The King’s Birthday Honours 2026

Science and Engineering

16 June 2026

Jessica Livermore

Researchers and leaders from Science and Engineering South (SES) member universities were recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours 2026.

Honourees from SES member universities

Honourees included distinguished academics and innovators from the University of Oxford, Queen Mary University of London, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, the University of Southampton and University College London, reflecting the breadth of impact across health, climate science, engineering and education.

University of Oxford

Dr Steve Smith – Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to climate science

Queen Mary University of London

Professor Dame Parveen June Kumar – Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to global medical education and health

University of Cambridge

Professor Carol Elspeth Goodeve Brayne – Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to medicine, medical research and public health
Professor Sheila Bird – Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire is for services to statistics
Professor David Abrahams – CBE for services to Mathematical Sciences
Professor Susan Sentence – OBE for services to education
Dr Arun Gupta – MBE for services to medical education
The Master of Selwyn College, Suzanne Raine – MBE for services to heritage

Imperial College London

Professor Tim Orchard – Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the NHS and healthcare research and innovation
Professor Stephen Brett – Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to critical care medicine
Dr Niall Keenan – Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the NHS

University of Southampton

Professor Jo Swaffield – Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to economics

University College London (UCL)

Professor Richard Macrory (Faculty of Laws) – Knight Bachelor for services to environmental law
Professor Sarah Tabrizi (Queen Square Institute of Neurology) – Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to Huntington’s disease
Professor Rose Luckin (Knowledge Lab) – Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to education
Professor Stephen Munby (Institute of Education) – Knight Bachelor for services to education
Dr Urshla (Oosh) Devalia (Eastman Dental Institute) – Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to children and young people’s oral health
Dr Mark Stuart (Division of Medicine) – Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the pharmacy profession in sport and to anti-doping