Elizabeth Gardiner, first parliamentary counsel, has been awarded a damehood in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours, along with the public appointee Kate Bingham, the former chair of the Vaccine Taskforce.
Gardiner, who was recognised for services to government and the legislative process, became the first woman to be appointed to the role in 2015. She is one of the most senior civil servants recognised in the annual honours list – along with Brenda Sullivan, attorney general for Northern Ireland who was previously first legislative council and permanent secretary for the Northern Ireland Executive, who was also named a dame for services to constitutional law.
Michael McBride, chief medical officer for Northern Ireland, was given a knighthood, as was Professor Keith Willett, national director for emergency planning and incident response for NHS England and NHS Improvement.
Bingham's damehood recognises the "world-beating and extraordinary success of the UK’s vaccination programme", the Cabinet Office said.
Other familiar faces appearing on the honours list include Neil Couling, director general and the head of the Universal Credit programme in the Department for Work and Pensions, who was Companion of the Order of the Bath – a title usually given to senior military officers and civil servants.
“Receiving this honour gives me pride in the team who have delivered Universal Credit. When I saw the letter I thought it was about those I had nominated – not me," Couling said, adding: “It is also a privilege to be able to make your parents proud, especially at my age. So all I could think about was being able to tell them and how happy it would make them to hear the news."
Helen MacNamara, who stepped down as deputy cabinet secretary earlier this year to become a top executive at the Premier League, received the same honour for her public service. When she announced her departure in January, cabinet secretary Simon Case said McNamara had been “instrumental in transforming the Cabinet Office over the last three years”.
Civil servants awarded a CBE this year include Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the Environment Agency, for services to the environment; and Martin Jones, chief executive of the Parole Board for England and Wales, for services to victims, diversity and transparency within the parole process.
Many of this year’s honours recognised civil servants’ contributions to the Covid-19 response. Ruth Todd, director of programmes for the Vaccine Taskforce; Bruce Marshall, the Ministry of Defence lead for assistance to NHS England in personal protective equipment procurement; and Emma Reed, director of emergency response and health protection in the Department of Health and Social Care. For public service particularly during the Covid-19 response were all made CBEs for their work, along with many others.
"In a year that has truly tested the resolve and determination of the country, almost 23% of recipients are recommended for Covid-19 service," the Cabinet Office said in an announcement.
"These include recipients who have given charitable and voluntary support to communities, service in health and social care, and those who have provided critical infrastructure support."
Among those recognised with damehoods for their parliamentary and political service are Meg Hillier, the Labour MP and chair of the Public Accounts Committee, as well as Andrea Leadsom, the Conservative ex-business secretary and a prominent Brexiteer MP. Tony Lloyd, a Labour MP, was given a knighthood.
Below is a list of all the civil servants in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2021.
Companions of the Order of the Bath
- Carol Bristow, director, Individuals Policy Directorate, HM Revenue and Customs. For services to the UK economy during Covid-19
- Neil Couling, director general, Change and Resilience Group and Senior Responsible Owner, Universal Credit programme, Department for Work and Pensions. For services to Universal Credit.
- Nicholas Elliott, lately director general, Vaccine Taskforce and lately director general, commercial, Defence Equipment and Support. For services to the Covid-19 response
- Gareth Evans, deputy director, Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy legal team, Government Legal Department. For services to the law
- Wendy Hardaker, director, Commercial Law Group, Government Legal Department. For services to the law
- Kate Josephs, lately director general, Cabinet Office. For public service
- Dr David Kennedy, director general, food, farming and animal and plant health, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For public service particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Paul Lincoln, director general, Border Force, Home Office. For services to Border Security
- Dr Andrew McCormick, director general, international relations, Northern Ireland Executive. For public service
- Kevin McGinty, lately HM chief inspector of The Crown Prosecution Service. For public service
- Stephen Oldfield, director general, chief commercial officer, Department of Health and Social Care. For services to EU exit preparedness and the Covid-19 response
- Professor Guy Poppy, lately chief scientific adviser, Food Standards Agency and professor of ecology, University of Southampton. For services to food safety and security
- Simon Ridley, director general, Cabinet Office. For public service
- Matthew Taylor, director general, Cabinet Office. For services to European negotiations
- Helen MacNamara, lately deputy cabinet secretary, Cabinet Office. For public service
- Lindsey Whyte, director, personal tax, welfare and pensions, HM Treasury. For public service
- John Wilson, director general security policy, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
- Daniel York-Smith, director, strategy, planning and budget. HM Treasury. For public service
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- Conrad Bailey, lately director, Covid-19, Department for Transport. For public service
- Antony Bourne, director, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For services to EU exit
