East Midlands leaders revealed in New Year Honours List

Prominent leaders from across the East Midlands have been named in the New Year Honours List 2022, which pays tribute to those who have made outstanding contributions across all areas of society.

Professor Kathyrn Mitchell, the vice chancellor at the University of Derby, receives a CBE for services to higher education.

Prior to joining Derby, she held the role of deputy vice-chancellor of the University of West London, was a Wellcome Fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, London, for over seven years, and worked for the University of Chicago, the Rockefeller Institute in New York and the Friedrich Miescher Institute in Basel.

As vice-chancellor of the University of Derby since 2015, she has demonstrated transformational leadership which has impacted positively not only on the quality of education delivered at the University, but also across the city and county.

Through her role as chair of the Derby Opportunity Area Board, which she has held for the past five years, her regional impact has been particularly felt. In 2015, Derby was towards the bottom nationally in school attainment but since she has been at the helm this has improved by 25 places, and 70% of children have achieved good development, closing the gap by 4% to the national level of 72%.

Originally from St Helens, and with her family based in Crowthorne, Berkshire, professor Mitchell has immersed herself in her adopted city, gaining recognition from business leaders, educators and industry for her energy, innovation and dedication in supporting the city and developing the University to offer the best educational opportunities and experience for students and the wider community.

She gives her time freely to support a range of business and cultural events, including as chair of the Midlands Enterprise Universities Board and as a proactive member of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) board.

Speaking about her CBE, Mitchell said: “I am honoured to have been named in the New Year Honours List. Raising the educational aspirations of people regardless of their age or background and assuring that a high-quality education is accessible to all is something I am extremely passionate about.

“Being a vice-chancellor and having the opportunity to influence and make an impact within your local communities and further afield is a privilege, and I am grateful for the commitment of colleagues and partners who have supported and worked with me to achieve this.”

Lord Burlington, chancellor of the University of Derby, added: “On behalf of the University we are delighted that Kathryn has been recognised with a CBE and I would like to offer my congratulations on this outstanding achievement.

“Kathryn’s commitment and dedication to the University, as well as to the city and wider region, is impressive and unwavering, as is her drive to deliver benefits far beyond the student body.

“She is a truly inspirational leader and a passionate advocate for the transformational benefits of education and ensuring equity of opportunity for all.”

Meanwhile, Ian Livingstone, the founder of Nottingham-based Games Workshop receives a knighthood. Livingstone is one of the founding fathers of the UK games industry. He co-founded Games Workshop in 1975, launching Dungeons & Dragons and Warhammer in Europe. In 1982, he co-authored The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, the first gamebook in the multi-million selling Fighting Fantasy series. When chairman of video games publisher Eidos , he launched Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in 1996. In 2011, he co-authored the Next Gen review and chaired the Next Gen Skills campaign, working with government to introduce the new computing curriculum in schools in 2014. He is Chairman Sumo Group, partner at Hiro Capital, Non-executive director of the National Citizen Service, non-executive director Aspirations Academies Trust, non-executive director at the Foundation for Education Development, non-executive director at Creative UK, member of Raspberry Pi Foundation and president of the BGI.

Lincolnshire-based Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, one of the most visible faces in the battle to combat Covid-19, receives a knighthood for his work and for services to public health.

Elsewhere, the former managing director of Nottingham City Transport, Mark Fowles, who retired in April after 27 years of service, receives an OBE, as does multi-gold medal-winning Derby swimming superstar Adam Peaty.

William Clarke, the leader of Gedling Borough Council in Nottinghamshire receives an MBE for services to local government, as does Mark Esho, director of Easy internet Services, for services to business, and Gary Jordan, the chair of Mansfield and Ashfield 2020 Business Club and executive business coach for services to the economy and the community in Mansfield and Ashfield.

On a national level, the New Year Honours List 2022 pays tribute to a huge number of people involved in all aspects of sport.

Married Olympians Laura and Jason Kenny receive a damehood and knighthood in the same honours list, for services to cycling.

Across the list, 78 Olympians and Paralympians have been honoured for their services to sport. Adam Peaty and Tom Daley receive OBEs for raising awareness of mental health and LGBT issues respectively as well as their gold medal winning achievements at Tokyo 2020. There is also an OBE for Hannah Mills for sailing and her continued campaigning on marine pollution and athlete Hannah Cockroft. Other Olympians and Paralympians being honoured include a CBE for cyclist Jody Cundy, OBE for sprinter and cyclist Kadeena Cox, and MBEs for boxer Lauren Price, diver Matty Lee and BMX racer Bethany Shriever.

Outside of accolades for Tokyo 2020, Emma Radacanu receives an MBE following her incredible US Open win and Chelsea Women’s manager Emma Hayes receives an OBE for her work promoting women’s football. Sheila Parker, the first captain of the England Women Football Team, is given an MBE for services to football and charity. There is also an OBE for six time World Championship winning superbike racer Jonathan Rea.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “These recipients have inspired and entertained us and given so much to their communities in the UK or in many cases around the world.

“The honours are an opportunity for us to thank them, as a country, for their dedication and outstanding contribution.”