Informed Solutions Group CEO Elizabeth Vega OBE has been awarded an honorary doctorate from The Open University.
Presented by the Executive Dean of The Open University (OU) Professor Nick Braithwaite, the prestigious award was recognised at Manchester’s Bridgwater Hall. The Doctor of the University was awarded in recognition of Elizabeth’s exceptional and longstanding contributions to society through responsible and sustainable business, the creation and ethical use of award-winning digital innovation, and her groundbreaking work in fostering an inclusive, diverse and egalitarian technology sector.
Founding Informed Solutions in 1992, Elizabeth has championed the integration of technology and change management to transform public services, businesses, and entire industries, shaping them to be more effective, responsible, and sustainable.
Informed is now widely recognised as a pioneer in AI and data science-led approaches to digital transformation in both private and public sector settings and has been the recipient of two Queen’s Awards for Innovation and two Global World IT Congress Innovation Awards for delivering AI-powered platforms and user-centred digital services that meet the needs of millions of people every day in an increasingly connected and converged world.
Elizabeth’s commitment to investing in digital skills and capabilities has led to innovative outreach programmes, championing diversity and offering young people from underrepresented backgrounds across Manchester and the North-West access to career pathways, skills, and opportunities. Particularly conscious of the gender divide, she works tirelessly to challenge bias and problematic cultures while supporting girls and women in fulfilling their potential in leadership roles in technology.
Elizabeth has also played an important role in shaping government policy on business growth and international trade, advising the Cabinet Office on procurement, culture and capability development, and patient investment that facilitates economic resilience and sustained growth across small and medium enterprises. Also serving as an Export Champion for the Northern Powerhouse and the Department of Business and Trade, she was a key member of the International Trade Policy Advisory Board, which supported negotiation teams in the lead-up to the Free Trade agreement between Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
As a result of her sustained public service and leadership, Elizabeth was appointed OBE in 2020 for services to international trade and as a trusted advisor and expert in digital transformation. The former Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, later invited her to join the UK’s Business Council. In recent years, The OU has benefitted from Elizabeth’s insight as an active member of the Research Strategic Advisory Board, which strives to identify, promote, and scale collaborative research and innovation to meet some of our greatest societal challenges.
Elizabeth commented: “I am both delighted and humbled to receive an Honorary Doctorate from The Open University, and especially to be recognised for championing responsible business and fostering a culture of innovation that serves all sectors of society and helps meet some of the most significant societal and environmental challenges that we face.
“I have seen the power that creating opportunities in the tech sector can have on the people, our local communities and how technology helps solve many of the social, health, environmental and economic challenges that we all face. It’s crystal clear to me that technology businesses that provide supportive, egalitarian and inclusive workplaces, and that invest in staff and skills, are especially well-placed to provide a level playing field of opportunities for all people. Good leadership and culture help grow better businesses and also more confident, capable staff. Businesses that shape rewarding career paths, and build a sense of purpose, pride and commitment to delivering positive impact in the work defines what I believe is ‘tech for good’.
“I am delighted to work with The OU on the Strategic Research Advisory Board and on the Open Societal Challenges, driving academic, industry and citizen collaboration; facilitating societal change; and overcoming sustainability challenges. The OU reflects Informed Solutions’ mission to help make the world a smarter, safer, cleaner, and healthier place for people. To be recognised as a Doctor of the University makes me feel incredibly humble and appreciative of our relationship and what we are achieving by working together.
“It was also a source of deep pride that I was able to accept this extraordinary honour in Manchester, where we both support and are supported by the Greater Manchester business and tech community, and the visionary local political leadership that we have.”
The OU was founded by Royal Charter and their mission is to make higher education accessible to all people of all ages, offering highly valued degrees that enable students to ‘learn while you earn’. It is the only university with campuses in all four nations of the UK and is ranked third in student and graduate employability results (76% employment in 2017/18) through its Employability Framework and Careers Service. The results speak for themselves, with The Open University being ranked third in the UK’s National Student Survey achieving 88.24% overall student satisfaction.
Professor Kevin Shakesheff, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation at The Open University, comments: “Elizabeth has set new standards for digital technology, with her leadership fostering a culture that champions inclusivity, diversity, and a steadfast commitment to world-class innovation.
“In recent years, the Open University has been fortunate enough to benefit from Elizabeth’s critical support and challenge, thanks to her active role on the Research Strategic Advisory Board. We share her belief in the critical role that technology can play in improving public services, fostering social justice and promoting environmental sustainability. We are delighted to recognise her contribution to British business and enterprise with this honorary Doctorate.”
