Nine alumni and one honorary graduate of the University of Exeter received awards in the 2026 New Year Honours List. 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:
- Louise Ansari (English, 1988)
- Non-Executive Director at NHS England and lately Chief Executive Officer at Healthwatch England.
- MBE for services to Health Equity.
- Fiona Bloor (Geography, 1986)
- Technical Lead for Geographical Aspects of Law of the Sea at the UK Hydrographic Office.
- MBE for services to the Law of the Sea.
- Hilary Evans-Newton (BA Politics, 2002 and Hon DSc, 2017)
- Chief Executive Officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK.
- CBE for services to Charity.
- Nicholas Fowler (History and Spanish, 2002)
- Head of Central Resilience Command at the UK Home Office.
- OBE for services to the Protection of Children.
- Louise Holliday (Psychology, 2000)
- Deputy Director at the UK Home Office.
- OBE for services to National Security.
- Julie Kapsalis (English, 1999)
- Chief Executive and Principal at the North East Surrey College of Technology (NESCOT) and lately the Chair of Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership.
- MBE for services to Economic Development.
- Laurence Newman (Geography, 1970)
- Chairman at the Grove End Charitable Trust and Chairman at the Grove End Housing Ltd.
- MBE for Charitable Service.
- Simon Nokes (Economics, 1987)
- Director of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and lately Executive Director for Policy and Strategy at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
- MBE for services to Regional Economic Growth, Policy Development and Investment Strategies.
- Amanda Pritchard (Hon LLD, 2023)
- Chief Executive at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, and lately Chief Executive, NHS England.
- Damehood for services to the NHS.
- Philip Wadey (BSc Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, 1986 and PhD in Engineering Science, 1990)
- Head of Space Ops and Engineering at Airbus and Regional Access Officer at the British Horse Society.
- MBE for services to Public Rights of Way.
Two members of the University of Exeter academic community were also recognised. Frances Wall, Professor of Applied Mineralogy at the Camborne School of Mines based at our Penryn Campus, received an OBE for services to Geoscience and Sustainable Resource Development. Leading Marine Ecologist, Kevin Robinson, Honorary Lecturer at our Centre for Ecology and Conservation based at our Penryn Campus and Director of the Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit, was awarded a BEM for services to the Protection of UK Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises.
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.