Allan Cook CBE, chairman at Atkins, has been awarded a Doctor of Science degree in Cranfield University’s graduation ceremony recently.

He joined over 2000 postgraduate students and the other honorary graduates from the world of business receiving degrees at the ceremonies.

Cook is a chartered engineer with more than 40 years’ international experience in the automotive, aerospace and defence industries. He championed a new master’s-level standard in Advanced Systems Engineering (SEMLAP), designed and developed by industry, trade bodies and academia. This programme has been taken forward in partnership with Cranfield and together they play a major role in the development of defence skills.

He is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) where he is Vice President and serves as a trustee. He also chairs the RAE’s employer-focused Diversity Leadership Group, part of the Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) Diversity Programme.