Birthday honours for Southampton’s high fliers
A host of leading figures with links to the University of Southampton have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Helen Alexander‚ the outgoing president of the CBI who will take over as Chancellor of the University later this year, has been appointed a DBE for services to business.
Dame Helen has wide and varied experience in international business‚ having been chief executive of the Economist Group until 2008‚ where she was for some time managing director of the Economist Intelligence Unit. She is currently a trustee of the WWW (World Wide Web) Foundation, chairman of the Port of London Authority and chair of the Business Advisory Council of the Said Business School‚ Oxford University.
Professor Peter Gregson has received a knighthood for services to higher education. Appointed to the academic staff at the University in 1983, he became Professor of Aerospace Materials in 1995 and Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2000. Sir Peter was appointed President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast in 2004. The University of Southampton recognised his contribution to higher education with an honorary doctorate in 2009.
Also knighted for services to higher education is Professor Steve Smith, President of Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor of Exeter University. Sir Steve gained a BSc in Politics and International Studies, an MSc in International Studies and a PhD in International Relations in Southampton.
Other former students of the University awarded honours include Dr George Buckley, who is the CEO of 3M - a multinational company which produces adhesive-based products including Post-It notes and Scotch masking tape. Sir George’s services to industry have been recognised with a knighthood. He completed his PhD at the universities of Southampton and Huddersfield.
Dr Nasser Siabi, the founder of Microlink – the UK's largest independent supplier of Assistive Technology and disability related management services – completed his degree and PhD in engineering at the University. He received an OBE for services to disabled people.
“Each of those honoured by the Queen is a leader in his or her field, and we are very proud of their connections with the University. I wish them many congratulations on their achievements,” comments Professor Don Nutbeam, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton.