Economics and migration expert awarded OBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours

University of Southampton Professor, Jackline Wahba, one of the leading voices on the economics of migration, has been awarded an OBE for services to Economic Policy in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for 2020.

She is a Professor of Economics at Southampton, having obtained her PhD in the subject from the University before pursuing her long academic career.

Professor Wahba has been a member of the UK Migration Advisory Committee since 2012 and leads the migration research within the ESRC Centre for Population Change (CPC) at the University of Southampton.

She is a renowned expert on the economics of migration and has published extensively on its global impact. She has recently been elected as member of the Council of the Royal Economic Society.

“I am delighted to receive this great honour and very pleased to have my work recognised in this way,” Professor Wahba entused. “I am truly grateful to all the colleagues I have collaborated with over the years without whom I would not have been able to achieve this unexpected honour.

“I would also like to especially thank the University of Southampton for supporting me throughout my career and enabling me to contribute to the study of Economics, in particular that of the economics of migration, and Economic Policy,” she continued.

Professor Jane Falkingham, Director of the CPC and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Southampton said: “I am absolutely delighted that Jackie’s dedicated service to the scientific and policy communities has been recognised by the award of an OBE. Her cutting-edge research on the economics of migration has highlighted the value of skilled migrants to the UK and other nations alongside the vital role remittances play in the well-being of those ‘left behind’.

"Most recently she has been working with ONS and UUK on improving our understanding of the intentions of international students, refining the measurement of international student migration in government statistics," Professor Falkingham continued. "Colleagues within the Faculty of Social Sciences and the ESRC Centre for Population Change are justifiably proud of her and join me in offering our heartful congratulations.”