Chris Boardman and Baroness Ruth Hunt elected as Visiting Fellows
One of Britain's most successful racing cyclists and a cross-bench peer join Jesus College this term as Visiting Fellows.
Visiting Fellowships are offered to people of distinction for their outstanding achievements beyond normal academic circles.
They participate in College life by giving talks and lectures, and by interacting with and inspiring our students. They may also conduct their own research in the University of Cambridge during their tenure.
Chris Boardman, former British racing cyclist, Commissioner of Active Travel England
Chris Boardman is one of Britain’s most successful racing cyclists. Between 1992 and 2000 he attended and medalled at major Games winning Britain’s first gold for 72 years at Barcelona in 1992. He also wore the leaders’ yellow jersey at the Tour de France on three separate occasions, took three world titles and broke several world records. He was awarded an MBE for services to sport.
Since retirement from professional cycling, Chris has served in various roles with British Cycling helping set up and lead the Research and Development branch for the British Olympic Cycling team that went on to scoop 14 medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and become the most successful of all time. The research and development group were nicknamed the "Secret Squirrel Club" and they played a significant part in creating that unprecedented sporting prosperity.
Chris has also worked as a cycling commentator and launched his own range of cycles and accessories, Boardman Bikes.
More recently he has worked in walking and cycling advocacy roles, becoming Greater Manchester's walking and cycling commissioner in 2017, Greater Manchester's Transport Commissioner in 2021 and is now Commissioner of Active Travel England which aims to ensure 50 per cent of journeys in towns and cities are walked or cycled by 2030.
Baroness Ruth Hunt, Baroness Hunt of Bethnal Green, Co-Director of Deeds and Words
Ruth is a cross-bench peer in the House of Lords where she carries out the normal duties of a peer and advocates for LGBT+ inclusion. Ruth is also Co-Director of Deeds and Words, which she runs with her partner Caroline. Deeds and Words exists to play a small part in helping organisations and communities build cultures that work better, to tackle the challenges faced in society.
Before joining the Lords and Deeds and Words, Ruth was the CEO of Stonewall, the UK’s largest LGBT+ organisation. Ruth worked at Stonewall for 14 years, holding a range of positions and working to change attitudes to LGBT+ people.
Ruth attended Oxford University, where she was President of the Student Union and she holds honorary doctorates from Exeter and Keele University and an honorary fellowship from Cardiff University. Ruth is also a Marshall Memorial Fellow of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