- Paul Cackette, director, outbreak control management. For services to the Scottish Government
- Michael Des Tombe, deputy director, Government Legal Department. For public service
- Paul Devine, director, security and resilience. For services to defence
- Andrew Duffell, head of dealing desk, UK Debt Management Office. For services to public finance
- Samantha Ede, deputy director, Home Office legal advisers, Government Legal Department. For services to the law
- Christopher Hall, deputy chief commercial officer, Government Commercial Function, Cabinet Office. For public service
- Dr Norman Harrison, lately non-executive director, UK Atomic Energy Authority. For services to Fusion and the Nuclear Industry
- Emma Howard Boyd, chair, Environment Agency. For services to the environment
- Lee John-Charles, deputy legal director, Litigation, Government Legal Department. For services to the Law
- Martin Jones, chief executive, Parole Board for England and Wales. For services to victims, diversity and transparency within the parole process
- Susan Kerins, lately deputy director, residential and accommodation support services division, HM Prison and Probation Service. For public service
- Dr Adam Marshall, lately director general, British Chambers of Commerce. For services to business
- Bruce Marshall, Ministry of Defence lead for assistance to NHS England in personal protective equipment procurement. For public service particularly during Covid-19
- Kristen McLeod, director, Office for Life Sciences. For services to the life sciences sector
- John McNairney, chief planner, Scottish Government. For public service
- Professor Fiona McQueen, lately chief nursing officer for Scotland. For services to the NHS in Scotland
- Emma Squire, director, arts heritage and tourism, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. For services to heritage and the arts during Covid-19
- Colin Perry, director, economy, Northern Ireland Office. For services to EU exit, transition and degacy
- Damian Piper, deputy director, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
- Emma Reed, director, emergency response and health protection, Department of Health and Social Care. For public service particularly during the Covid-19 response
- Michael Rowe, director, marine and fisheries, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For services to the EU exit and international trade
- Ruth Todd, director of programmes, Vaccine Taskforce, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. For services to vaccine delivery
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- William Burgon, deputy director, Cabinet Office. For public service
- James Coppin, executive director, UK Government Investments. For services to the Vaccine Taskforce
- Thomas Evans, chief executive, Labour Relations Agency. For services to employment relations in Northern Ireland
- Oliver Excell, project manager, Vaccine Taskforce. For services to government during the Covid-19 response
- Myer Glickman, analyst, Office for National Statistics. For services to health analysis
- Simon Hall, deputy director, transition planning, Department for International Trade. For services to international trade and public service
- Jacqueline Hart, deputy director, HR business partners and international HR, Department for International Trade. For services to international trade
- Derek Hillier, team leader, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
- Sharmin Joarder, director, business readiness, Cabinet Office. For public service
- Martin Jones, lately deputy director and negotiations adviser, EU transition division, Department for Transport. For public service
- Adnan Khan, team leader, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
- Margaret Kincade, senior officer, tax specialist, HM Revenue and Customs. For services to the taxation of the oil industry
- Dominic Leeds, lead IT architect, Defence Equipment and Support. For services to defence
- Marian Mahoney, head of reconfiguration, Ministry of Justice. For services to HM Prison and Probation Service and the criminal justice system
- Dr Daniel McGonigle, systems research lead, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For services to science and operations in the response to Covid-19
- Ian Morrison, director of policy and evidence, Historic England. For services to heritage and Covid-19 response
- Professor Parr, lately chief pharmaceutical officer for Scotland. For services to pharmacy and pharmaceutical education
- Michael Ramset, technical expert, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive, Office of Security and Counter Terrorism, Home Office. For services to public protection
- Aislinn Rea, member, Taskforce Europe. For services to EU negotiations
- Neil Riley, head of major cross criminal justice system projects, digital technology services, Crown Prosecution Service. For services to law and order
- Martin Robinson, officer, National Crime Agency. For services to anti-kidnap and extortion, and the protection of the UK
- Nicola Ross, team leader, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
- Dr Quentin Sandifer, lately executive director of public health services and medical director of Public Health Wales. For services to public health in Wales particularly during the Covid-19 response
- Syed Shah, head of engagement, people, places and communities division, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. For services to faith communities
- Dr Andrea Siodmok, lately deputy director, Policy Lab and Open Innovation Team, Policy Innovation Unit, Cabinet Office. For public service
- Colin Stewart, area director, work and health services, Department for Work and Pensions. For services to the Department for Work and Pensions
- Janet Thomas, lately head of public protection, Directorate of Reducing Reoffending, National Probation Service, North West. For services to probation
- Bernadette Thompson, deputy director, people, capability and change, Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government. For services to diversity and inclusion
