New Year Honours 2016: Paul Curran knighted and five professors appointed dames

The vice-chancellor who has led the sector’s pay negotiations has been knighted in the 2016 New Year Honours in recognition of his work as a “transformational” leader.

Paul Curran, vice-chancellor of City University London, has been chair of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association since 2011. In that role, he has helped to negotiate a series of often below-inflation pay rises for staff.

In 2013, it emerged that Sir Paul had chosen not to take a £42,000 performance-related bonus for his work at City.

In July this year, City announced that it would become part of the University of London. A Cabinet Office briefing said that Sir Paul was a “transformational university leader” who was taking City “into the top few per cent in the world”.

Sir Paul said: “This is a great honour, not only for me but for all of City’s staff, students, alumni, partners and friends. It is a daily privilege to lead such a strong and distinctive global institution.

“A knighthood is an amazing and a profoundly humbling surprise. I am immensely grateful for the life-changing effect that higher education had on me, for the encouragement of my many colleagues and for the support of my wife and daughter, who have been with me every step of the way.”   

Five professors were appointed dames: Lesley Fallowfield, a scientist based at the University of Sussex who specialises in cancer patients’ communication and quality of life; Georgina Mace, a professor of biodiversity and ecosystems at University College London; Henrietta Moore, a social anthropologist also based at UCL; Margaret Whitehead, who specialises in health inequalities at the University of Liverpool; and Til Wykes, a researcher into recovery from mental illness at King’s College London.

Several current and former vice-chancellors were also recognised. Andrew Wathey, vice-chancellor of Northumbria University, was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, as was Paul Boyle, vice-chancellor of the University of Leicester.

Professor Boyle was recognised for his time as chief executive of the Economic and Social Research Council. “This is a tremendous honour which is recognition of the exceptional work done by colleagues,” he said.

Also appointed CBE were Steve Chapman, former vice-chancellor of Heriot-Watt University (now vice-chancellor of Edith Cowan University in Australia); John Coyne, former vice-chancellor of the University of Derby; and Susan Price, former head of Leeds Beckett University.

Rob Behrens, chief executive of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, was also appointed CBE.

“The development of the OIA as the independent student ombudsman service for higher education has been an important feature of higher education in the last decade,” he said.

“I am delighted that my contribution to this collective endeavour has been recognised, and see it as a positive reflection on the work of the organisation.”

david.matthews@tesglobal.com

New Year Honours 2016

Among those given knighthoods:

• Paul Curran, vice-chancellor, City University London, for services to higher education
• Harpal Kumar, chief executive, Cancer Research UK, for services to cancer research
• David Mackay, Regius professor of engineering, University of Cambridge engineering department, for services to scientific advice in government and science outreach

Among those appointed dames:

• Lesley Fallowfield, director, Sussex Health Outcomes Research and Education in Cancer, University of Sussex, for services to psycho-oncology
• Georgina Mace, professor of biodiversity and ecosystems and director, Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London, for services to science
• Henrietta Moore, director, Institute for Global Prosperity and chair, culture, philosophy and design, University College London, for services to social sciences
• Margaret Whitehead, head, department of public health and policy, Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, for services to public health
• Til Wykes, vice-dean of psychology and systems sciences and professor of clinical psychology and rehabilitation, King’s College London, for services to clinical psychology

Among those appointed Companions of the Order of the Bath:

• Nicholas Jennings, chief scientific adviser for national security and Regius professor, University of Southampton, for services to computer science and national security science

Among those appointed CBE:

• Robert Behrens, chief executive and independent adjudicator, Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, for services to higher education
• Paul Boyle, lately chief executive, Economic and Social Research Council and president and vice-chancellor, University of Leicester, for services to social science
• Christopher Bulstrode, emeritus professor, Green Templeton College, Oxford and volunteer, Doctors of the World, for services to humanitarian medicine
• Wendy Carlin, professor of economics, University College London and member, Expert Advisory Panel, Office for Budget Responsibility, for services to economics and public finance
• Barry Carpenter, international professor of learning disabilities, for services to special educational needs
• Steven Chapman, lately principal and vice-chancellor, Heriot-Watt University, for services to higher education
• David Compston, professor of neurology, University of Cambridge, for services to multiple sclerosis treatment
• John Coyne, lately vice-chancellor, University of Derby, for services to higher education
• Charles Craddock, professor of haemato-oncology, University of Birmingham and consultant haematologist, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, for services to medicine and medical research
• Melanie Davies, professor of diabetes medicine, University of Leicester and honorary consultant, University Hospitals of Leicester, for services to diabetes research
• Martin Doel, chief executive, Association of Colleges, for services to further education
• David Lane, professor of autonomous systems engineering, Heriot-Watt University and founding director, Edinburgh Centre for Robotics, for services to engineering
• Karen Luker, lately dean, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, for services to nursing and midwifery
• Catherine MacPhee, professor of biological physics, University of Edinburgh, for services to women in physics
• Linda McDowell, professor of human geography, University of Oxford, for services to geography and higher education
• Peter Morris, professor of physics and head of magnetic resonance centre, University of Nottingham, for services to science and medicine
• Paul O’Brien, professor of inorganic materials chemistry, University of Manchester, for services to science and engineering
• Susan Price, lately vice-chancellor, Leeds Beckett University, for services to higher education
• Julia Selwyn, professor and director, the Hadley Centre for Adoption and Foster Care Studies, University of Bristol, for services to adoption and children’s social care
• David Ulph, professor of economics and director, Scottish Institute for Research in Economics, University of St Andrews, for services to economics and social sciences
• Joanna Wardlaw, professor of applied neuro-imaging and honorary consultant neuroradiologist, University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian, for services to neuro-imaging and clinical science
• Andrew Wathey, vice-chancellor, Northumbria University, for services to higher education
• Keith Willett, national director for acute care, NHS England and professor of orthopaedic trauma surgery, University of Oxford, for services to the NHS

Among those appointed OBE:

• Alison Allden, lately chief executive, Higher Education Statistics Agency, for services to higher education
• Jill Belch, professor of vascular medicine, University of Dundee, for services to medicine
• Ellen Bennett, senior research and teaching fellow, department of social policy and intervention, University of Oxford, for services to social science
• Susan Black, honorary senior research associate in computer science, University College London, for services to technology
• David Cowan, professor of pharmaceutical toxicology and director, Drug Control Centre, King’s College London, for services to anti-doping science
• Margaret Dallman, associate provost (academic partnerships), Imperial College London, for services to bioscience
• Celia Edey, non-executive director, University Campus Suffolk, for services to higher education and the community in Essex and Suffolk
• John Edmunds, professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, for services to infectious disease control, particularly the Ebola crisis response in West Africa
• Christine Goodall, senior clinical lecturer, University of Glasgow and co-founder, Medics Against Violence, for services to violence prevention and victims of crime
• Maurice Howard, professor of art history, University of Sussex, for services to higher education and architectural heritage
• Amanda Howe, professor of primary care, University of East Anglia and president-elect, World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), for services to primary care
• Nancy Loucks, chief executive, Families Outside and visiting professor, University of Strathclyde Centre for Law, Crime and Justice, for services to education and human rights
• Susan McVie, professor of quantitative criminology, University of Edinburgh and director, applied quantitative methods network in Scotland, for services to social sciences
• Irene McAra-McWilliam, head, School of Design and director, Design Innovation, Glasgow School of Art, for services to art and design
• Terry Neville, chief operating officer, University of Northampton, for services to higher education
• Helen Odell-Miller, professor of music therapy and director, Music Therapy Research Centre, Anglia Ruskin University, for services to music therapy
• Carolyn Pike, director of legal services, University of Birmingham, for services to higher education and legal services
• Ronald Ritchie, chair of board, Cabot Learning Federation Academies Trust and lately pro vice-chancellor, University of the West of England, for services to education
• Nichola Rumsey, professor of appearance psychology, University of the West of England, for services to people affected by an altered appearance
• John Sumpter, professor of ecotoxicology and head, Institute for the Environment, Brunel University London, for services to the science of ecotoxicology in the aquatic environment
• Kathleen Tanner, professor of biomedical materials, University of Glasgow, for services to biomedical engineering
• Alan Turnbull, senior fellow, electrochemistry and corrosion, National Physical Laboratory, for services to science and industry
• Annalu Waller, chair, human communication technologies, University of Dundee, for services to people with complex communication needs
• Paul White, lately deputy vice-chancellor, University of Sheffield, for services to higher education

Among those appointed MBE:

• Colin Blair, director of estates and facilities, University of Huddersfield, for services to higher education and the community in Huddersfield
• Anthony Burgess, chairman, Harper Adams University Development Trust, for services to higher education governance and fundraising
• Robert Carachi, lately professor of surgical paediatrics, University of Glasgow, for services to medicine
• Richard Griffin, director, Institute of Vocational Learning and Workforce Research, Bucks New University, for services to health and care
• Stephen Humble, teaching fellow in PGCE maths, Newcastle University and freelance maths consultant, for services to education
• Elizabeth Jamieson, lately head of student dyslexia services, University College London, for services to students with dyslexia and dyspraxia in UK higher education
• Roger Kemp, professorial fellow, engineering department, Lancaster University, for services to engineering
• Rowena Macaulay, student support services officer and disability equality champion, University of Essex, for services to higher education
• Vivienne McGuire, bequest secretary, University of Dundee, for services to anatomy bequeathal
• Allan Pacey, professor of andrology, department of oncology and metabolism, University of Sheffield, for services to reproductive medicine
• Terence Priest, director, Biological Services Facility, University of Manchester, for services to laboratory animal care and welfare
• Jean Taylor, lately head of Cornwall Strategic Development, University of Exeter, for services to higher education and economic development in Cornwall
• Lesley Thompson, director of programmes, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, for services to research
• William Turner, head of governance and legal services, Nottingham Trent University, for services to higher education
• Ian Viney, director of strategic evaluation and impact, Medical Research Council, for services to research funding and evaluation

Among those appointed medallist of the British Empire:

• Valerie Barr, secretary, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ulster, for services to higher education and to the community in Northern Ireland
• Glenys Lord, domestic services manager, University of Cumbria, for services to higher education
• Adrian Whitwood, departmental computing officer and X-ray crystallographer, University of York, for services to scientific research and to St John Ambulance in Selby