Celebrating our 2026 graduates

On Saturday 17 October, our 2026 graduation ceremony took place at The People’s Palace, Queen Mary University, in London.

Hundreds of students celebrated the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance at our graduation ceremony on Saturday 17 October 2026. Bringing together proud family members, friends and representatives from Tavistock Education and Training, North London NHS Foundation Trust and our partner universities, the event was held at The People’s Palace, Queen Mary University, in London.

Our Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Professor Mark Freestone, and Chief Executive, Jinjer Kandola MBE, opened the ceremony and welcomed graduands and guests on behalf of North London NHS Foundation Trust and Tavistock Education and Training.

In her welcome address, Jinjer Kandola noted that this was the first graduation ceremony to be celebrated since the Tavistock and Portman became part of North London NHS Foundation Trust earlier this year, saying: “I am proud that the Tavistock has found a new home within NLFT, and honoured to be leading an institution whose legacy has helped to shape our understanding of people, relationships and systems for over a century, and whose graduates will carry that legacy forward in ways that make a meaningful difference to the lives of others”.

Professor Rachel Wicaksono, Executive Dean of Childhood and Social Care at the University of East London, and Dr Annecy Lax, Dean of Partnerships at the University of Essex, congratulated the graduands on behalf of their institutions.

Professor Wicaksono described the event as one of the happiest days of the academic calendar, celebrating the “extraordinary journey” and personal growth that have preceded the day, adding: “Graduation is not simply a celebration of what you know, it is a recognition of who you have become”. She addressed the graduating cohort as a group ready not simply to enter the future, but to help shape it – applying their knowledge and skills to address some of the challenges facing our society.

Dr Lax also spoke of the importance of education in our current context, telling graduands: “More than ever, the world needs people like you.” Dr Lax also reflected on the longstanding partnership between the University of Essex and the Tavistock, remarking that “each institution is stronger because of the other”, while praising the Tavistock’s “extraordinary intellectual and clinical heritage” and profound influence on professional practice around the world.

This theme was further developed by Dr Ajit Menon, Pro-Chancellor of the University of Essex and former Tavistock student, whose speech reflected on his time since graduating in 2022. Dr Menon explained that his relationship with the Tavistock “began long before I first walked through its doors”, having encountered ideas and theories developed here during the formative stages of his academic and professional journey. He reflected that his time studying and working at “the Tavi” had given him “a true depth of understanding” – enabling him to listen more thoughtfully, ask difficult questions with care, and develop “a professional edge that I value enormously”.

The speeches were concluded by Maria Sansone, a graduate of our Systemic Psychotherapy (M6) training, who spoke on behalf of her peers. Maria likened the peaks and troughs of their collective study experience to climbing a mountain – acknowledging that “the journey of learning and self-discovery continues”, while encouraging everyone to “enjoy the view and celebrate”.

Professor Freestone closed the ceremony by inviting all graduates and their loved ones to stand and celebrate one another in turn, prompting thunderous applause and cheers as both groups warmly acknowledged each other’s support and achievements.

We wish all our graduates the very best as they move forward into the next chapters of their academic and professional lives.