Falmouth University announces 2025 honorary awards
17 July 2025
Falmouth University is proud to introduce this year’s Honorary Fellows, Pawlet Brookes MBE and Sue Perkins, recognised for their outstanding contributions to the creative sector.
Sue Perkins
Broadcaster, writer and conductor Sue Perkins is one of the UK’s most recognisable creative figures. From co-hosting The Great British Bake Off to presenting award-nominated documentaries and writing best-selling memoirs, she’s carved out a singular career spanning comedy, radio, literature and the arts.
Beyond her humour and intellect, Sue is also known for championing causes close to her heart, including LGBTQ+ visibility, mental health awareness and the natural world. Her podcast and radio work, including Earpedia and Nature Table, bring together her love of storytelling and the environment.
A BAFTA-nominated filmmaker and host of Just A Minute on BBC Radio 4, Sue is also a talented musician. She won the BBC’s Maestro competition in 2008 and has since conducted both brass and full orchestras.
Sue credits her time spent in Cornwall as an important influence on her work. Her creative reach, wide-ranging curiosity and down-to-earth approach are an inspiration to our creative community.
Pawlet Brookes MBE
Pawlet Brookes is an artistic director, cultural leader and changemaker whose work has transformed the arts landscape in the UK. For decades she has worked to centre Black voices in culture, create space for community-led storytelling and champion inclusion across the creative industries.
In 2010, Pawlet founded the Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage. Based in Leicester and recognised nationally and internationally, the organisation supports Black creatives by curating festivals, exhibitions, archives and learning programmes including Let’s Dance International Frontiers and 100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark.
She has commissioned work across theatre, dance and music, from Nina Simone and Steven Berkoff to Ballet Hispánico and Aswad. Her scholarship on dance and cultural policy continues to influence national conversations. She was awarded an MBE in 2022 for her services to the arts and cultural diversity.
A long-standing supporter of Falmouth’s Creative Events Management course, Pawlet lives and works in Cornwall and remains deeply connected to our community.
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