Latest news with #LordHague
Zawya
07-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
GEMS School of Research and Innovation launches The SRI Club: on a mission to build the world's most influential parent network
'Power of Connection' fuels new global community where families come together to spark ventures, investments, philanthropy, and ideas – creating lasting impact beyond the classroom The Rt Hon Lord Hague, Honorary Patron of GEMS School of Research and Innovation, welcomes guests at exclusive inaugural dinner event Robert Rosen, former Head of Philanthropic Partnerships, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, announced as Senior Advisor to SRI Club LONDON, United Kingdom: GEMS School of Research and Innovation today announced the launch of The SRI Club – a first-of-its-kind global network of parents, partners, and advisors designed to unlock 'The Power of Connection' and become the world's most influential parent network. Rooted in the belief that extraordinary things happen when families connect – not only with one another but with leaders, thinkers, and changemakers beyond the school gates – The SRI Club empowers parents to collaborate, co-invest, launch ventures, share expertise, and drive philanthropy. Together, they form a powerful ecosystem with the potential to transform lives and shape the future. The community will serve as a cornerstone of GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI), GEMS Education's flagship campus opening in August 2025 in Dubai Sports City. Designed to be a global benchmark for future-focused education, SRI blends an enhanced English curriculum with cutting-edge AI integration, values-driven leadership, and world-class facilities. While the school delivers next-generation learning in the classroom, The SRI Club provides the human engine that powers opportunity, linking families with innovators, investors, subject matter experts, and changemakers across the globe. Sunny Varkey, Chairman and Founder of GEMS Education, said: 'The SRI Club is a catalyst for possibility. By tapping into the power of connection, we are creating a network where families can pool talent, capital, and ideas to do great things together – whether that's launching ventures, driving philanthropic projects, or building future-ready mindsets for their own children.' The inaugural SRI Club gathering took place in London, UK, and was attended by distinguished guests from across the worlds of education, philanthropy, business, and public service. The event featured a keynote welcome address from The Rt Hon Lord Hague of Richmond, former UK Foreign Secretary and leader of the Conservative Party, who has been appointed as Honorary Patron of GEMS School of Research and Innovation. Lord Hague praised the initiative as 'an inspiring model of how schools and families can come together to forge deep, lasting partnerships in support of young people and their futures.' He added: 'This landmark school is designed from the ground up to equip young people with the skills and mindset needed to face the challenges of a fast-changing, tech-driven world. And it builds on an incredible legacy. GEMS Education is the oldest and one of the largest private K-12 education providers globally. It is widely recognised for its impact, having educated over half a million children since its founding more than 65 years ago. 'I'm also very much looking forward to working with Sunny Varkey. As the founder of GEMS Education, he is a visionary leader whose legacy in education continues to shape learning across generations. I'm honoured to contribute to SRI's ambitious vision and to help place innovation and global competitiveness at the heart of the educational experience.' Guests also heard from Dino Varkey, Group CEO of GEMS Education; Robert Rosen, former Head of Philanthropic Partnerships at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Senior Advisor to the SRI Club; Azar Saliba, General Manager of Jumeirah Al Naseem and Senior Advisor to the SRI Club; and James Monaghan, CEO and Founding Principal of SRI. Key benefits of SRI Club membership include: Exclusive events and salons – such as the SRI Vanguard Forum, an off-the-record summit of parent thought leaders; an evening with an award-winning musician; and Future Feast, co-curated with a Michelin star chef Curated industry dinners – offering the chance to meet global changemakers at invitation-only events focused on tech, policy, finance, health, arts, and more, with each event gathering select changemakers to exchange insights and reimagine what's possible Philanthropy and legacy projects – meaningful opportunities to contribute to the school's long-term vision Student enrichment – opportunities to mentor students or partner on programmes to benefit pupils Digital platform – a secure space for dialogue, insights, and parent-driven collaboration James Monaghan, CEO and Founding Principal of SRI, noted: 'The SRI Club represents a unique opportunity to build something extraordinary – not just a school, but a community of influence and purpose that can contribute unique strengths to a shared journey of discovery and impact.' About GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI) Opening in August 2025, SRI will set a global benchmark for future-focused education. The campus features an enhanced English curriculum integrated with AI, leadership and entrepreneurship pathways; an Olympic-size pool, FIFA-standard football pitch, 400-metre track and 600-seat performing-arts auditorium, fully equipped music, drama, and visual arts spaces, and specialist labs for robotics, data science and sustainable design. Lord Hague of Richmond serves as the Honorary Patron of SRI, Nile Rodgers serves as the Special Advisor for Music and The Performing Arts, and Lord Coe serves as the Special Advisor for Sport. About GEMS Education Every day, GEMS Education has the privilege of educating more than 200,000 