23 January 2026
50 King's alumni honoured in King's New Year's Honours 2026
King’s staff and alumni have been recognised for their extraordinary contributions and service in The King’s New Year’s Honours. Eight current members of staff have been recognised.
Dr I. Stephanie Boyce CBE (LLM Public Law & Global Governance, 2010) was recognised for her contributions to the legal profession, particularly her work to improve diversity and access to justice.
She served as the 177th President of the Law Society of England and Wales, becoming the first Black president and the first person of colour to lead the organisation. During her term, she focused on making the profession fairer and more inclusive, and played a visible role in national discussions about equity within the legal sector
Her presidency took place during major national challenges, including the pandemic, Brexit and the war in Ukraine and Stephanie was credited with offering calm, steady leadership throughout.
I. Stephanie Boyce is also a member of King's Impact Leaders Board and an Honorary Professor of Law at The Dickson Poon School of Law.
Ethan Spibey OBE (Hispanic Studies, 2014) is a campaigner recognised for his work on equality and blood donation reform. He founded FreedomToDonate, the national campaign that helped change long‑standing UK blood donation rules for gay and bisexual men. Through this campaign he worked closely with clinicians, charities and government to bring about a fairer, evidence‑based system.
His OBE acknowledges both this landmark policy change and his wider contributions to inclusion and public understanding of blood donation.
Professor Tara Renton OBE (Dentistry, 1984) has been recognised for her services to dentistry. An internationally respected oral surgeon with over 40 years’ experience, she is a leading authority on orofacial pain and trigeminal nerve injury. Her maxillofacial training and pioneering neuroscience research have helped shape national guidance on patient safety, consent and risk reduction in oral surgery.
As an Emeritus Professor at King’s, her work spans more than 250 peer‑reviewed publications and have had a lasting impact on clinical practice and the understanding of complex craniofacial pain conditions.
Michael French MBE (English Language and Literature, 2001) has been recognised for his contribution to the UK video games industry. He leads Games London and the London Games Festival, which has supported more than a thousand companies, created hundreds of jobs and generated significant business for the sector.
His MBE also reflects his work to improve inclusion through initiatives such as Game Changer and his charity fundraising with GamesAid, which has raised more than £50,000.
Professor Edward (Ted) Baker CBE FRCP (Medicine, 1979) has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to healthcare. Professor Edward specialised in paediatric cardiology at Guy’s Hospital but has gone on to hold senior clinical and leadership roles across the NHS including serving as Chief Inspector of Hospitals at the Care Quality Commission.
He later became the first Chair of the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), leading work to promote learning‑focused, systems‑based investigations to improve patient safety across England. His CBE reflects a career dedicated to improving the safety and quality of care for patients.
Dr Blanc Wan BEM (Music Research, 2017) is an internationally recognised, award‑winning pianist, musicologist and educator. He was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to UK higher education and music culture in Hong Kong.
Dr Wan has performed extensively across Europe, Asia and North America, winning numerous major piano awards including the F.J.P. Drake Memorial Award, the McLusky Challenge Award, and the Celia Morris Gold Medal. His leadership roles have included Governor of the Royal Northern College of Music, Chairman of the Hong Kong International Pianists’ Association, and Steinway Honorary Teacher.
In addition, six current King’s staff members have also been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours:
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Professor Ann McNeill, Professor of Tobacco Addiction in the Department of Addictions, has been awarded a CBE for Services to Addiction and Mental Health.
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Professor Jennifer Rubin, Chair of the Advisory Board of the School for Government, has received an CBE for Services to Science and Analysis.
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Professor Paul Mizen, Vice Dean at King’s Business School, has been awarded an OBE for Services to Economic Research and Public Policy.
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Professor Kei (Kwangwook) Cho, Professor of Neuroscience in the Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, has been awarded an MBE for Services to UK/Korea Relations in the areas of Science and Health.
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Mr Lorenzo Garagnani, Honorary Reader in the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, receives an MBE for Services to Children with Hand and Upper Limb Differences.
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Sir Christopher Vajda KC, Visiting Professor and Member of the Advisory Board of the Centre of European Law at The Dickson Poon School of Law, has been awarded a Knight Bachelor for Services to International Law.
Read more about Staff honoured by the King.
