Queen’s birthday honours

Members of the University community have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours for their outstanding contribution to all areas of society.

Professor Ian Hargreaves, Chair of Digital Economy, based jointly in the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media & Cultural Studies and Cardiff Business School, is appointed CBE. He led a review of intellectual property for the UK Government, Digital Opportunity: a review of intellectual property and economic growth, published in May 2012. The recommendations of this review have been adopted as the basis of Government policy. In August 2011, the Arts and Humanities Research Council awarded £4M to fund the development of a creative economy knowledge exchange hub. Professor Hargreaves is a member of the management board of REACT (Research and Enterprise in Arts and Creative Technologies) and responsible for its engagement in Wales.

Professor Hargreaves said: "This is a rather unexpected birthday present for me (my birthday is June 18). It's an award that reflects the growing economic importance of creative activity throughout the UK and specifically in Wales, involving businesses, cultural organisations and individuals. The growth of the internet has brought sharp new challenges, but also vast opportunities; academic research and knowledge exchange has an increasingly important role to play."

Mr John Jeans, Chair of Cardiff University's Council, is also appointed CBE for services to Life Science, Healthcare and Science. Mr Jeans has had a successful career in the Medical Devices, Pharmaceutical and Diagnostic industries and served the Medical Research Council (MRC) as its first Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer (2009-2011). He helped restructure the MRC's interactions with industry and led its involvement in creating the Francis Crick Institute, including the securing of Government funding.

Mr Jeans said: "I am honoured to have been awarded a CBE, particularly in Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee year. It is gratifying to receive recognition for my career in the field of life science, healthcare and science. I am proud to share this award with those I have worked with over the years."

Professor Julie Williams, School of Medicine, is also appointed CBE for services to Alzheimer's Disease Research. Professor Williams is one of the UK's leading figures in Alzheimer's research and plays a key role in the University's Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute and the Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre on Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics.

Her research focuses on identifying and understanding genes which increase the risk of developing complex psychological and neurodegenerative disorders.

Professor Williams said "It is a great personal honour to be awarded a CBE however, the success of this research has only been possible because of an outstanding team of colleagues from the MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics under the leadership of Professor Mike Owen and the many researchers who work on a day-to-day basis to tackle this dreadful disease.

"The University and my academic colleagues have supported my research at many levels and I have benefited from being part of what is now one of the leading centres for psychiatric genetic research in the world."

Dr Deborah Cohen, Senior Medical Research Fellow, School of Medicine is appointed OBE for services to Occupational Health. She is a leading authority across the UK in dealing with problems surrounding performance of doctors and has been instrumental in new services supporting doctors' health. Dr Cohen's work is considered to be an exemplar of best practise with regard to looking after doctors in training and enabling doctors to get back to full time training or practise.

Her research looks at practitioner behaviour change and motivational interviewing in the area of rehabilitation and fitness for work. She is specifically interested in how e-learning and blended learning programmes can be used to bring about change. In particular, Dr Cohen's team has been instrumental in establishing the website Healthy Working UK.

Dr Cohen said: "I am genuinely surprised to receive this welcome recognition. This is not just for my work, but for the important work supported by many excellent colleagues in my team."

Professor Peter Elwood, Honorary Professor School of Medicine, is also appointed OBE. Professor Elwood is a medical epidemiologist who worked with Archie Cochrane for many years and succeeded him as Director of the MRC Unit in Wales. Professor Elwood's Honorary Professorship enables him to continue working on issues in nutrition and health, on factors relevant to heart disease and stroke prevention, and on factors predictive of dementia. His team published the first randomised trial looking at aspirin and mortality after myocardial infarction. His interest in aspirin prophylaxis has continued, and he is first author on a recent Lancet paper on Aspirin, Salicylates and Cancer. The contribution of milk and dairy foods to health has been another major interest for the past ten years. He also has a major commitment to the communication of research findings to the general public and the promotion of informed debate. Peter set up the University's monthly Public Lectures on topics of concern in health care, and ran the series for the first seven years.

Professor Elwood said: "I am delighted to have been awarded the OBE and I am especially pleased that it is for services to health, rather than to medicine. Throughout my career I have focused upon the prevention, and not the treatment of disease. In 50 years of research I have published around 400 papers, covering a wide range of epidemiological topics. I have been privileged to lead a highly gifted team, and work with outstanding colleagues."

The Vice-Chancellor, Dr David Grant, said: "These awards recognise the significant contributions made by each of the recipients and I am delighted to extend congratulations to them on behalf of the entire University."