Described by the College as "one of the most creative and influential entrepreneurs of our time", Edwina will join a distinguished group of Honorary Fellows including Dame Judi Dench, Helena Kennedy QC (Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws), PD James (Baroness James of Holland Park), Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Dame Stella Rimington and Sandi Toksvig.
Edwina is best-known as co-founder of the international data analytics company Dunnhumby, a business she launched from her kitchen table with her husband Clive Humby in 1989. The pair were instrumental in the creation of the Tesco Clubcard and are widely credited with redefining the relationship between retailers and customers worldwide.
Today Edwina is CEO of Starcount, a digital start-up that measures the global tastes and trends of 1.7 billion people across 12 of the world’s largest social networks, before applying a progressive view of data science to help brands navigate their social media journey.
Edwina is a passionate campaigner for women and spearheads the What I See Project - a not-for-profit initiative to promote the voices and experiences of women from around the world through the medium of film. The Project, which includes several videos of students, professors and other members of Lucy Cavendish College, seeks to use these stories to support the life and career aspirations of young women.
Edwina is also Chair of Your LIfe, a Government-backed campaign to encourage more young people to consider careers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) industries. The campaign, which has a particular focus on girls and women, aims to increase participation in maths and physics A-levels by 50 per cent in three years.
Edwina Dunn, CEO Starcount, commented: "It is an enormous honour to be appointed an Honorary Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College and to stand alongside a group of such distinguished women from a wide range of specialisms.
"I believe passionately in the ability of women to excel in their careers and it is therefore vital that we encourage and support young women to achieve their full potential."
Professor Janet Todd OBE, President of Lucy Cavendish College, commented: "Lucy Cavendish College is delighted to announce the appointment of Edwina Dunn as an Honorary Fellow. She is a remarkable person. Aside from being one of the most creative and influential women entrepreneurs of our time, she is also a fervent supporter of women’s issues.
"Edwina founded What I See as a non profit-making project celebrating the voices and experiences of women from around the world as inspiration for other women seeking to fulfil their potential. This year Edwina has been appointed to chair the board of Your Life, an initiative to encourage greater student numbers in STEM subjects, particularly Maths, Physics, Engineering and Technology; she is especially eager to bring more women and girls into these subjects. With her entrepreneurial activities and concern for developing women’s chances and careers, Edwina epitomises the ethos of Lucy Cavendish College."
Image: Edwina Dunn, Honorary Fellow (centre), with Clive Humby and Professor Janet Todd OBE, President of Lucy Cavendish College.
About Lucy Cavendish College
Lucy Cavendish is the only women's college in Europe exclusively for students aged 21 or over, and a unique part of the University of Cambridge. Its undergraduate and postgraduate students come from over sixty countries, and a wide variety of educational and professional backgrounds. Many have changed careers or overcome significant challenges in order to reach University. The College is particularly strong in Medicine, Law, Engineering, Veterinary Medicine, Psychology, the Social Sciences and English. Our President, Professor Janet Todd OBE, is an internationally-renowned scholar of early women writers , including Jane Austen, and author of many biographies and critical works.
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For further information, please contact:
Emily Horton
[email protected]
0207 199 2210
Caroline Sier
Development Director and Fellow
Lucy Cavendish College
[email protected]
01223 764020
www.lucy-cav.cam.ac.uk
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