The King’s New Years Honours full list of alumni:
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Omar Ali CBE (Business Management, 1998): CBE for services to the Financial Services Industry
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Dr Dominique Allwood MBE MBBS (Medicine): MBE for services to the NHS
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Air Vice-Marshal David Arthurton OBE (Defence Studies, 2010): OBE for services to the military
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David Bickers CBE (Defence Studies, 2014): CBE for services to the military
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Fiona Bloor MBE (Geopolitics Territory and Security, 2011): MBE for services to the Law of the Sea
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Paul Blundell MBE (Defence Studies, 2025): MBE for services to Defence
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Commander Andrew Boardman KCVS (Defence Studies, 2025): KCVS for service to the military
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Major General Carl Boswell CBE (Defence Studies, 2014): CBE for services to the military
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Robbie Bulloch OBE (English Language and Literature, 1998): OBE for services to Gibraltar negotiations with the European Commission and Spain
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Dr Bruce Carter OBE (Microbiology, 1968): OBE for services to the Treatment of Tuberculosis
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Teresa Clay OBE (Social Work, 1983): OBE for Public Service
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Brigadier Mark Comer CBE (Defence Studies, 2013): CBE for services to the military
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Air Commodore Peter Cracroft CBE (Defence Studies, 2004): CBE for services to the military
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Edison David MBE (Primary Mathematics Specialist Teaching, 2012): MBE for services to Education
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Colonel Geraint Davies OBE (War in the Modern World, 2008): OBE for services to the military
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Professor David Dunn MBE (War Studies, 1995): MBE for services to Military Education and to Recruitment
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Vanessa Ford MBE (Nursing Studies, 2000): MBE for services to Mental Health Nursing
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Claire Gallery-Strong MBE FRSC FNucI (Forensic Science, 1992): MBE for services to the Nuclear Industry
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Alex Gibson MBE (Forensic Science, 2000): MBE for Charitable Service
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Dr Judith Gould CBE (Psychiatry): CBE for services to People with Autism
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Dr Bassam Hallis OBE (Microbiology, 1990): OBE for services to Vaccine Development, Pandemic Preparedness and Overall Resilience
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Group Captain Paul Hanson OBE (Defence Studies, 2020): OBE for services to the military
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Graham Hill BEM (Law, 1971): BEM for services to Charity in Staffordshire
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Bethan Hopkins CMG (War Studies Non-Award, 2012): CMG for services to National Security
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Dr Gabriella Howell MBE (War Studies, 2017): MBE for philanthropic service to Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Commonwealth
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Professor David Kemp CBE FRS AKC (Radiophysics, 1970): CBE for services to Auditory Sciences and Public Health
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Air Vice Marshal Philip Lester CBE (Defence Studies, 2005): CBE for services to the military
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Brigadier Shay Marks CBE (Defence Studies, 2013): CBE for services to the military
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Dr Michael Marsh MBE MBBS MRCP FRCPCH (Medicine, 1986): MBE for services to the NHS
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Professor Paul May MBE FRCSE MBBS (Medicine, 1981): MBE for services to Charitable Fundraising and to Neurosurgery
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Lieutenant Colonel Stewart McKenzie KCVS (Military and Security Studies, 2022): KCVS for services to the military
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Dr Ritan Mehta MBE MBBS (Physiology with Basic Medical Sciences, 2000): MBE for services to Association Football
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Mrs Alison Morton OBE (Nursing Studies, 1993): OBE for services to Health Visiting
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Air Vice-Marshal Timothy Neal-Hopes CB (Security and Strategy for Global Leaders, 2021): CB for services to the military
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Colonel Edwin Oldfield MBE (Security and Strategy for Global Leaders, 2021): MBE for services to the military
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Dr Paul Pangalos MBE (Communications and Radio Engineering, 1999): MBE for services to Law Enforcement
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Rear Admiral James Parkin CB (Defence Studies, 2011): CB for services to the military
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Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Pattinson OBE (Defence Studies, 2020): OBE for services to the military
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Commodore Stephanie Pearmain OBE (Defence Studies, 2017): OBE for services to the military
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Lieutenant Colonel James Seddon OBE (Defence Studies, 202): OBE for services to the military
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Major Neeraj Shah KVRM (PhD Respiratory Physiology, 2025; Medicine, 2012; Biomedical Science Intercalated, 2009): KVRM for services to the military
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Air Commodore Nicholas Worrall CBE (Defence Studies, 2014): CBE for services to the military
All at King’s would like to congratulate those honoured this year, as further demonstration of our excellence and the strength of our global alumni community.
We’ve done our best to identify all staff and alumni recognised in the honours list, but if you know an individual we’ve missed, please do let us know.