Professor Julia Buckingham, former Vice-Chancellor and President of Brunel University London, has been appointed as a Dame for services to higher education in the King's New Year's Honours List 2025, announced today.
Dame Julia spent nearly a decade at Brunel's helm before leaving office at the end of 2021. In her citation for becoming Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, released by the Palace, it was highlighted that Dame Julia's work in establishing the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Centre on Brunel's campus, together with other outreach activities, benefited thousands of schoolchildren.
Between 2019 and 2021, Dame Julia served as the president of Universities UK, shaping national policy debates on critical matters such as student mental health, equality, researcher career development and research policy. Her engagement in HE delegations overseas enhanced the global reputation of UK higher education and advanced the sector on an international stage.
Since leaving Brunel, Dame Julia has been Chair of the Institute of Cancer Research and of the NC3Rs. As a leader within STEM, she has supported the careers of women and ethnic minorities; and as Chair of the Concordat Strategy Group and Chair of the Athena SWAN Review Steering Group, she has contributed to lasting enhancements in equality, career development and research culture.
Dame Julia's DBE follows on from her CBE, received in 2018 for services to biology and education.
Reported by:
Joe Buchanunn,
Media Relations
+44 (0)1895 268821
joe.buchanunn@brunel.ac.uk