Former Samaritans chief executive Catherine Johnstone is one of over 1,000 people to receive a Queen’s Birthday Honour for “outstanding work in communities”.
The former chief executive was awarded a CBE for her “services to suicide prevention”. Her recognition was today welcomed by Samaritans chair Jenni McCartney, who said Johnstone was a “catalyst for positive change” at the charity.
Other charity sector workers to gain recognition include Simon Robey, chair of the Royal Opera House - who received a knighthood for his “services to music” – and Tanya Barron, chief executive of children’s charity Plan International UK, who received an OBE for “services to increasing international education access for girls”.
Today, Barron said she was “humbled and naturally delighted to be awarded such an honour”.
“I’ve been lucky enough to work with remarkable and committed teams throughout my career... This award is recognition of all our hard work.”
Of the 1,149 people to receive an award, 70 per cent were people who had “undertaken outstanding work in their communities, either in a voluntary or paid capacity”, the Cabinet Office said.
A total of 1,004 candidates were selected for a BEM, MBE and OBE, while 312 were awarded a BEM. Some 477 people were awarded an MBE and 215 were awarded an OBE.
Other leading voluntary sector figures to receive an award include chief executive of GlobalGiving UK, Eleanor Harrison, who received an OBE, along with Jocelyn Hillman, founder and chief executive of women’s charity Working Chance.
Damehoods went to Benita Refson, founder and president of the children’s charity Place2Be and Christine Lenehan, director of the Council for Disabled Children.
CBEs went to Alison Hutchinson, chief executive of the Pennies Foundation, Bharat Mehta; chief executive of Trust for London; Althea Efunshile, deputy chief executive of Arts Council England; David Cameron, director of Community Land Scotland; John Crisford, former national chair of the Royal British Legion; Cheryll Adams, founding director of the Institute of Health Visiting; and Bridget Warr, chief executive of the United Kingdom Home Care Association.
Bowel Cancer UK chief executive Deborah Alsina received an MBE, alongside Elroy Palmer, team leader at the St Giles Trust; Elly Barnes, founder and chief executive of equality charity Educate and Celebrate; Julia Upton, chief executive of the MK Community Foundation and Elaine Nicholson, founder and chief executive of Action for Aspergers.
Deputy UK chief commissioner of the Scout Association, Timothy Kidd, received an OBE – as did Neil Martin, chief executive of the Jewish Lads’ and Girls’ Brigade and Hanif Malik, chief executive of the community charity Hamara.
Co-founder of the Hadley Trust, Computacenter and Dealogic, Philip Hulme was awarded a knighthood, along with chair of ARK Schools, Paul Marshall.
