Essex stars in the Birthday Honours list

Current and former academics, graduates and honorary graduates from the University of Essex have been included in the Birthday Honours list.

Professor Shamit Saggar plays an important leadership role within the University’s research community as Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research and Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER). A former senior advisor to the Prime Minister, and Essex graduate, Professor Saggar was awarded a CBE for services to social science and public policy.

Former Director of ISER, Professor Jonathan Gershuny has been honoured with a CBE for services to the social sciences and sociology. He was Director of ISER for 12 years and was instrumental in building it as a research institute. He is now Professor of Economic Sociology at Nuffield College, University of Oxford.

Richard Lister, who moved from the University of Essex in 2004 to develop plans for a university in Suffolk, has been awarded an OBE for services to higher education. Richard is now the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Suffolk, which gained independence from Essex in August 2016.

Professor Anthony Forster, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex, said: “Under his leadership, the University of Suffolk has become an important economic and cultural driver in the region and a beacon project in the regeneration of the economic and cultural life of Ipswich.

“Richard is a people person…thoughtful, caring and compassionate. He is a role model and truly inspirational leader. He nurtures, supports and earns the confidence and respect of his colleagues and never loses sight of the importance of putting students' needs first. The University of Suffolk achieving independent university status in 2016 was a fitting culmination to a lifetime of selfless commitment to the transformative power of a University education”

Professor Carolyn Hamilton, of the Coram Children’s Legal Centre and a former senior researcher and professor at the University of Essex, was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) for services to children’s rights.

Two Essex graduates featured in the list: Professor Aisha Gill, a Professor of Criminology at the University of Roehampton, was awarded a CBE for tackling forced marriage, honour crimes and violence against women and Amanda Richardson, Chief Executive of The PACE Centre and founding chairman of Action for Cerebral Palsy, who was awarded and MBE for services to special education.

Three honorary graduates were also included in the list. Author Dr Ronald Blythe, who is best known for his classic novel Akenfield, about country life at the turn of the century, was awarded a CBE for services to literature.

Helena Morrissey, Head of Personal Investing at Legal and General, was made a Dame Order of the British Empire for services to diversity in financial services.

Sir John Sulston, who won a Nobel Prize for his breakthrough contribution to understanding how genes control cell division and cell death in an organism, was made a Companion of Honour.

Friends of the University who were honored included Alison Inman, an external trustee of the Students’ Union (SU), who plays a crucial role in helping to secure the legal and financial stability of the SU. She received an OBE for services to social housing tenants.

Nardeep Sharma, a key player in the V16 project, which gives local sixth formers the opportunity to study A’Levels at the University of Essex, was awarded an OBE for services to education. He is Chief Executive Thrive Partnership Academy Trust, Executive Principal Colne Community College and Philip M