King’s Birthday Honours turns spotlight on transport stars

Figures from across the transport sector were among those recognised for their “extraordinary contributions and service of people” in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Chris Boardman was made a CBE in recognition of his work as National Active Travel Commissioner at Active Travel England. 

The were also CBEs for Iain Stewart, former Chair of the  Commons  Transport Select Committee, and Dipesh Shah,  National Highways chair from 2020 until the end of 2023. 

Professor Washington Ochieng, Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial, received a CBE for his work on  global positioning and navigation systems.

Sonya Byers, Chief Executive Officer of Women in Transport, received an OBE in recognition of her contributions to diversity and inclusion in the transport industry.

MD of West Coast Partnership Development, Shamit Gaiger, was awarded an OBE for services to rail over the past 22 years. 

Bill Hiron, Chair of  bus managers’ group ALBUM, former CPT president  and MD of Stephensons of Essex, received an MBE for services to passenger transport. 

SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes was awarded an OBE for services to the automotive industry. 

Dervilla Mitchell, Deputy Chair at Arup, who helped establish its women’s network and  diversity steering group, is made a Dame.

Frank Bird, Senior Network Planner for NH in the West Midlands, was made an OBE.

Paula Durrans, former Head of Security at Great Western Railway, received an MBE for her work in making the UK rail network a safer, more welcoming place for customers and rail staff. 

Head of Health and Safety at First Bus, Denise Harrison, has also been awarded MBE.

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