Two Southampton academics have been given awards in the King’s New Year Honours List for 2025, recognising their extraordinary achievements. A CBE, or Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and OBE, or Officer of the Order of the British Empire, are awards given to people who have made a significant contribution to the country.
Professor Gill Reid receives her CBE for services to the Chemical Sciences and to Inclusion and Diversity, and Emeritus Professor Richard Oreffo receives his OBE for services to Education Equality and to Musculoskeletal Science.
Gill, who is Professor of Chemistry, became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) in 2012, served as an Elected Member of RSC Council (2011-15) and was elected to Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) in 2022. She became President-Elect of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in July 2020, prior to taking up the role of RSC President from 2022-2024.
Professor Reid said:
“It really is one of my proudest moments to be recognised in this way. That the citation refers to both the Chemical Sciences and Inclusion and Diversity, is significant to me. I firmly believe that we must strive to create a truly inclusive chemistry community that welcomes diversity and inspires young talent to follow careers in chemistry. More than ever, bringing together different talents and experiences is essential to tackle the climate, sustainability and biodiversity challenges that the world faces.
I would really like to thank my colleagues, collaborators, students and friends from across the chemistry community for all of their contributions over the years and also for making what we do a lot of fun!”
Professor Michael Butler, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, added:
“I am thrilled that Professor Reid’s work in Chemistry and in diversity and inclusion have been recognised with this award; since joining Southampton in 1991 she has delivered world-class teaching and research, as well as excellent leadership, and her CBE is richly deserved.”
Emeritus Professor Richard Oreffo retired from the University as a Professor in Musculoskeletal Science in April 2024 and we are delighted to see his work recognised with an OBE.
Professor Oreffo said:
“I feel privileged and honoured to receive this award in the New Years honours. First and foremost, I am grateful to many inspirational colleagues, collaborators, fellows, and students across the interdisciplinary science space that have enabled and supported my work on skeletal biology and skeletal regenerative medicine over three decades. This award is testament to the incredible support and teamwork of many at the University and around the world.
I am also delighted to be recognised in an area I feel so passionately about, equity, equality and inclusion of education for talented Black British students. Everyone, regardless of background, should have equal access to education and its transformative force in their lives, our lives and the world we live in. I wish to acknowledge the contribution of the The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation trustees, ambassadors and supporters in enabling the vision of the power of education to transform lives and in developing a fairer and more equitable society.
Finally, I am immensely grateful, on a personal note, to my family for their unwavering support.”
Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith said:
“I am delighted to see the awards to Gill and Richard in the New Year Honours list, especially as the awards not only recognise their outstanding academic contributions, but also their work on making society more equal and fairer.”
Professor Sir Bashir Al-Hashimi, who served as Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering until March 2020 has been knighted in His Majesty’s New Year Honours 2025 for services to engineering and education. Professor Sir Bashir is now Vice President (Research & Innovation) at King’s College London as well as remaining a Visiting Professor in Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) at Southampton.