Stephen Bubb, chief executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations is to receive a knighthood in the New Year Honours List which named over 100 people for recognition of their service to the voluntary and charity sectors.
Other key figures include former Charity Commission chief Andrew Hind who is to receive the Companion of the Order of the Bath honour, and former director of fundraising for the NSPCC Giles Pegram, who will join former director of policy and partnerships at the Big Lottery Fund, Gerald Oppenheim, in receiving an OBE.
David Harker, former Citizens Advice CEO, was promoted from OBE to CBE. Sandra Horley, CEO of Refuge, also received a CBE and OBEs went to Stephen Dunmore, former chief executive of the Big Lottery Fund, and Steve Wyler, director of the Development Trusts Association.
Chief executive of Meningitis UK, Steve Dayman, received an MBE, as did Libby Lisgo, chief executive of Age UK Somerset and Mark Law, the chief executive of Barca-Leeds.
Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, who was himself knighted last year, commented: “We offer our congratulations to Stephen and everyone else from the voluntary and community sector who has received recognition in the New Year’s Honours List. It demonstrates that the work of the sector is recognised and valued.”
Sir Stephen blogged about his knighthood listing praise from colleagues and sector friends. He told Civil Society: "I have to say I'm dead chuffed about the honour; it's not just the recognition of my last ten years leading Acevo, I see it as a strong endorsement of professional leadership generally and the role that our modern enterprising third sector now plays in public life.
"It was great to celebrate the announcement on the day my mother celebrated her 81st birthday; always important to remember the role one's parents play in setting our ambitions and our moral compass. "
Hind, who is guest-editing three issues of Charity Finance this year, also expressed his pride: “It is a wonderful honour to have my work with charities recognised in this way. And, of course, it is also a tribute to the professionalism and commitment of all my former colleagues at the Charity Commission who gave me great support during my six years as chief executive.”
Philanthropy featured as a key theme in the New Year list comprising 997 “exceptional people” who were chosen from thousands nominated for their actions. Social entrepreneur Alec Reed will receive a knighthood after using his own money from a successful business career to found a number of new charities and The Big Give.
Localism was also prominent with a reported 74 per cent of honours recipients classed as “local heroes” undertaking “outstanding work in their communities”.
>>View full New Year Honours List as pdf<<
