With fewer than 500 Fellows worldwide, joining this select group is a significant achievement. The award, granted under the backing of the Institute’s Royal Charter, recognises outstanding skilled professionals who exemplify excellence in their fields. At the luncheon Fellowship Diplomas were presented to four exceptional individuals:
Richard Craster
Richard Craster, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Imperial College, is a leading applied mathematician specializing in wave mechanics, metamaterials, and fluid dynamics. Formerly Head of Mathematics at Imperial and Director of the CNRS-Imperial research unit, he co-founded Quaisr, a tech start-up. Richard has shaped UK mathematics education through advisory roles for the Department for Education and the Royal Society. His contributions to research, teaching, and accessibility in STEM earn him Fellowship recognition.
Madame Mae Ho
Madam Mae Ho has spent over four decades transforming hospitality education in Malaysia and the region. She founded and led five institutions, including Berjaya University College and Berjaya TVET College, embedding City & Guilds qualifications into curricula. Her leadership earned global recognition, including Worldchefs and HAPA awards, and Honorary Professorships in China. Thousands of graduates now thrive worldwide. Though retired, she continues mentoring, advising, and shaping tourism development, leaving an enduring legacy in vocational training and hospitality.
Jayne Wood
Jayne Wood, a former hospital pharmacist, has held senior roles across NHS Trusts and NHS England. As Programme Director for Specialist Commissioning, she restored secure mental health admissions and influenced national policy to reduce health inequalities. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she led vaccination operations delivering 7 million doses and launched the innovative “Living Well Bus.” A champion of professional development, Jayne’s research improved renal care. Her strategic leadership and practical impact earn her Fellowship recognition.
Richard Martin
Richard Martin, Registrar and University Secretary at Imperial College, oversees corporate governance and services supporting education, research, and student experience. He champions STEM opportunities through outreach programmes and lifelong learning initiatives. Richard led major campus refurbishments, created Imperial’s Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy, and expanded global reach via hubs in Ghana, India, Singapore, and the USA. His strategic leadership and commitment to innovation earned him the Imperial College Medal and now Fellowship recognition.
Honouring excellence, inspiring innovation
As our Chair, Dame Ann Limb DBE DL noted in her opening remarks, becoming a Fellow of the City & Guilds Institute is not only an honour but also an invitation to engage with and support the Institute’s ongoing work. The ceremony concluded with heartfelt thanks to the new Fellows and a call to continue contributing to the Institute’s mission.
Also at the luncheon was an opportunity to hear from Fellow, Professor Washington Yotto Ochieng CBE EBS FREng CEng FICE FCIHT FRIN FInstCES FCGI whose keynote speech was about the crucial need for Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing for the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure. Washington is Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London. He earned BSc in engineering at University of Nairobi, MSc, and PhD in Civil Engineering with specialisation in Space Geodesy and post-doctoral research at University of Nottingham. He joined Imperial College London in 1997, where he works on design and application of positioning, navigation and timing systems.
The luncheon served as a reminder of the importance of skill, innovation, and collaboration in shaping the future.
Congratulations to the Fellows awarded, and here’s to another year of celebrating achievement and advancing excellence.
To find out more about our Fellowship programme click here.
See all photos from the event here.
Photographs courtesy of Greg Allen Photography gregallenphoto.com