New Year’s Honours recognition is ‘icing on the cake’ for region’s recipients

People from business, education and the public sector across the West Midlands are among those who have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours list.

In keeping with the trend of recent years, very few awards have been handed out to business people, with the public service work highlighted for those that have been recognised.

Rosie Ginday, better known by her company name Miss Macaroon, has been awarded an MBE for services to the community. The social entrepreneur worked at Birmingham restaurant Purnell’s before starting her own food business, which provides work experience and training to unemployed and disadvantaged young people.

Keith Ireland

The former managing director of Wolverhampton Council, Keith Ireland, has received an OBE for his services to local government. He was credited with transforming the council over four years before leaving in August to join Lincolnshire County Council, although he left that post after just four months.

The University of Worcester’s vice chancellor, Prof David Green, has been awarded a CBE for his services to higher education and the county of Worcestershire after 15 years leading the university.

Karen Dobson

Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group chief executive Karen Dobson has been awarded an OBE for her services to further education.

A trained nurse, Dobson moved into further education after 13 years in the NHS. She became principal of Newcastle College in 2004 before overseeing the merger with Stafford College in 2016 to create a group with more than 10,000 students.

The deputy chief constable of West Midlands Police, Louise Rolfe, received an OBE. She is one of the UK’s most senior female officers and is the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for domestic abuse.

Dr Malcolm Dick, director of the Centre for West Midlands History at the University of Birmingham, was also awarded an OBE, for his services to history in the West Midlands.

Gary Newbon

Notable recipients of MBEs from the West Midlands include:

• Sports presenter Gary Newbon, who receives his award for services to media, sport and charity
• Fundraiser Judy Dyke, whose work with Edgbaston-based Edward’s Trust has been recognised
• Lynette Adjei, who spent 16 years as a marketing officer in Birmingham City Council’s adoption and fostering recruitment team, has been recognised for her services to adoption and fostering recruitment.

Nisha Katona, right, at TheBusinessDesk.com’s Business Masters

In total 1,148 people have received an award in the 2019 New Year’s Honours list, with 70% of the awards going to people who have “undertaken outstanding work in their communities either in a voluntary or paid capacity”.

Prominent awards to businesspeople include a Damehood for Virgin Money chief executive Jayne-Anne Gadhia, a CBE for Siemens UK chief executive Juergen Maier, and an MBE for the founder of restaurant chain Mowgli, Nisha Katona.