Psychologists recognised in 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours

The BPS sends its warmest congratulations to: 

Professor Lucy Yardley, Professor of Health Psychology, University of Bristol and University of Southampton, has been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire), for services to the Covid-19 response. Professor Yardley said:

"At a time when so many people are making such a wonderful effort to help us all get through this difficult time I feel very grateful that I have been given the opportunity to try to make a positive contribution through SAGE and my research."

Dr Kim Golding, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, has been awarded a CBE for services to children and young people. Dr Golding said: 

"While I view the term British Empire to be outdated and not representative of my experience of being British, I do appreciate the valuing of British excellence that the honours represent. 

This honour, while recognising my individual contribution, also recognises the hard work of many people.

We want to ensure that our children and young people have the best support possible in order to recover from early trauma and develop towards improved mental health and emotional wellbeing.

We also want to provide the best support to those parenting these children and young people so that they can stay resilient and emotionally healthy whilst undertaking what can often be a challenging parenting task."

Professor Sophie Scott, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, has been awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for services to Neuroscience. Professor Scott said: 

"It's 30 years almost to the day since I went to UCL to start a PhD.

I have always felt truly lucky to have a career in psychological research: I love the science and I have had the chance to work with such wonderful colleagues and collaborators.

To be recognised in this way for my science feels honestly quite greedy of me, but I am really honoured."

Professor Michael West, Professor of Work and Organisational Psychology, Lancaster University, has been awarded a CBE for services to compassion and innovation in the NHS. Professor West said: 

"I have had the immense privilege of working with many psychologists, colleagues from other disciplines and wonderful people throughout the NHS over the course of my research career. 

"We have shared a fundamental commitment to creating the conditions where health and care staff can effectively provide high quality, continually improving and compassionate care for those in the community and creating the conditions where staff themselves experience high quality, continually improving and compassionate support.

This huge honour for me is also recognition for all of their inspiring contributions."

Dr Derek Farrell has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to psychology. 

The honours system recognises people who have:

• made achievements in public life
• committed themselves to serving and helping Britain

They'll usually have made life better for other people or be outstanding at what they do.