King’s Birthday Honours for Imperial academics

Leading Imperial researchers from across the university have been recognised in the latest King’s Birthday Honours List.

The 2024 list, released as part of the King’s Official Birthday celebrations in June, honours six members of the Imperial College London community for their achievements in the field of science and research.

Emeritus Professor Jim Skea of the Centre for Environmental Policy, and Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, receives a knighthood for services to climate science. 

Professor Washington Ochieng, Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial, is awarded a CBE for services to global positioning and navigation systems.

Professor Ian Walmsley, Provost of Imperial College London, is awarded a CBE for services to science and to quantum technologies.

Professor Jonathan Weber, Director of the Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre, is awarded a CBE for services to global medical science.

Professor Jane Davies, Professor in Paediatric Respirology & Experimental Medicine at the National Heart and Lung Institute, is awarded an OBE for services to people with cystic fibrosis.

Professor Anthony Gordon, Head of Division of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, is awarded an MBE for services to critical care medicine.

Emeritus Professor Sir Jim Skea

James ‘Jim’ Skea is an Emeritus Professor at the Centre for Environmental Policy, and Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He has undertaken research on climate and energy for over forty years, supporting action to ensure access to energy and avert climate change in a way that benefits humanity.

Much of that work has been undertaken at the IPCC, which he began contributing to shortly after its formation in the 1990s. He was Vice-Chair and then Co-Chair of Working Group III, which covers the mitigation of climate change, through methods for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and enhancing sinks that remove them from the atmosphere.

"..It also reflects the huge voluntary efforts undertaken by the thousands of IPCC authors who have dedicated themselves to providing solid scientific evidence to support climate policy." Professor Sir Jim Skea Chair, IPCC

Professor Skea co-led the landmark IPCC report on global warming of 1.5ºC, which led to a step change in global climate action by triggering net zero targets covering 90% of global emissions. He also co-led the flagship 2022 report on climate change mitigation, providing a blueprint for mitigating emissions that has informed accelerated commitments in the UN, G20 and beyond. He was a founding member of the UK Climate Change Committee responsible for advising government on progress to net zero.

In July 2023 he was elected as the first UK Chair of the IPCC. He was awarded an OBE for services to sustainable transport in 2004, and a CBE for services to sustainable energy in 2013.

On his knighthood, he said: “I am humbled to have been honoured in this way. But it also reflects the huge voluntary efforts undertaken by the thousands of IPCC authors who have dedicated themselves to providing solid scientific evidence to support climate policy. This is for them too.”

Professor Washington Yotto Ochieng CBE

A pioneer of Europe’s satellite-based global positioning and navigation systems, Professor Ochieng’s research covers positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) system design and application on water, land, air and space. His research portfolio also includes infrastructure security and resilience, and user-centric mobility. As well as his research, he also advises the UK government on related policy.

A Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Professor Ochieng is the Head of Imperial’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chair in Positioning and Navigation Systems, and Director of Imperial’s Institute for Security Science and Technology (ISST).

"It is particularly pertinent at this very juncture as we work with the UK government to implement its 10-point plan on the UK’s Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing Capability.” Professor Washington Ochieng CBE Head, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

His work has contributed to areas as diverse as space navigation, intelligent transport systems in cities, and navigation aids for blind people. His research has made significant contributions to major international projects, including the design of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service and GALILEO, measurement error modelling in Global Navigation Satellite Systems, and the specification of aircraft trajectory management tools for the Single European Sky's ATM Research programme.

His achievements are highly recognised globally, including in his native Kenya, where in 2022 he received the honour of Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear - one of the country’s highest national decorations - from Kenyan President Dr William Ruto.

Professor Ochieng said of his CBE: “I receive this Honour from HM the King with deep gratitude and humility. It recognises the work of many wonderful colleagues and entities that I have worked and collaborated with over many years in academia, industry, government, non-governmental organisations and wider society.”

“I give special thanks to my former and current PhD and Post-Doctoral researchers who have worked tirelessly with me, leading to this Honour. It is particularly pertinent at this very juncture as we work with the UK government to implement its 10-point plan on the UK’s Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing Capability.”

Professor Ian Walmsley FRS CBE

Professor Ian Walmsley has held the role of Provost of Imperial College London since 2018 and is an internationally recognised expert in ultrafast and quantum optics. His research has led to advances in fields as diverse as spectroscopy, cryptography, quantum computing, and precision measurement.

In his role as Provost, he leads the academic mission of Imperial, overseeing its research, education and innovation and translation activities. His role includes both strategy and planning, ensuring that resources are aligned with the strategic aims of the university’s plan.

"I’ve been fortunate to be inspired by amazing colleagues and students across many institutions throughout my scientific career" Professor Ian Walmsley CBE Provost, Imperial College London

As Chair in Experimental Physics, he remains an active researcher in quantum information processing using light, including quantum computing and simulation, sensing and networking, and he leads a research group at Imperial in this area. He is also one of the co-founders of ORCA Computing, a quantum computing startup company.

In recognition of his contributions to quantum optics and ultrafast optics, Professor Walmsley was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2012. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, the American Physical Society and the Optical Society of America (now Optica), of which he was President in 2018.

On his CBE, Professor Walmsley said: “I’m really moved by this honour and very pleased to have been nominated. I’ve been fortunate to be inspired by amazing colleagues and students across many institutions throughout my scientific career: it has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to work with them in such exciting fields as quantum technology, as well as in the broader work of research and education. I’m also deeply grateful for the long support of my family."

