New Year Honours at the University of Leeds

Members of the University of Leeds community are among those recognised in the New Year Honours.

Professors Paul Emery, Mark Wilcox and Peter Giannoudis from the Faculty of Medicine and Health have all been recognised for decades of ground-breaking work in the health sector.

Professor Emery, whose research on early intervention in inflammatory arthritis has been adopted around the world, has been awarded a CBE for services to rheumatology.

Alongside his student teaching and supervision roles in the Faculty, he is Versus Arthritis Professor of Rheumatology at the University’s Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Disease.

A former director of the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre and past president of the European Society for Rheumatology, Professor Emery was awarded an OBE in 2018.

Mark Wilcox, who is Professor of Medical Microbiology and Sir Edward Brotherton Chair of Bacteriology in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, has been awarded an OBE for services to healthcare, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Wilcox, who joined the University in 1995, is the National Clinical Director for Infection Prevention and Control at NHS England and chaired the SAGE Sub-Committee on Hospital Onset Covid Infection.

At Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, he is Head of Microbiology Research & Development, and Infection Lead of the Leeds NIHR Diagnostic Technologies Medical Technology and In Vitro Diagnostic Co-operative. He is also an expert advisor to the Department of Health and Social Care on healthcare-associated infections.

Professor Mark Wilcox OBE

“I am taken aback by this award,” said Professor Wilcox, who also supervises postgraduate researchers. “I want to acknowledge and thank all of my colleagues in Leeds at the University and trust, and in NHS England – especially during the pandemic – for their support and friendship over almost 30 years, and most of all the rocks that are my family.”

Peter Giannoudis, Professor of Trauma and Orthopaedics in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, has been awarded an MBE for services to trauma and orthopaedic surgery.

Founder of Day One Trauma Support, which helps those affected by major physical trauma to rebuild their lives, he is also an Honorary Consultant and head of clinical trials at Leeds General Infirmary.

Professor Giannoudis also teaches postgraduate trauma and orthopaedics students, foundation doctors and trauma fellows, with his research interests including immune-inflammatory response following accidental and surgical trauma, bone regeneration and clinical outcomes following fracture fixation.

Peter Giannoudis MBE

He said: “I’m humbled and surprised by this award, which would not have happened without the support of the University, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT), my colleagues and family.

“We have to ensure the medical work and research we carry out at the University and LTHT continues and that we build on our reputation as a renowned centre of excellence.”

Professor Hai-Sui Yu, Interim Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Leeds, said: “It is always a proud moment to see the achievements of members of our University community recognised and celebrated in the New Year Honours and I warmly congratulate our colleagues.

“These well-deserved accolades acknowledge the world-leading quality of their research and excellence in delivering student education.

“Their work delivers real impact by addressing some of the biggest challenges faced by the wider world – inspiring future generations to follow in their footsteps.”

Several Leeds alumni have been recognised in the New Year Honours:

• Amanda Blanc (MBA 1999), CEO of Aviva Group, has been awarded a Damehood for services to business, gender equality and net zero.
• Marit Mohn (Chemical Engineering 1969), co-founder of the Mohn Westlake Foundation, has received a Damehood for services to philanthropy.
• Elaine Bedell (English 1983), CEO of the Southbank Centre, has been awarded an OBE for services to business and the arts.
• Richard Bottomley (PGCE 2000), headteacher of Bradford Alternative Provision Academy, has received an MBE for services to vulnerable children and young people.

Further Information

Professor Mark Wilcox OBE picture copyright: Duomedia

For further details, please contact the University of Leeds press office via pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk.