Prestigious Honorary Doctorate Recognises Theresa Shearer's Outstanding Contribution to Public Life

Enable is proud and privileged to celebrate the conferring of an honorary doctorate upon our CEO Theresa Shearer FRSE by the University of Strathclyde in recognition of her exceptional contribution to public life, transformational leadership and enduring commitment to creating a more equal society.

One of the University's highest distinctions, the award recognises individuals whose leadership and contribution have had a profound and lasting impact on society. For Theresa, it acknowledges a career spent shaping public policy, transforming public services and demonstrating how inclusive leadership can deliver meaningful social and economic change across Scotland, the UK and internationally.

In her laureation, Professor Eleanor Shaw OBE described Theresa as an internationally renowned leader, recognising a career defined by visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to others and an ability to reshape systems for the better.

Eleanor urged the graduates to: “Please learn from Theresa’s inclusive and values-led leadership style. An approach to leadership that is ambitious in vision, rigorous in execution and unwavering in its commitment to others. Leadership that does not accept the world as it is but works persistently and courageously to challenge it and to make it better.”

 

 

For more than two decades, Theresa has been at the forefront of advancing human rights. Her leadership has challenged conventional thinking, influenced national policy and helped reshape how public services are designed and delivered, demonstrating that lasting progress is achieved when government, business, academia and the NGO sector work together around a shared purpose.

Throughout her career, Theresa has been a leading voice in redefining social care as a vehicle for rights, independence and citizenship rather than simply the delivery of services. She has consistently demonstrated the impact of human rights led public services in supporting an inclusive growth agenda.

Her work to advance self-directed support, and pioneering Enable’s PA Model helped change expectations of what good support looks like, translating the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) into everyday reality for thousands of people across Scotland, by placing people at the centre of decisions about their own lives.

Throughout her leadership, she has applied those same principles across public service reform and organisational transformation, demonstrating that inclusive, person-led approaches deliver better outcomes for individuals, communities and the economy.

As Chief Executive, Theresa has translated those same principles into leadership across Enable, guiding one of the UK's leading human rights organisations, advancing the rights of disabled people, through a period of sustained growth and innovation. Under her leadership, we have shaped new approaches, strengthened our national influence and created opportunities for thousands of disabled people and communities every year.

Her expertise is recognised well beyond Enable through a range of national and international leadership appointments. Theresa is a Fellow and council member of Scotland’s national academy, the Royal Society of Edinburgh; Vice President of the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD); a member of the Advisory Board of both the Adam Smith Business School and the Centre for Public Policy at the University of Glasgow; and a Board member of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Following the conferral of her honorary doctorate, Theresa addressed the graduating Business Class of 2026, reflecting on one of the defining leadership questions of our time: the importance of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in a world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). She challenged graduates to embrace the opportunities of AI while remembering that exceptional leadership will always be rooted in EI. She closed with three enduring pieces of advice: find your people, be true to your politics and be anchored in your personal and professional purpose.

Theresa said “It is a significant honour to receive such recognition from my alma mater, The University of Strathclyde. Whilst much has been spoken about leadership, it is leading with EI that creates the most impact, and from which I have had much guidance from my children Ava, Patrick and Matthew – thank you!”

She also celebrated the values that have underpinned Enable’s long-standing partnership with the University of Strathclyde Through Breaking Barriers, we are working together to widen access to higher education, careers and opportunity for disabled students, demonstrating what can be achieved when universities, employers, NGOs and government come together to remove barriers, unlock potential and create lasting opportunity.

 

 

Professor David Hillier, Vice Principal and Pro Vice-Chancellor of Strathclyde Business School, paid tribute to Theresa's outstanding contribution to public life and the impact of her leadership.

On conferring this prestigious accolade upon Theresa, David said:

“Theresa, you epitomise everything that is great and distinctive about the University of Strathclyde, and I am delighted to create you Doctor of the University Honoris Causa… I am honoured to have Theresa here at a ceremony that I am presiding, because Theresa and I designed, created and pushed forward the award-winning Breaking Barriers programme.

 

 

This recognition is a fitting tribute to a career that has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of disabled people, challenged how public services are designed and delivered, and demonstrated what is possible when leadership is guided by rights, ambition and purpose.

For all of us who have the privilege of working alongside her, this honour reflects what we see every day: a leader who never stops believing in people's potential, never accepts that barriers cannot be broken, and never loses sight of the values that have shaped her career.

Congratulations, Theresa, on this extraordinary and well-deserved recognition.