University of Oxford Recognizes Achievements in King’s Birthday Honours 2024

The King’s Birthday Honours 2024 Lists have been published, marking the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK, including members of the University of Oxford.

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Professor Freddie Hamdy

Professor Freddie Charles Hamdy FMedSci, Nuffield Professor of Surgery and Head of the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, has been appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to Surgical and Cancer Sciences.

Professor Hamdy said: ‘I am delighted and humbled to receive this award in recognition of decades of work with wonderful colleagues and teams in Surgical and Cancer Sciences. It is this cornerstone of patient centered multidisciplinary approach to surgical research and innovation which is being recognised. I hope this will inspire new generations of talented colleagues to not just reach what they perceive they can, but what they think they cannot.’

Dr Alexander (Xa) Sturgis, Director of the Ashmolean Museum, has been appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to culture.

Dr Sturgis has been Director of the Ashmolean Museum since 2014. Before taking up his current post he was Director of the Holburne Museum, Bath (2005-2014) where he oversaw the Museum’s major renovation and extension. From 1990 to 2005 he worked at the National Gallery in a number of roles including Exhibitions and Programmes Curator.

Dr Alexander (Xa) Sturgis

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Professor Rajesh Thakker

Professor Rajesh Vasantlal Thakker FRS, May Professor of Medicine and lately President, Society for Endocrinology, has been appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Medical Science and to People with Hereditary and Rare Disorders.

Professor Thakker said: ‘I am delighted to receive this honour on behalf of the endocrine community and the Nuffield and Radcliffe Departments of Medicine. I would like to thank my wonderful team of clinical and scientific researchers and global collaborators, whose dedicated work has elucidated molecular mechanisms for endocrine and metabolic diseases, that has also facilitated translation of scientific advances into benefits for patients. Patients are central to all our work and their courage and determination to triumph over many adversities has been a constant inspiration. I am indebted to all of them and the medical research funding organisations for their support.’

Professor Claudia Turner has been appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Children’s Health in Cambodia and Thailand. Currently Head of Clinical Research at the Cambodia-Oxford Medical Research Unit (COMRU) and Management Consultant at the Angkor Hospital for Children (AHC), in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Claudia Turner is a University of Oxford Associate Professor whose research interests include neonatal healthcare in resource poor settings, healthcare implementation research, and antibiotic stewardship.

Professor Turner said: ‘I am thrilled and a little overwhelmed to be given this honour. My time spent in Thailand and Cambodia has been a marvellous adventure and great privilege. I have worked with some remarkable people and would not have achieved all that I did without them.’

Professor Paul Turner, Professor of Paediatric Microbiology, has been appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Children’s Health in Cambodia and Thailand. A clinical microbiologist with a focus on paediatric infection, Paul Turner has been Director of COMRU since 2012. Based at AHC in Siem Reap, Cambodia, COMRU’s research focusses on the causes and reduction of morbidity and mortality in Cambodian children.

Professor Turner said: ‘I am delighted to receive this honour, which is a reflection of the dedication and hard work of a fantastic team. The work that we do in Cambodia has had positive impacts on the treatment and prevention of severe bacterial infections in children and it wonderful to have it recognised in this way.’

‘Congratulations to my Oxford colleagues who are recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours this year for their instrumental service of people in the UK and the world. Their outstanding achievements continue to inspire us all.’

Professor Irene Tracey CBE FRS FMedSci

Vice Chancellor, University of Oxford

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Dr Samina Khan, Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach, has been appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Higher Education.

Dr Khan said: ‘For me, this award is recognition of the life changing potential that access to quality education can bring, and how vital it is that educational opportunity is based on potential rather than background. I really hope that someone ordinary like me receiving such an honour will inspire anyone chasing a dream – go for it! I have been so fortunate to have in my life my Oxford team, family and friends – all of them have been so inspirational and just utterly brilliant.’

Samina Khan

Professor Rachel Upthegrove, Professor Upthegrove will be joining the Department of Psychiatry in August from the University of Birmingham as Director-Designate of the Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre. She has been appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to mental health research and life sciences.

Professor Rachel Upthegrove

Professor Upthergrove said: ‘I am thrilled to have been honoured with an MBE for services to Mental Health research. Improving our understanding of mental illness and creating new and effective interventions and therapies is vitally important, especially for those experiencing mental ill health and their families. I am proud this work has been recognised. This is a testament to the many collaborators, colleagues, patients, researchers who I have worked with nationally and internationally and specifically at the University of Birmingham and University of Oxford over recent years, who have been absolutely critical to making progress in this field and improving the lives of patients.’

Member of the Order of Australia

Professor Andrew Stephen, Deputy Dean of Saïd Business School and L’Oréal Professor of Marketing, and Professorial Fellow at Worcester College, has been appointed Member of the Order of Austrailia (MBE).

The award is a recognition of Andrew’s considerable contributions and service to marketing academia and marketing research. Australian-born Professor Stephen is a highly prolific academic in the marketing field and his contributions to marketing research and education continue to have an impact on the marketing industry around the world. 

Professor Stephen said: ‘I am deeply honoured to receive this award. Becoming a Member of the Order of Australia is a huge privilege and came as a complete surprise. I look forward to continuing to make a positive impact on both marketing academia and marketing through my research and education activities at the University of Oxford in the years to come.’