Restaurant business owner and top judge to be awarded honorary doctorates

A restaurant business owner and a top European judge are to be awarded honorary doctorates by Edge Hill University.

Nisha Katona, founder, CEO and executive chef of Mowgli Street Food restaurants, will be made Honorary Doctor of Business Administration and Judge Professor Paulo Pinto de Alberquerque, European Court of Human Rights judge, will be given the title Honorary Doctor of Laws at the University’s winter graduation ceremony on Saturday 7 December.

Both recipients are being recognised for their contributions to society which resonate with the University’s values, teaching and research.

Former barrister Nisha Katona MBE is best known as a successful restaurateur, food writer and broadcaster, regularly appearing on television and radio as an entrepreneur, food and business expert.

Nisha, who was born in Ormskirk, opened contemporary Indian restaurant chain, Mowgli Street Food in 2014; in 2018 Mowgli was listed in The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 Businesses.

Judge Professor Paulo Pinto de Albuquerque has been Judge of the European Court of Human Rights since 2011.

As an international judge, he has authored more than 150 opinions and has significantly contributed to the development of international human rights law.

Judge Pinto de Albuquerque has also significantly contributed to strengthening Edge Hill’s research profile in human rights law and is enabling the University to establish institutional links with courts at a national and international level.

Dr John Cater, Vice-Chancellor of Edge Hill University, said: “The University is privileged to be awarding Nisha and Paulo with honorary doctorates alongside our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

“This is a wonderful occasion for everyone involved, made all the more special thanks to a visit from two such leaders in their fields; I hope our graduands will feel inspired by sharing this moment with them.”