Cambridge alumni recognised in 2026 New Year Honours

Cambridge alumni recognised in 2026 New Year Honours

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Cambridge alumni who have made outstanding contributions across a wide range of areas have been recognised in the New Year Honours list.

We’re delighted to celebrate and congratulate the alumni recognised in the New Year Honours 2026. Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing more about the impact and contributions of several of those honoured. Keep an eye on our updates to learn more about their inspiring work.

Clare

  • John Spiers MBE (1969) Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Business and to Charity.

Christ's 

  • Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah Kt (1986), Knight Bachelor, for services to Higher Education. 
  • Nicholas Joyce CB (1988), Companion of the Order of the Bath, for services to Transport.

Corpus Christi

  • Professor Sir Christopher Vajda KC (1974), Knight Bachelor, for services to International Law.

Downing

  • Nigel Clifford (1978), Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Geography and to Geospatial Data Services.
  • Air Vice Marshal Philip Lester CBE (2009), Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Royal Air Force.
  • Edward Mayo MBE (1983), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for Charitable Service.
  • Megan Thorpe MBE (2019), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Defence.
  • Jonathan White OBE (1980) Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to River Conservation.

Emmanuel

  • Sarah Norman OBE (1980), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Local Government.
  • Professor Susan Rigby FRSE CBE (1987), Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Higher Education.

Fitzwilliam

  • Chief Constable Jo Farrell KPM (2011) Kings Police Medal, Chief Constable, Police Service of Scotland
  • Orlando Fraser CBE KC (1986), Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for Charitable and Public Service.
  • Wyn Jones OBE (2003), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for Public Service.
  • Nicola Marfleet OBE (2006), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, For Public Service.
  • Professor Peter Vaughan CBE QPM (2003), Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Criminal Justice.

Girton

  • Jane Burston OBE (1999), Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), for services to Air Quality.
  • Professor Charles Deakin LVO (1987), Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO), Travelling Physician to The King and Queen.
  • Dame Suzy Lishman CBE  DBE (1986), Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the Medical Examiner System and to Patient Safety.

Gonville & Caius 

  • Robbie Bulloch OBE (1991), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Gibraltar negotiations with the European Commission and Spain.
  • Michael Gunton OBE (1979), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Documentary Filmmaking.
  • Dr Keith Ruddle BEM (1968), Medallist of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the community in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.
  • Toby Shevlane BEM (2012), Medallist of the Order of the British Empire, for services to AI Innovation.
  • Dr Andrew Steptoe OBE (1969), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Behavioural Science.

Homerton

  • Rachel Askew-Sammut MBE (2003), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Economic Participation and Equality of Opportunity.        
  • John Gormley OBE (2008), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, For Public Service.

Hughes Hall

  • Bobby Seagull MBE (2014), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Public Libraries.

Jesus

  • Professor Stephen Belcher CBE (1983), Commander of the Order of the British Empire For services to Climate Science.           
  • Peter Higgins OBE (1981), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Commerce, to Entrepreneurship, and to Education.          
  • Henri Murison MBE (2002), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the Economy.
  • Stephen Woodley BEM (1957), Medallist of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Tennis in Kent.

King’s

  • Richard Farnes CBE (1983), Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Music.
  • Beate Lewkowicz OBE (1989), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Holocaust Remembrance and Education.
  • Professor Jennifer Rubin CBE (1990), Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Science and Analysis.

Lucy Cavendish

  • Dr Alison Walker KAM (1990), King’s Ambulance Medal, for dedication and contribution to developing the Ambulance Service nationally

Magdalene

  • Professor Matthew Baker MBE (1992), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Technology and to Wireless Communications.
  • Tom Bindoff BEM (1962), Medallist of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Outdoor Accessibility to Nature.          
  • Mr Richard Morrison MBE (1962), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Music. 

Murray Edwards

  • Clare Briegal MBE (1981), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Sport.
  • Sharon Fuller CBE (1989), Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Military Division.

Newnham 

  • Alice Curry MBE (1996), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Social Care Policy.
  • Rosalind Willatts BEM (1963), Medallist of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the community in Wilbarston, Northamptonshire.

Pembroke 

  • Jekhan Aruliah MBE (1983), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Development in Sri Lanka.                
  • Dr Richard Clarke CB (1994), Companion of the Order of the Bath For Public Service.
  • Colin Lee CB (1985), Companion of the Order of the Bath, for services to Parliament.
  • Joanna Prior OBE (1984), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Publishing and Literacy.
  • David Sampson OBE (2001), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to LGBT+ equality in the UK and Overseas.

Queens' 

  • Dr Dwomoa Adu OBE (1963), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to treating Kidney Disease in the UK and Overseas.
  • Sarah Cliffe CMG (1985), Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, for services to Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and International Development.
  • Gary Hoffman CBE (1979), Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the Economy and to Sport.
  • Dr Lewis Owens MBE (1996), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for Charitable Service
  • Helen Undy OBE (2005), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for Voluntary Service.
  • Dr Graham Watson OBE (1969) Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the development of Endo-Urological Science and to the training of Endo-Urology Overseas.

Robinson

  • Matt Brittin CBE (1986) Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Technology and to Enhancing Digital Skills. 
  • Christopher Shelbourne BEM (1981) Medallist of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Disadvantaged Communities in Uganda and Ethiopia.

Selwyn 

  • Paul Finch CBE (1968), Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Architecture.
  • The Revd Brian Leathard MBE (1979), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the community in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
  • Dr Andrew Trevett MBE (1981) Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Medicine, to Diving, and to the community of Orkney.

Sidney Sussex

  • Daniel Levy CBE (1982), Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Charity and the community in Tottenham.
  • Mark Rawlinson OBE (1976), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, For Public Service.

St Catharine's 

  • Simon Friend MBE (1979), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Charity.
  • Professor Julia Jones MBE (1996), Member of the Order of the British Empire, Professor in Conservation Science, School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, for services to the Environment.
  • Stephen Perks MBE (1981), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Athletics.

St John's

  • Dr Tim Allison MBE (1984), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the NHS in Scotland.
  • Professor Gideon Henderson CBE FRS (1990), Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Science.
  • Professor Tamsin Mather OBE (2001), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Volcanology and to the Promotion of Science.
  • John Naylor BEM (1966), Medallist of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Music.
  • Jayne Ozanne OBE (1987), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Religion and the LGBTQ+ Community.

Trinity

  • Professor Ted Baker CBE (1978), Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Healthcare.
  • Professor Nick Day CMG (1980), Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, for services to Global Health.
  • J Emile Ferdinand KC OBE (1985), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to National Development and the Law.
  • Sir Tristram Hunt Kt (1992), Knight Bachelor, for services to Museums.
  • Professor Scarlett McNally OBE (1987), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Medicine, Surgery and the NHS.
  • Richard Osman OBE (1989), Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Literature and Broadcasting.

Trinity Hall

  • Peter Brewin MBE (1999), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Engineering Materials Innovation.
  • David Hudson MBE (1981), Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to Education.

Wolfson   

  • Chief Constable Rob Carden KPM (2010), The King's Police Medal, Chief Constable, Merseyside Police.
  • Andrew Freeburn MBE KPM (2007), The King's Police Meda,l Lately Assistant Chief Constable, Police Service of Scotland.