Henley awards an honorary MBA to its most loved, Fran Connaway

Fran Connaway receives an honorary MBA from David Savage, Director of Finance and Corporate Services at The University of Reading.

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ednesday 3rd August 2011 was an emotional night as more than 150 friends, family, colleagues, and

alumni of Henley Business School South Africa came together to honour their very own Fran Connaway as she was awarded an honorary MBA. Just a few weeks ago, she was also awarded an honorary MBA from the University of Reading in UK, and so this would be the South African version.

There was barely a dry eye amongst the

gathering at the Johannesburg Country Club as we sat, listened, laughed, cried and applauded

8 Management Today | August 2011

during almost an hour of speeches from Fran’s great admirers. Prof Jon Foster-Pedley, Dean and Director of Henley Business School South Africa, gave the welcoming address, not only reflecting on the past 20 years of Henley, but also sharing future plans with us. “A future that is only possible through the extraordinary and dedicated work of Fran and her team,” he said. It was with sadness that Prof Foster-Pedley announced Fran’s early retirement at the end of August due to ill health from cancer. “We will miss her, and today is about thanking her and celebrating a remarkable life.”