Professor Jonathan Weber CBE

Professor Jonathan Weber is a renowned HIV/AIDS researcher and has been working for over 40 years looking after and researching treatments for patients with HIV and AIDS.

He is currently the Director of the Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre, which brings the University and the Institute of Cancer Research, together with their major NHS partners in north-west London, to promote medical research and education to enhance clinical outcomes for patients.

Last year he retired as Dean of Imperial’s Faculty of Medicine after six years. As Dean, he planned and executed the Faculty’s £240m estate strategy, oversaw a comprehensive reorganisation of the Faculty into eight academic departments, and led the Faculty to major successes including in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, the £95 million award for the NIHR Imperial BRC in 2022, and the establishment of the CRUK Convergence Science Centre with the Institute of Cancer Research.

"This has been an extraordinary struggle – we still have no HIV vaccine despite 40 years of work and much global investment." Professor Jonathan Weber CBE Director, Academic Health Science Centre

During his research career Prof Weber has carried out fundamental research on humoral immunity in HIV infection and viral tropism, and early phase clinical investigation of the emerging antiretroviral drugs, vaginal microbicides and potential HIV vaccine candidates.

From 2018, he has been leading the first ever European HIV vaccine efficacy trial in four African countries, trialling a novel prime-boost immunisation strategy, using experimental HIV vaccine products developed at Imperial College, under his previous Wellcome Trust, MRC and EC support. In 1990 he founded the leading specialist journal in the field, “AIDS”. He has published over 350 scientific papers on the clinical, epidemiological and virological aspects of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections.

Prof Weber said of his CBE: “I am delighted to have been recognised for what has been a lifetime of care of and research into HIV infection – nearly all based at Imperial College. I began working on AIDS in 1982 at St Mary’s Hospital and have been fortunate to have been heavily involved in the drug developments which have so totally transformed this once-fatal infection.”

“My research has been heavily collaborative and I should particularly like to acknowledge colleagues past and present at the MRC Clinical Trials Unit who have been so central to this country’s response to the AIDS/HIV pandemic.”

“For the past 20 years I have focussed on HIV prevention, particularly the development of a safe and effective HIV vaccine. This has been an extraordinary struggle – we still have no HIV vaccine despite 40 years of work and much global investment. I hope that the amazing advances in the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis and universal antiretroviral therapy will control HIV transmission sufficiently in the future to end this pandemic, even if a vaccine remains elusive.”

Professor Jane Davies OBE

Jane Davies is Professor of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine and Experimental Medicine at Imperial College London and an Honorary Consultant at the Royal Brompton Hospital, part of Guy’s & St Thomas’ Trust. She has been at the forefront of revolutionising treatments for people with cystic fibrosis (CF), focusing on designing and leading global clinical trials for groundbreaking 'CFTR modulator' drugs that target the genetic causes of the disease.

"I am privileged to work with passionate and dedicated colleagues in multidisciplinary clinical and research roles at Imperial College and Royal Brompton Hospital- my heartfelt thanks goes to them for their tireless teamwork." Professor Jane Davies OBE National Heart and Lung Institute

CFTR modulator therapies are now licensed and suitable for around 85-90% people with CF, including one drug which can be prescribed to newborn babies. Trials in children have been accelerated by standardisation of a multi-breath washout test, for which Prof Davies leads the European CF Society’s Core Facility.

Her focus is now on genetic and mRNA-based therapies for those people who cannot benefit from these drugs due to their genetic variants and on complications of CF, in particular lung infections.  She was recently made a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and is an NIHR Senior Investigator. 

Professor Davies said: “It is an incredible honour to have been nominated for this award by members of the CF community. The evolution in clinical care over the last few decades means life for many living with CF is longer and of greater quality- but these advances do not benefit all people equally and there is much left to do. I am privileged to work with passionate and dedicated colleagues in multidisciplinary clinical and research roles at Imperial College and Royal Brompton Hospital- my heartfelt thanks goes to them for their tireless teamwork."

“My research has been generously supported by the UK’s outstanding patient organization, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, in partnership with people living with CF and their families. I thank them for all their insights and their participation in research studies, even when there is nothing to gain for them individually; the altruism of members of the CF community is truly outstanding. The visibility afforded by this award will help to further amplify the community voice, influencing care & research agendas towards optimal and equitable health.”

Professor Anthony Gordon MBE

Anthony Gordon is Chair in Anaesthesia and Critical Care at Imperial, as well as an Intensive Care consultant in St Mary’s Hospital, an NIHR Senior Investigator and a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. His work in critical care has focused on severely ill patients with sepsis, leading innovative clinical trials to improve care and developing personalised treatment approaches, including the use of novel diagnostics and artificial intelligence to adapt treatment strategies.

In addition to leading work which has shaped international guidelines for the treatment of sepsis, Professor Gordon is UK chief investigator for the international REMAP-CAP trial, which generated evidence to improve the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19 and influenza.

"Working in critical care for the last 30 years, looking after and developing better treatments for the sickest patients in hospital has been a privilege." Professor Anthony Gordon MBE Chair in Anaesthesia and Critical Care

Professor Gordon said: “Working in critical care for the last 30 years, looking after and developing better treatments for the sickest patients in hospital has been a privilege. It is wonderful now to be recognised with this award."

“I am very grateful to all my colleagues in the UK and internationally for their support and particularly to my superb research team, without whose support none of this would be possible."

“It is always challenging to undertake research in critical care and the pandemic pushed us all to the limit. Through the team’s tireless hard work and dedication, we were able to find treatments that saved many lives around the world, and we continue to find innovative ways to improve care for other severely ill patients.”