U of T to confer honorary degrees on academic, business and community leaders

May 9, 2025

A composite image of the six degree recipients — *Clockwise from top left: Zacharias Kunuk, Alan Taylor, Janet Ecker, Ilya Sutskever, Patricia Jackson and David Wilson Photo of Kunuk by Raphaël Sandler, Kingulliit Productions.*

Six eminent individuals whose work has propelled diverse fields ranging from artificial intelligence to Indigenous cinema will receive honorary degrees from the University of Toronto this year.

The six recipients, many of whom have significant ties to the university, will also address graduating students during U of T’s convocation ceremonies, which take place in the spring and fall.

“This year’s honorary degree recipients have made exemplary contributions in academia, the arts, public service and other realms,” said U of T President Meric Gertler.

“Their participation in our convocation celebrations will be a special source of inspiration for our graduating students and indeed for the entire University of Toronto community.”

Here are U of T’s honorary degree recipients in 2025:

Janet Ecker, former Ontario Finance Minister and founding CEO of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance, is recognized for her outstanding service to the university, leadership in governance and public service.

She served as both vice-chair and chair of U of T’s Governing Council, providing the university with crucial oversight. Ecker has been named one of the “Most Influential People in the World’s Financial Centers” and has received the “Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award.”

Patricia Jackson, one of Canada’s leading counsel in high-profile and complex cases, and a defender of civil liberties, particularly freedom of expression, is recognized for her pathbreaking career, advancing the public interest, and her outstanding service to the university.

She has served on the University of Toronto Tribunal since 1984, including 20 years as senior chair – and spent more than two decades on the board of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

Zacharias Kunuk, a renowned filmmaker, sculptor and visual artist, is recognized for his contributions to the arts and his impact on Indigenous storytelling.

He has redefined film by creating space for Indigenous filmmakers and bringing Inuit stories to an international audience. His 2001 debut feature, Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, was the world’s first Inuktitut-language feature film, receiving wide acclaim.

Ilya Sutskever, a U of T alumnus who co-founded OpenAI and Safe Superintelligence, is recognized for his global impact as a scholar and his visionary leadership in the transformational field of artificial intelligence.

As a U of T student in the machine learning group with Nobel Laureate and University Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton, Sutskever co-published a seminal research article that sparked widespread adoption of deep learning techniques.

Alan Taylor, an award-winning director, writer and producer, is recognized for his outstanding contributions to film and television.

He has worked on major productions including Thor: The Dark World, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, Mad Men and The West Wing. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for directing an episode of The Sopranos. A U of T history and philosophy graduate, he remains engaged with the university through speaking engagements and alumni events.

David Wilson, a U of T alumnus who built a distinguished career in banking and the financial services industry that spanned more than five decades and several leadership roles, is recognized for his service to the university as a transformational and dedicated volunteer.

A former member of the Governing Council, he served as chair of the 2012-13 Presidential Search Committee and the Business Board. He is currently co-chair of the campaign cabinet for Victoria University, part of U of T’s Defy Gravity campaign.

Originally published by U of T News

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