Deputy Vice-Chancellor, it is an honour to present Andreas Wasmuht – strategist, philosopher and educator – whose career embodies the University of Bath’s ideals of excellence, integrity and engagement with the wider world.

For more than two centuries, the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) has stood at the heart of the city’s intellectual life. Founded in 1824 to advance science, literature and the arts, it remains Bath’s foremost public forum for ideas, hosting over a hundred and twenty talks a year and expanding its global reach through digital engagement. Alongside its museum collection, literary festivals and exhibitions, and outreach to local schools, it serves the city as a civic resource for learning across generations.

Building on this long-standing tradition, Andreas Wasmuht has helped renew BRLSI’s role as a contemporary centre for critical thought. For more than a decade, through his leadership across various committees, and through his convenor roles for Philosophy and World Affairs, he has shaped a programme that brings scholars, practitioners and citizens together to explore questions that define our age: from democracy and ethics to the future of work and technology. His leadership has reaffirmed the institution's place as a living bridge between scholarship and society, where rigorous thinking meets civic conversation.

This contribution draws deeply on the foundations of his own education. After graduating in Economics from the University of Leeds, Andreas pursued further study and professional development, having been affiliated with INSEAD, the London School of Economics and the Cranfield School of Management, grounding his understanding of leadership as both a strategic discipline and a moral practice.

Thought leadership is not a matter of authority or acclaim; it is the capacity to interpret change wisely, to connect ideas across boundaries, and to act from conviction rather than convenience. This commitment defines Andreas Wasmuht’s wider contribution as a thought leader. For him, leadership begins with reflection – translating insight into action, and action back into understanding. He has led programmes of transformation that reimagined how organisations engage with people, shaping corporate strategies in multiple industry sectors in the UK, which include Financial Services, Telecommunications, Energy, Motoring, Healthcare, Retail and Entertainment. Through his own consultancy, he has guided major businesses through complex change, demonstrating that innovation is not merely technological but profoundly human.

Psychologist Kurt Lewin once said, “There is nothing so practical as a good theory”, and Andreas’s career gives that truth practical meaning. He has turned analysis into leadership, and leadership into learning, demonstrating that thoughtful practice remains the best route to progress. His approach bridges the philosophical and the pragmatic: to think critically, to act ethically and to lead with purpose.

Through his continuing work with the University of Bath and the wider community, Andreas extends his thought leadership into education and practice. As a regularly featured speaker at the University, he connects scholarship with civic life, exemplifying reflective leadership that unites insight with action, learning with service and intellect with integrity. His public lectures and joint events between the University and BRLSI extend the reach of scholarship to benefit all.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, for his contributions to civic learning, strengthening Bath’s enduring cultural heritage; and for his dedication to intellectual enrichment as a force for public good, I present to you Andreas Wasmuht, who is eminently worthy to receive the degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa.