Members of the University of Leeds community are among those recognised in the New Year Honours.
One of the UK’s foremost climate scientists Professor Piers Forster has been awarded a CBE for his ongoing work to tackle climate change.
Professor Forster, who has worked at the University of Leeds since 2005, is a Professor of Physical Climate Change, Director of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures and academic lead for the University's own Climate Plan.
Alongside his research career, he helped to establish the United Bank of Carbon – a UK charity that researches and protects trees and forests. He also has several roles advising industry and government and was appointed a member of the UK Climate Change Committee in 2019, holding the position of Interim Chair from 2023 until July 2025.
Professor Forster has contributed to the writing of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports and leads Indicators of Global Climate Change, which provides annual updates on the state of the climate and how it is changing because of human activity.
Closer to home, Professor Forster is patron of climate action charity Zero Carbon Harrogate and a long-time supporter of Long Lands Common – Harrogate and Knaresborough’s first ever community-owned woodlands project. A section of its woodland has been named after Professor Forster in recognition of his outstanding work in the field of climate change research, environmental education and leadership.
“I feel very humbled to have received this award,” Professor Forster said about his CBE. “I’ve spent my career collecting evidence on the benefits of climate action and along the way I’ve been lucky enough to work with some great colleagues on climate research and climate policy.
“I love my work, and I feel privileged to do it. As we mark the end of another year of record-breaking UK temperatures, it feels more important than ever.”
Professor Brian Ferguson
Professor Brian Ferguson, the founding Professor of Health Economics at the University of Leeds, has been honoured with an MBE for services to public health research and his work with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Professor Ferguson has worked across academia, the NHS and Civil Service in a 40-year career in the health field.
In 2020 Professor Ferguson was appointed as the new NIHR Public Health Research Programme Director and undertook this role until July 2025.
He is currently Public Health Strategic Advisor to NIHR, whose mission is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.
Professor Ferguson was previously Deputy Director in the Centre for Health Economics at the University of York, and since 2013 has also been Chief Economist and Deputy Director of Strategy at Public Health England.
Inspirational colleagues
Professor Shearer West CBE, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Leeds, said: “Universities continue to make enormous contributions to society, innovating to tackle poverty, climate change and improve health outcomes, alongside the significant economic, cultural and community impact they make in the cities and regions that we call home.
“I am so pleased that this contribution has been recognised with New Year Honours awarded to colleagues, alumni and partners of the University of Leeds. They are an inspiration to us all, and a reminder of the incredible talent nurtured by universities across the country.”
Alumni honoured
A number of Leeds alumni have also been recognised in the New Year Honours, including:
Polar Medal
Professor John Woodward (Geography 1993; PhD 2000) has been awarded The Polar Medal in recognition of his outstanding work and contribution to UK scientific knowledge of the polar regions.
DBE
Professor Sonia Blandford (Education Bretton Hall 1980) Professor of Social Mobility, Plymouth Marjon University. For services to Education.
CBE
Simon Baugh (Politics and Parliamentary Studies 1999) Director General, Government Communication Service, Cabinet Office. For services to Government Communications.
OBE
Professor Paul Workman (PhD Medicine 1977; DSc 2017) for services to cancer research.
Karen Emanuel (Genetics 1986) Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Key Production Group. For services to Music.
Professor Syed Saeed Ashraf (Medicine 1997) Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Morriston Hospital, Swansea. For services to Cardiac Surgery, the Provision of Training Surgeons from Abroad, and Academic Contribution.
MBE
Professor Divine Charura (DipHE Mental Health Nursing 2003; PGCert Systemic Practice 2010) Professor of Counselling Psychology, York St John University. For services to Inclusion and to the Advancement of Counselling and Psychotherapy in Research and Practice.
Thomas Clarke-Forest (Sports Science 2007) Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Sport 4 Life UK. For services to Young People.
Lucy McCarraher (ND English) Founder, Business Book Awards. For services to Publishing and to Diversity.
Sebastian McVicker-Orringe (Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies 2011; MA Security, Terrorism and Insurgency 2012) Portfolio Lead, Risk and Intelligence Service, HM Revenue and Customs. For services to Tackling Offshore Tax Non-Compliance.
Sara Peatfield (Art and Music Bretton Hall 1984) and Ashley Peatfield (Drama and English, Bretton Hall 1984) for services to development in Kenya.
Kylie Spark (Psychology 1995) Chief Executive Officer, Inspiring Learners Multi-Academy Trust, Cheshire. For services to Education.
Louise Richards (Creative Arts Bretton Hall 1984) Co-Founder and Executive Director, Motionhouse. For services to Dance.
BEM
Derek Davies (Animal Physiology & Nutrition 1980) Senior Researcher, Francis Crick Institute. For services to Technical Support in the Life Sciences.
Kathryn Foster (English 1973) For Charitable and Voluntary Service to Alzheimer's Research UK, to Heritage and to the community in Shropshire.
Lisa Riding (Textiles Bretton Hall 1992) Head of the Speech and Communication Specialist Resource, St Thomas a Becket, Wakefield, West Yorkshire. For services to Education.
Gill Castle (Law 2004) Founder and CEO, Chameleon Buddies. For services to People Living with Stomas.
Jill Thornley (MA Medieval Studies 1972) Volunteer Co-Ordinator, The Chipping Norton News. For services to the community in Chipping Norton.
Further Information
Image of Professor Brian Ferguson copyright of the Association of Public Health Observatories.
For further details, please contact the University of Leeds press office via pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk.