Rathfinny Wine Estate founders to receive honorary doctorates from University of Brighton

More than 1,700 students are graduating at the Brighton Centre this week as the University of Brighton holds its winter ceremonies.

Events taking place today and tomorrow will welcome graduates and their families from 65 countries. Those collecting awards range in age from 19 to 76, highlighting the university’s focus on inclusivity, opportunity and lifelong learning.

During the ceremonies, honorary doctorates will be awarded to Sarah and Mark Driver, founders of the Driver Youth Trust and Rathfinny Wine Estate. The honours recognise their contribution to education, social equity and sustainable enterprise.

Inspired by raising four children, three of whom are dyslexic, the couple established the Driver Youth Trust to support young people with literacy difficulties. Since its creation, the charity has supported more than 15,000 educators and is working with Kingston University to help embed inclusion and evidence-based practice into teacher training.

Alongside their work in education, the pair co-founded Rathfinny Wine Estate in East Sussex in 2010. Now one of the UK’s leading single-site wine producers, the estate has played a key role in establishing the Sussex PDO status for sparkling wine. In 2021, Rathfinny became the world’s first grower-producer of sparkling wine to achieve B Corp certification, recognising high social and environmental standards.

Sarah and Mark Driver said: “We are both really honoured and thrilled to have received Honorary Doctorates of Arts from the University of Brighton, in recognition of our shared contribution to education and the promotion of sustainability in viticulture. Being our local university makes it even more special as it links to our close collaboration with our community, and we look forward to working with, and supporting, the University in the future.” 

Professor Donna Whitehead, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton, said: “Graduation is one of the most important moments in the our University year, and I am incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of our students as they reach this milestone. Each graduate has shown remarkable talent, resilience and ambition, and they leave us ready to shape a brighter, fairer and more sustainable future for our communities and our world.

“This year, we are also privileged to honour Mark and Sarah Driver, whose leadership through the Driver Youth Trust and Rathfinny Wine Estate reflects the very best of the values we champion at Brighton. Their dedication to educational equity, social impact and sustainable innovation offers a powerful example of how purpose‑driven work can transform lives and inspire change. We are delighted to recognise their contributions and to celebrate alongside them and our graduates.”

Graduates will also hear from inspiring keynote speakers whose journeys reflect the global reach and values of a University of Brighton education. 

Rebecca Porter, a University of Brighton Adult Nursing graduate, will deliver the keynote address at the Thursday afternoon ceremony. Since graduating in 2017, she has volunteered in some of the world’s most challenging environments, most recently providing medical care across Ukraine in support of communities affected by the war.  

The Friday ceremony will feature a keynote address from Michele Kana, President of Brighton Students’ Union. An international student from Cyprus, Michele graduated with a BSc in Physiotherapy in 2024 and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Health and Management. As Students’ Union President, she represents more than 17,000 students, championing inclusion, student voice and meaningful change across the university. 

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