- Dr Christopher Timperley, fellow, chemistry and operational readiness group, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. For services to UK defence and security
- Alan Watson, senior officer, specialist operations, National Crime Agency. For services to law enforcement
- Paul Yates, governor, HM Prison Lincoln. For services to Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, reducing reoffending and public protection
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- Kate Austin, team leader, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
- Devina Banerjee, vaccine landscape and portfolio, Vaccine Taskforce, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. For services to Covid-19 vaccine development
- Debbie Bellisio, operational manager, Border Force, Home Office. For services to border security
- Michael Best, lately prison officer, entry level training mentor, HM Prison Wayland. For services to HM Prison and Probation Service
- Jacqueline Bird, lately regional chief nurse, North West Region, NHS England and NHS Improvement. For services to nursing and the Covid-19 response
- Vivianne Brealey, deputy director of communications, Public Health England. For services to public health particularly during Covid-19
- Matthew Brown, lead technical architect, NHS Digital. For services to the Covid-19 response
- Kelly Browne, team leader, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
- Sarah Caul, mortality analysis team manager, Office for National Statistics. For services to health statistics
- Gerri Clement, programme director, Civil Service HR, Cabinet Office. For public service
- Barbara Conroy, deputy director, tax administration policy. For services to HM Revenue and Customs and the tax system
- Linda Crowe, senior project manager for Health and Social Care Network, NHS Digital. For services to health and care particularly during Covid-19
- Susan Cummings, guidance improvement lead, HM Revenue and Customs. For services to improving customer service
- Sharon Devey, wellbeing champion, Child Maintenance Group, Department for Work and Pensions. For services to wellbeing in the workplace
- Valerie Donnelly, senior project delivery manager, HM Revenue and Customs. For services to charity particularly during Covid-19
- Oyiyole Entonu, chair, Cabinet Office Race Equality Network. For services to racial diversity and inclusion
- Claudette Fraser, employer adviser, Hulme Jobcentre Plus, Work and Health Services Group, Department for Work and Pensions. For services to unemployed people in South Manchester
- David Goulding, health emergency planning adviser, Welsh Government. For services to emergency planning
- Peter Hall, team leader, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
- Squadron Leader Kenneth Horn, operational meteorologist, Met Office. For services to operational meteorology
- Edward James, deputy director head of procurement, Department of Health and Social Care. For services to healthcare particularly during Covid-19
- Allyson Keresey, head of senior caseworker team and mental health first aider, UK Visas and Immigration, Home Office. For services to refugees, mental health and the community in Croydon
- Nahim Khan, team member, leadership and shared capability, digital group. For services to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff in the Department for Work and Pensions
- Fahima Khanom, Halifax Check Challenge Appeal, hub manager, Valuation Office Agency. For services to customers during Covid-19
- Amanda Lambert, data manager, watchlist and information control unit, Border Force, Home Office. For services to border security particularly during Covid-19
- Richard Lederle, immigration enforcement manager, Home Office. For services to the immigration system
- Denise Leeson, operational manager, mental health, HM Courts and Tribunals Service. For services to the administration of justice during Covid-19
- Lynne Main, head of safety and health and wellbeing at work, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For services to safety, health and wellbeing
- Scott Mitchell, team leader, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence
- Ruth Neill, legacy team officer, Northern Ireland Office. For services to legacy in Northern Ireland
- Andrew Nelson, project manager, Defence Equipment and Support. For services to defence
- Katherine O’Connor, senior policy manager, Cities and Local Growth Unit, North West, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. For services to business and the community in North West England
- Emmanuel Offiah, technical officer, National Crime Agency. For services to law enforcement
- Emma Pearne, deputy head Covid-19 bus service support grant funding, Department for Transport. For services to transport and the Covid-19 response
- Cara Phillips, member, Taskforce Europe. For services to EU negotiations
- Rebecca Rollason, resourcing manager, Vaccines Taskforce, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. For services to government during the Covid-19 response
- Paul Seager, tactical communications projects manager, Defence Equipment and Support. For services to defence
- Andrew Sherman, employer and partnership manager, Work and Health Services Group, Department for Work and Pensions. For services to employment and the community in Southampton
- Ashok Taylor, operations officer, Government Legal Department. For services to government and especially during Covid-19
- Dr Tedstone, chief nutritionist, Public Health England. For services to public health
- Suzanne Verhoven, policy adviser, Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For services to animal health and biosecurity
- Sophie Westlake, senior policy adviser, Covid-19 Taskforce, Cabinet Office. For public service
- Catherine Wharton, senior manager, National Crime Agency. For service to law enforcement during Covid-19
- Patrick Wilson, deputy parliamentary clerk, HM Treasury. For public service
- Hannah Wood, deputy director, Taskforce Europe. For services to EU negotiations
Have we missed anyone? Please email beckie.smith@dodsgroup.com