New Year’s Honours

Members of the University community have been recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

An MBE has been awarded to Professor Barbara Chadwick, from the School of Dentistry, for services to paediatric dental health and Dr Tamas Szakmany, from the School of Medicine, for services to the NHS during Covid-19.

Professor Anthony Campbell, from the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, has been awarded a CBE for services to biochemistry.

An OBE has been awarded to Sara Pepper, Director of Creative Economy, for services to the creative economy and Professor Daniel Kelly, from the School of Healthcare Sciences, for services to cancer care research and education both nationally and internationally.

Professor Chadwick was previously Joint Acting Head of the School of Dentistry and specialises in child oral health, with a focus on reducing health inequalities and improving clinical effectiveness. She has led the School’s paediatric dentistry teaching for 25 years and continues to teach at all levels alongside her role as Director of Education and Students.

On receiving her award, she said: “My success reflects the supportive mentors and colleagues that I have worked with across for 35 years."

Professor Campbell is an expert in chemi- and bioluminescence whose research into luminous jellyfish has transformed clinical diagnosis around the world, bringing with it several high-profile accolades. He is also passionate about science communication and engagement, penning several books and news articles and founding the Darwin Centre in Pembrokeshire, which delivers hundreds of field trips and workshops every year.

“I am honoured and thrilled to have been awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to biochemistry. This is a recognition of the research those who have worked with me have carried out over the past fifty years, as well as the public and school engagement activities here in Cardiff, and through The Darwin Centre in Pembrokeshire.”

Sara Pepper is Director of Creative Economy at Cardiff University, inspiring, encouraging and supporting working relationships across the city through networking, partnership engagement and knowledge exchange.

She has held a wide variety of posts from producer to project manager at the Southbank Centre, the BBC, the Wales Millennium Centre, Hull University School of Arts & New Media and the Sydney Olympic Games 2000.

On receiving her award, she said: “I am honoured to receive this OBE for services to the creative economy. It is such a positive acknowledgement of the crucial role that the creative economy plays in Wales and across the UK, both at this moment and going forwards."

Professor Kelly is Royal College of Nursing Chair of Nursing Research at Cardiff University who has worked in cancer care practice, education and research roles throughout his career. His research has focussed on the impact and experience of illness as well as the future potential of nursing and associated NHS workforce issues.

“I was very honoured to receive this award at a time when nursing is playing such an important role in the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said on receiving his award.

“I have also been involved in researching the psychological impact on nurses working on the frontline during this pandemic and I feel we should all be immensely grateful for their contribution, despite the personal risk.”

Professor Szakmany is an Honorary Professor in the School of Medicine and a Critical Care Consultant at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital.

In addition to his clinical duties and research into Covid-19 throughout the pandemic, he has spent twice his normal clinical time at the bedside, personally looking after more than 50 patients, participating in numerous webinars, teleconference calls and other online tutorials to help share lessons learnt from his days on the ICU.

He said his award was a recognition for the clinical teams, research teams and critical care network, who "are making sure every patient can receive the critical care despite the pressures we face".

Amongst the wider University community, several alumni were honoured. Miss Emma Jones MBE (LLB, 1994) was awarded a CBE and Professor Christopher Moran (MD, 1993) was awarded an OBE.

An MBE was awarded to Dr Alka Ahuj (MSc 2005), Miss Elizabeth Crump (BA 2001) and Miss Joanne Hobbs (BD 2000).

Squadron Leader Mark Philip Sanger (BSc 2002) was made a Member of the military division of the most excellent order of the British Empire.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan said: “We are very proud to see the dedication and hard work of our staff and alumni recognised in the New Year’s Honours. On behalf of the University, I extend my warmest congratulations to everyone who has received awards this year.”