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Terrence Higgins Trust CEO among charity leaders handed New Year Honours

By Joe Lepper

Charity leaders at Scope and Terrence Higgins Trust are among senior figures in the sector to be recognised in the New Year Honours list.

Scope’s chair Robin Millar has been knighted for services to charity as well as the music industry. The former record producer has been chairing of the disability charity’s board since 2020.

The New Year’s Honours list also recognises his role as a blind person in the music industry, promoting diversity. “As Group Chair of Blue Raincoat Chrysalis Group, he employs over 40% of people with protected characteristics,” said the government in announcing this year’s list.

Scope said Millar’s knighthood was “wonderful news to round off the year”.



Meanwhile Terrence Higgins Trust chief executive Ian Green has been awarded an OBE for services to charity and public health.

Green has been CEO at the health charity since 2016 and has been living with HIV since 1996.

“I’m thrilled and honoured to receive an OBE in recognition of my work in charity and public health,” said Green, who is due to step down later this year.

“As someone living with HIV, my work is much more than just ‘a job’, and I have gladly invested time, energy, and passion to drive change for those affected by HIV and poor sexual health.

“Later this year, I will step down from my role at Terrence Higgins Trust, and this honour has made me realise how much has been achieved. I would like to thank and share this with everyone who I have worked closely with over the years as we look ahead at all that’s still to do.”



Ben Lindsay, the chief executive of Power the Fight, who was named as Charity Times Rising Leader of the Year in 2022 has also been awarded an OBE, for services to people in South East London.

Lindsay said he is delighted to receive the OBE as “public recognition of my work”

“I dedicate this honour to all those building peaceful communities and to the young people working to build more hopeful future,” he added.



Also receiving an OBE is former ACEVO chief executive Vicky Browning, who said the award stands for “other buggers’ efforts”. Browning stepped down last May after leading the charity sector infrastructure body for five years.



Among MBE recipients is Suffolk Wildlife Trust chair James Alexander, who has been recognised for his work promoting environmental volunteering.

“This is a lovely honour, but I really think it reflects the amazing work of everyone at Suffolk Wildlife Trust, its supporters and volunteers who give up so much of their time, energy and talent to create a wilder Suffolk,” said Alexander, who has been a trustee at the charity seven years and has chaired its board for the last two years.

Christine Luxton, Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s CEO added “James is a shining example of the power of individual action. This Honour recognises James’s dedication and determination to make the world a better place.”



Another senior charity figure to receive an MBE is Coram’s head of education Jan Forshaw, who has worked at the charity for more than 30 years.

“I feel both delighted and humbled to receive this honour,” said Forshaw.

“It is a privilege to be able to support hard-working school staff in the vital role of improving children’s health and wellbeing – never more important and more needed that at this time.

“At Coram Life Education I have the privilege of working alongside incredibly dedicated, inspiring people – many of whom are volunteers – and of knowing that, working together, we make a positive difference to the lives of children and young people, helping them to reach their potential.”



The charity’s managing director of education and wellbeing Harriet Gill added: “I am immensely proud of Jan and of the recognition she so richly deserves in this award.

“Jan is a joy to work with, an exceptional colleague and person. Throughout the pandemic, and her entire career with us, she has shown indefatigable energy, innovation, understanding and empathy for the needs of children and teachers.”

Charity founders recognised

Liz and Charles Ritchie, the co-founders of the charity Gambling with Lives have also been awarded MBEs. They set up the charity following the gambling related suicide of their son Jack in 2017 to raise awareness of gambling harms and support other gambling bereaved families.

“This award is really for all the families searching for justice for those that have died. This is for Jack and for all the others – unfortunately too many to name,” said Liz Ritchie.



Elsewhere Dr Kate Kenyon, the founder of Kingston charity RBKares has been awarded a British Empire Medal for services to the London borough during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Receiving this award is an incredible honour and the most wonderful surprise,” she said.

“After 24 years working as a doctor, I never expected retirement to be so rewarding. The last few years have given me the opportunity to meet, work with, and help so many inspiring people across the borough, and I’m just grateful to have been in a position to give something back to the community I love.”

The full New Year Honours list can be found here.

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