Science park chief recognised in birthday honours

JANE Davies, the chief executive of Manchester Science Parks has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Ms Davies was nominated for the award by members of her team for her work and dedication in promoting innovation and enterprise within the Manchester city region.
She said of her award: “It is an honour to even have been nominated for this distinguished accolade and I am thrilled to have been recognised for my contribution to innovation.

“I consider myself extremely fortunate to have a job I am passionate about and to work alongside people I admire and respect, and this is a surprising independent recognition of what I enjoy doing.”

Other North West recipients include David Hymers, managing director of Cumbria-based scales specialist Totalpost Services, who received an MBE for services to business and international trade.

Roy Cavanagh, training manager at Bolton construction group Seddon received an MBE for services to the construction industry, while Dr Robert Bateman, technical consultant at Manchester-based mass spectrometer manufacturer Micromass also received an MBE for services to science.

Norman Stoller, previously president of the Oldham-based Seton Healthcare Group plc (now SSL International), received a CBE for his charitable and philanthropic work.

Mr Stoller, 75, who lives near Lake Windermere with his wife Sheila, founded the Stoller Charitable Trust in the 1980s.

It is the third award for Mr Stoller, who received an MBE in 1976 for healthcare exports and an OBE in 1999 for services to the business community in Greater Manchester.

Mr Stoller said: “It is amazing and unusual to be nominated for a third prestigious honour. The award is also a great compliment to the administrators and trustees of the Stoller Charitable Trust.  However, I’d like to share this honour with the many thousands of people who devote their lives to helping others less fortunate than themselves.”

A number of academics in the region were honoured including Prof Brian Cox, the former keyboardist in the pop group D:Ream who has carved out a new career as a particle physicist. Prof Cox, who works at the University of Manchester received an OBE for services to science.

Prof Peter Brandon, former head of strategic programmes at the University of Salford, also received an OBE for services to the built environment. And Prof David Phoenix of the University of Central Lancashire was awarded an OBE for services to science and higher education.

In the public sector John Schultz, who retired this year as chief executive of Stockport Council, received the CBE for services to local government, while his counterpart at West Lancs District Council, William Taylor, received an MBE.
Janet Matthewman, head of culture, media and sport at Governmnet Office North West, was awarded an OBE.