Ten alumni and one honorary graduate of the University of Exeter received awards in the 2025 New Year’s Honours. The honours system marks the extraordinary contributions and service of people across the UK and we’re very proud of all the members of our community who have been recognised in this way.
A huge congratulations to the following:
- Dean Ashton (MEd Modular Advanced Study in Education, 2006)
- Chief Executive Officer, Reach South Academy Trust, South West England.
- OBE for services to Education.
- Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz (Hon DSc, 2009)
- Lately Chair of Cancer Research UK.
- GBE for services to Cancer Research, to Clinical Research, to Medicine and to Charities
- Mark Fane (Economics & Politics, 1980)
- Lately Chair of The Garden Museum.
- MBE for services to Horticulture.
- Justin Francis (Physics, 1987)
- Nature Lead, Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Council for Sustainable Business and Chair, Responsible Travel Company.
- OBE for services to Nature and to the Environment.
- Dr Matthew Kearney (Postgraduate in Primary Healthcare, 2008)
- General Practitioner and Innovation Advisor, UCL Partners.
- OBE for services to Health and to the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease.
- Richard Livesey (Theoretical Physics, 2005)
- Scientific Adviser for the Ministry of Defence.
- OBE for services to Defence.
- Fiona Newnham (Mathematics and Computer Science, 1975)
- Lately Powerboat Racer and Cricket Scorer for the England and Wales Cricket Board.
- BEM for services to Sport.
- David Odgers (Chemistry, 1975)
- Consultant and Researcher at the Historic Building Conservation.
- MBE for services to Heritage.
- Kevin Tumelty (MA Police Studies, 1993)
- Head of Security at Senedd Cymru.
- OBE for services to Public and Parliamentary Security.
- Major General Marc Overton T.D. V.R. (Politics, 1992)
- Managing Director for EuroNorth at Dassault Systèmes.
- TD, VR, Army Reserve. Promotion in, and appointment to, the military division of the most honourable order of the Bath as companion.
- Lieutenant Thomas Wood (History, 2021)
- The Royal Yorkshire Regiment
- King’s Commendation for Valuable Service
Two members of the University of Exeter academic community were also recognised. Emily Cunningham, Honorary Associate Research Fellow at the University was awarded an MBE for services to marine conservation and coastal communities. Renowned Exeter archaeologist, Professor Timothy Insoll, Al-Qasimi Professor of African and Islamic Archaeology, also received an OBE for services to Archaeology in Bahrain and UK/Bahrain relations.
If you’ve received an award, prize, or title recently do tag us on our social media channels, or let us know via alumni@exeter.ac.uk, as we always like to celebrate your successes and achievements.