Image: from left, Professor Beth Breeze, Professor Bill Mander, Yves Bonavero, Alex Sutton.
Harris Manchester College alumnus Yves Bonavero (1996, BA Philosophy and German) recently visited college to discuss the educational needs of ex-offenders with our Principal, Professor Beth Breeze. Prisoners are a key concern of his family philanthropy, which has generously supported initiatives across the University including the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights within the Faculty of Law, which was established in 2015.
He was accompanied on his visit by Alex Sutton, who is the Director of his A.B Charitable Trust. Yves set up the Trust, which he also chaired for 33 years, with his wife Anne in 1990 with the aim of promoting human dignity and defending the human rights of marginalised and excluded people.
Alongside his philanthropic activities, Yves has enjoyed a highly successful career in business. He began his business career with Man Group and became Chief Executive in 1987 and went on to found Poland Dom Development, which listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in 2006, and Europa Park, a Polish logistics and distribution centre. Yves is also the chairman of Woodsford Consulting Ltd, which he founded in 1996; in 2010, he set up Woodsford Group Ltd which works to provide redress for ESG breaches by corporations.
After the meeting Yves had an enjoyable reunion with his former tutor Professor Bill Mander, one of Harris Manchester's longest serving members of staff.
He also met up with Emeritus Fellow Eric Eve, our Senior Tutor Isabel Ruiz Olaya and Tutor for Admissions Vicky Gill.
