UCL community celebrated in King’s Birthday Honours

Released on 13 June, this summer’s list features 19 members of the UCL community who have received honours from His Majesty King Charles III.  

Alumni 

Antony Gormley (Honorary Degree) has been appointed a Companion of Honour (CH) for services to the arts. One of the UK’s most prominent sculptors, Gormley is best known for iconic works such as Angel of the North. In 2024, he unveiled True, a public sculpture in tribute to Alan Turing, commissioned by King’s College, Cambridge. He won the Turner Prize in 1994.

Andrew Murdoch (UCL Law LLM 2008) has been awarded a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for services to British foreign policy. A former Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Mr Murdoch was appointed Governor of Bermuda in January 2025. He previously worked as a barrister and served as an officer in the Royal Navy.

Professor Jo Blanden (UCL Economics MSc 1999; Economics PhD 2005) has been awarded an OBE for services to economics. An academic at the University of Surrey and former researcher at the Centre for Economic Performance at LSE, Professor Blanden is a leading expert on social mobility, early years education and inequality. She is also affiliated with UCL’s Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities.

Professor Anthony Dorling (UCL Medicine MBBS 1987) has been awarded an OBE for services to kidney patient care. Professor Dorling recently retired as Professor of Transplant Inflammation and Repair at King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. He previously held roles at Imperial College and Hammersmith Hospital.

Dr Joshua Macabuag (UCL Engineering PhD 2017) was awarded an OBE for services to search and rescue engineering. Dr Macabuag is a chartered civil engineer with nearly 2 decades of experience in disaster risk-related fields. He is the co-founder of Renew-Risk, an organisation revolutionising risk analytics for renewable energy.

Dr Amanda Wilcox (UCL Higher Education Management MBA 2011) has been awarded an MBE for services to higher education. As Pro Vice-Chancellor at York St John University, she led the institution’s response to COVID-19 and later became University Secretary at Durham University. Her career has included senior roles at the Office for Students and the Higher Education Funding Council.

June Slaughter (UCL Laws BA 1964) was awarded an MBE for political and public service. June Slaughter has served as a member and then later coucillor in the London Borough of Bexley since 1974, representing residents in Sidcup and contributing significantly to her local community over five decades.

Friends

Dame Lisbet Rausing received a Damehood (DBE) for philanthropic services to the arts. She co-founded the Arcadia Fund with her husband, UCLA academic Professor Peter Baldwin, supporting causes including endangered languages, open access to research, and environmental conservation.

Dame Anne Glover has been awarded a DBE for services to engineering and science business. A long-standing friend of UCL, she is co-founder and Chief Executive of Amadeus Capital Partners and has served on the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology and the Bank of England’s Court of Directors.

Professor Dame Ursula Martin has also received a DBE for services to science and education. Professor Martin is a renowned advocate for gender equality in STEM and a distinguished researcher in theoretical computer science.

Mary Maidment has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to culture and volunteering. A dedicated volunteer at the Tate and Foundling Museum, Mary celebrated her 100th birthday in 2024 and continues to support arts and heritage organisations across London.

Staff

Professor Mariana Mazzucato (UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose) has been appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to economics. 
An internationally influential economist, Professor Mazzucato is Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose and Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value. Her missions-based approach has shaped policy across governments and institutions globally.

Professor Tim Cole (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health) has been appointed CBE for services to medical statistics. Professor Cole is internationally recognised for his pioneering work in child growth research, including the development of standardised definitions for childhood obesity and overweight. He served as Professor of Medical Statistics at UCL from 1999 to 2024.

Professor Owen Bowden-Jones (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences) has been appointed CBE for services to addiction rehabilitation and public service. An Honorary Professor at UCL, Professor Bowden-Jones founded the UK’s first Club Drug Clinic and served as Chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Professor Tilli (Elizabeth) Tansey (UCL Biosciences) has been appointed CBE for services to the understanding and promotion of medical history and science. Honorary Professor of Physiology at UCL’s Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, Professor Tansey is best known for co-creating the Witness Seminar series, a unique oral history archive capturing the voices of those involved in key advances in modern medicine.

Professor Raman Prinja (UCL Physics & Astronomy) has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to academia and education. Professor Prinja is Head of the Department of Physics & Astronomy at UCL and a leading researcher in stellar evolution. He has also authored over 20 award-winning popular science books for children and young people, inspiring the next generation of scientists.

Professor Owase Jeelani (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health) was awarded an MBE for services to neurosurgery and global child health. Professor Jeelani is internationally known for developing pioneering surgical techniques to separate craniopagus twins. He co-founded the global charity Gemini Untwined and played a leading role in developing the neurosurgery department at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Mr John Welch (UCL Surgery & Interventional Science) has been appointed MBE for services to nursing and patient safety. A Consultant Nurse in critical care at UCLH and Honorary Clinical Lecturer at UCL, Mr Welch has worked in the NHS for four decades and led national efforts to improve care for deteriorating patients. He also played a key role in expanding critical care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Examples of UCL values

“A huge congratulations to those honoured by His Majesty The King,” said Angharad Milenkovic, UCL’s Vice-President (Advancement). “We are deeply proud to see so many members of our community recognised for their exceptional contributions to fields as diverse as health, education, science, and the arts.”

“Their shared ability to drive progress and inspire change across the whole of society is testament to their unique talents, and they are each fantastic examples of intrinsic UCL values such as collaboration, innovation, and dedication to the public good.”

Links

UCL alumni, staff and supporters recognised in King’s New Year Honours list (January 2025)