students from over 176 countries through its owned and managed schools around the world. With nearly half a million alumni who have influenced countless lives, GEMS is recognised as one of the most impactful education groups globally. Founded in the UAE in 1959, GEMS Education is the largest and most respected K–12 private education group in the world, with a track record of providing diverse curricula and educational opportunities to families from all socio-economic backgrounds. What began as a single school in a private home in Dubai remains a family business to this day. Its inspiring Chairman and Founder, Sunny Varkey, and his sons, Dino Varkey, the Group Chief Executive Officer, and Jay Varkey, the Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, continue to provide vision, insight, and strategic leadership across the organisation. Through its growing school network and philanthropic initiatives, GEMS is committed to fulfilling its vision of putting a quality education within the reach of every learner, everywhere. Each year, GEMS students graduate to join the world's leading universities. Over the past five years alone, they have been accepted into over 1,050 universities in 53 countries – including all eight Ivy League institutions in the United States and all 24 Russell Group universities in the United Kingdom. GEMS alumni have gone on to successful careers in all sectors around the world, including a large proportion reaching CEO and C-suite status. For further information about GEMS Education, visit or contact: Shilpa Johnson, Senior Account Executive, Four
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Sir Mo Farah collects honorary Oxford degree
Four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah has collected an honorary degree from the University of Oxford. BBC journalist Clive Myrie and broadcaster Lord Melvyn Bragg were among the other recipients to attend the university's centuries-old Encaenia part of the service, a procession made up of university dignitaries and honorary degree recipients walked through the city in full academic ceremony also marked the first to be overseen by former Conservative leader Lord Hague, who was inaugurated as the university's 160th chancellor earlier this year. Following the procession, the recipients signed their names in the Honorary Degrees Book at the Divinity School, before moving to the Sheldonian Theatre - where the Encaenia ceremony has been held in some form since university's vice-chancellor, Prof Irene Tracey, said the service was a "highlight of Oxford's academic year, offering us an opportunity to celebrate exceptional individuals whose achievements have shaped disciplines, made history and enriched society"."Today, we honour eight people whose work has inspired, informed and transformed the world around us," she said."This year's distinguished honorands come from a remarkable array of fields, and through their vision, creativity and dedication, they have made lasting contributions." Other recipients of the honorary degrees included Ukrainian history expert Prof Serhii Plokhii, Irish writer Prof Colm Tóibín and German biophysicist Prof Erwin and entrepreneur Prof Robert S Langer and historian Prof Timothy Snyder, both from the US, were also honoured during the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, had also been due to receive an honorary degree - but was unable to attend Wednesday's ceremony. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Telegraph
09-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Sir Tony Blair calls for gene-editing to prevent further pandemics
Gene editing in animals should be legalised in Britain to prevent pandemics, Sir Tony Blair has urged. Allowing gene-editing in livestock could 'cut farmer losses' from disease and reduce the transmission of diseases from animals to humans, according to a report by the Tony Blair Institute. Gene editing – changing the DNA of an organism by altering its genetic code – can be used to make animals resistant to a certain virus, including bird flu. Gene editing of plants has been legal in England since a law was passed in 2023, but so far the secondary legislation needed to permit gene-edited animals outside of a laboratory environment has not gone through. The report urged the Government to bring forward the legislation 'as a matter of urgency'. Sir Tony and Lord Hague, who also backed the report, wrote in a joint contribution to it: 'Gene editing can help breed farm animals that are more resilient to viruses and prevent the spread of dangerous pathogens to humans.' They added: 'Five years ago, our country was caught unprepared by the Covid pandemic. 'It would be a tragedy if in so short a time span we forgot the lessons of that unfortunate period, and failed to do enough to ensure we are sufficiently prepared for the next one. 'Biosecurity is now an essential aspect of national security and growth.' The new paper on biosecurity, published on Friday, said: 'Gene-editing livestock can reduce zoonotic spillovers.' The report added: 'Experts have warned that this failure to proceed with implementation will damage the UK's ability to reduce diseases in livestock, and risk losing gene-editing funding and talent to countries such as Brazil and the US where precision-bred livestock are legal.' It cited a recent study which found that bioengineered pigs were 'far less likely' to transmit the more severe strain of influenza, as well as the successful breeding of chickens 'partially resistant to bird flu'. The report added that this led to 'reducing the risk of viruses mixing among livestock, becoming more transmissible to humans and resulting in potential pandemics.' In 2019, a team of scientists at the Roslin Institute at the University of Edinburgh and Imperial College showed it was possible to use the genome-editing technique Crispr to delete a section of chicken DNA that the virus hijacks to replicate.
