Professor Grace Ononiwu CBE

Meet Professor Grace Ononiwu CBE, Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire and Director General Legal Delivery for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)

Professor Grace Ononiwu CBE is one of the UK’s most distinguished and pioneering legal professionals. Appointed Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire on 1 October 2025, she brings a legacy of leadership, advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to justice and education to the role.

A proud alumna of the University, Professor Ononiwu graduated in 1988 with a BA (Hons) in Law and qualified as a solicitor in 1991. She began her legal career in private practice in High Wycombe, before joining the Crown Prosecution Services (CPS) as a Crown Prosecutor. Rising steadily through the ranks, she soon became one of the most senior legal figures in the country.

Ambition and determination

Despite her clear ambitions, Professor Ononiwu recalls being discouraged by her Careers Officer at school, who told her there was “no way” she could become a lawyer and suggested she become a legal secretary. Professor Ononiwu says, “I was fourteen/fifteen years old at the time, and this knocked my confidence and destroyed the dream I had at an early age. My parents always told me to listen to the teachers, and I did. I totally rebelled and failed all my ‘O’ Levels as I thought there was no point in trying. When I failed, though, it was the longest walk home to my mum. I promised myself, probably unrealistically, that I will never fail again. I hated how failure made me feel, and that was a turning point in my life. I worked in a shoe shop throughout my studies. I was determined to qualify.”

Career highlights

In 2005, Professor Ononiwu made history as the first Afro-Caribbean Chief Crown Prosecutor in the CPS, leading the Northamptonshire region. Her trailblazing ascent continued with a series of senior appointments, including Legal Director for CPS London, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the East of England, and later Chief Crown Prosecutor for the West Midlands – at the time the largest CPS region in the country. She was once again the first woman and first Afro-Caribbean person to hold the East of England and West Midlands posts.

Professor Ononiwu’s influence expanded when she was appointed Director of Legal Services for the CPS in 2021, overseeing casework quality, professional standards, and legal guidance across the organisation. In June 2025, she became the first ever Director General Legal Delivery of the CPS, assuming leadership of its entire legal and operations functions.

Recognition and honours

Professor Ononiwu’s contributions have been recognised with numerous accolades, including an OBE in 2008 and a CBE in 2019, as well as her inclusion in the Powerlist of the UK’s most influential people of African, African Caribbean, and African American Heritage. She was named one of the UK’s Women of the Year in 2020 and honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Black Solicitors Network in 2021.

Beyond her legal achievements, Professor Ononiwu has remained deeply connected to education and to the University of Hertfordshire. She holds Honorary Doctorates from both the University of Hertfordshire and Birmingham City Universities, serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of Hertfordshire’s Law School, and is patron of its Law Clinic. In 2022, the University named its Law Court building in her honour, celebrating her impact on the legal profession and her role as an inspirational figure for future generations.