Finisterre founder and ShelterBox Chief Executive honoured by the University of Exeter
This year 755 students graduated at the University of Exeter’s Cornwall campus, joined by 2,500 guests
The founder of pioneering Cornish brand Finisterre and the Chief Executive of disaster relief charity, ShelterBox have been honoured by the University of Exeter.
Tom Kay and Sanj Srikanthan were given honorary degrees at graduation ceremonies at the University’s Penryn campus, alongside Jamie Buchanan-Dunlop, who founded Encounter Edu, formerly Digital Explorer, now one of the world’s leading platforms for ocean and climate education.
This year 755 students graduated at the University of Exeter’s Cornwall campus, joined by 2,500 guests.
Professor Martin Siegert, University of Exeter Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Cornwall), said: “It was wonderful to honour Tom, Sanjayan and Jamie and recognise the important work they have done to help protect people and the planet.
“Graduation is such a special moment for all involved and we were delighted to celebrate the achievements of our class of 2026 with their loved ones. We congratulate them on their achievements – they will always be a part of the University of Exeter family.”
Tom started Finisterre in 2003 from his flat above a surf shop in St Agnes, Cornwall. The brand, still run from the village, has a pioneering take on innovation and sustainability and has been a B Corp certified business since 2018. It has 16 stores throughout the country but retains the same founding commitments to product, environment and people.
Tom said: “I founded Finisterre in St. Agnes nearly 25 years ago, born from my love of the sea and a deep belief there was a better way of making products, as well as using the business to drive positive impact and sustainability. It is a great honour for this to be recognised and for me to be awarded an Honorary Degree from the University of Exeter.”
Before joining the ShelterBox Team in December 2019 Sanj worked at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) for 10 years where he progressed to Senior Vice President for Europe. He was previously a British Army Captain, involved in peacekeeping operations on the Iran-Iraq border, responding as a humanitarian to Ebola outbreaks in Liberia, being deployed to conflicts in Syria, Mali and South Sudan, as well as disasters such as the Haiti earthquake in 2010.
Sanj said: “The University of Exeter has been a growing and vital part of the community of learning here in Cornwall. It is an honour to have been recognised by them with this award of an Honorary Degree and I hope that this is the beginning of more we can do together as ShelterBox and the University in Cornwall.”
Jamie’s work has reached fourteen million students in 91 countries and he led the coalition that secured the inclusion of ocean topics in the National Curriculum for the first time and has contributed to UN Ocean Literacy initiatives at an international level. He also pioneered the use of live lessons from remote field locations and 360-degree virtual reality, bringing these environments directly into classrooms around the world.
Jamie said: “It has been a privilege to work with the brilliant scientists at the University of Exeter over the past fifteen years. This Honorary Doctorate is surprising, humbling, and energising too. I look forward to many more years working together to help young people understand and care for our wonderful planet. “
