London:
Alok Sharma, a former British minister of Indian descent, has been knighted for his contribution to the fight against climate change through his leadership at the COP26 summit by King Charles III in his first New Year Honors list released in London.
Agra-born Alok Sharma, 55, who served as cabinet-level minister until October, is on the “Overseas List” and leads a list of more than 30 Indian campaigners, economists, academics, medics and philanthropists honored in the annual list issued in the name of the British monarch for their “incredible public service” in the UK and abroad.
“Alok Sharma is being knighted for his contribution to the fight against climate change through his leadership at COP26 and urging the UK to agree on a historic agreement by individual countries that will have a major impact on tackling climate change in the future” reads a British foreign, statement from the Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) referring to the list honoring foreign contributions.
The UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26) was held in Scotland from October 31 to November 13 last year. Alok Sharma chaired the conference, the first since the COP21 Paris Agreement that expected parties to make stronger commitments to mitigating climate change.
“The UK’s impact around the world depends on exceptional people, such as those recognized in His Majesty the King’s New Year Honors list. I am grateful for their outstanding contribution,” said Sir Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary at the FCDO and head of the Diplomatic Maintenance Service.
In keeping with the climate theme, Professor Sir Partha Sarathi Dasgupta will be awarded a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) for services to economics and the natural environment.
Frank Ramsey’s emeritus professor of economics at the University of Cambridge made headlines earlier this year for his independent global review to establish a comprehensive economic framework for biodiversity.
‘The Economics of Biodiversity’, commissioned by the UK Treasury, called for a fundamental change in the way we think about and approach economics to reverse biodiversity loss.
Among others knighted by the monarch include Indian business chief Ivan Manuel Menezes, CEO of Diageo, for services to business and equality. Dr. Mayur Keshavji Lakhani, Chair of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management and General Practitioner at Highgate Medical Center in Loughborough, has been knighted for services to family medicine.
In other high honors, the new Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) include Vengalil Krishna Kumar Chatterjee, Professor of Endocrinology, University of Cambridge, for services to people with endocrine disorders; Dr. Ramesh Dulichandbhai Mehta, Chairman, British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO), For services to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Nageshwara Dwarampudi Reddy, Portfolio Director, Labor Market and Jobs Plan, Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), for Public Service; Dr. Gurdial Singh Sanghera, Founder and CEO, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, for services to the technology sector, are also on the list.
Jatinder Kumar Sharma, Principal, Walsall College, For services to Further Education; Jasvir Singh, Chairman, City Sikhs, For services to Charity, Faith Communities and Social Cohesion; and Professor Keshav Singhal, For services to medicine and the community in Wales are also on the list.
British Indian Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) include Nishi Chaturvedi, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Director, Lifelong Health and Aging Unit, University College London, for services to medical research; Ravinder Gill, Founder, College of Accountancy, For services to Higher Education.
Others include Puneet Gupta, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, PG Paper, for services to business, charity and the community in Scotland; Sharon Kaur Jandu, Director, Yorkshire Asian Business Association, For services to International Trade; Dr. Krishna Rohan Kandiah, Founder of the Sanctuary Foundation, For services to the Integration of Refugees; and Hitan Mehta, Executive Director, British Asian Trust, For services to the British Asian community.
The Cabinet Office said the list released Friday, the first since Queen Elizabeth II’s death in September, recognizes a wide range of services across the UK, including members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for such of Dr. Minal Bakhai and Dr. Jyotiben Shah For services to medicine and contributions to education by Professor Prashant Pillai of the University of Wolverhampton and Bhavena Patel, Senior Relationship Manager, Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
Recipients on the New Year Honors List are recognized for their outstanding contributions across all parts of the UK in areas such as sustainable public service, youth engagement and community work.
Queen guitarist Sir Brian May has been made a Knight Bachelor and England’s World Cup winning women’s football team Leah Williamson has been awarded an OBE.
The musician, astrophysicist and animal welfare advocate is being knighted for services to music and charity, after more than 50 years in one of Britain’s most popular rock bands.
Of the 1,107 people on the cabinet’s honor roll for 2023, 60 percent of recipients are people recognized primarily for outstanding work in their communities, whether voluntary or charitable, and women make up 50 percent of the total .
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is being published from a syndicated feed.)
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