University of Exeter awards Honorary Degree to WaterAid Chief Executive

WaterAid's Chief Executive, Barbara Frost receives Honorary Degree

Barbara Frost, Chief Executive, has been awarded a Doctor of Law by the University of Exeter in recognition of her work with WaterAid and other international development organisations.

The honorary degrees are awarded to alumni, notable members of the local community and those who have made a significant contribution internationally.

Professor Tim Quine, Professor of Earth System Science, explained that Barbara's achievements with WaterAid and in previous roles with ActionAid, Save the Children and Action on Disability and Development made her an inspiring role model for the university’s graduates.

When accepting her honorary degree, Barbara praised the hard work and commitment of WaterAid staff around the world and emphasised the charity's close links with the South West, through local supporter groups and partnerships with South West Water, the University of Exeter, the Glastonbury Festival and the Eden Project.

She said: "This honour reflects the achievements of WaterAid as we work alongside some of the poorest communities in the world helping them to access safe water to drink, improved hygiene and decent sanitation as a first step out of poverty."

She also highlighted the hard work still to be done as nearly one billion people still do not have safe water to drink and 40% of the world's population have to cope without adequate sanitation.

"I was in Ethiopia recently and was really shocked at what I saw," she said. "A dry river bed with women digging deep and narrow holes as they collected water as it seeped out of the rock – cup by cup.

"Today, in accepting this degree, I do so with pleasure and with pride but with the knowledge that the challenge still ahead is a great one. I hope some of you will have the opportunity I have had to use your learning and skills to further help overcome poverty and human suffering."

Barbara was also recently awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science from Cranfield University in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the field of international development.