Incoming CIPFA president recognised in birthday honours

15 Jun 15

Incoming CIPFA president John Matheson is among the public servants to be recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Matheson, the director for health finance, e-health and analytics in the Scottish Government, has been awarded a CBE for services to healthcare.

Matheson told Public Finance: “It was an honour, privilege and a great shock to be recognised in this way. I felt quite humbled.

“Whatever I achieve, I do so within and supported by some outstanding teams not just within health but across the public sector

“As well as a personal recognition I therefore also accept this award on their behalf recognising their individual and collective contributions in working with me. Thank you all.”

Also among the awards announced on Friday evening were honours for three council leaders.

Haringey council leader Claire Kober has been awarded an OBE for services to local government, as was Elaine Atkinson, the leader of Poole Borough Council, and Bexley Borough Council leader Teresa O’Neill.

Cheryl Coppell, chief executive of the London Borough of Havering also received an OBE for services to local government.

Other local government figures who were honoured included David Simmonds, deputy leader of Hillingdon in London and chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, who was given a CBE for services to children, families and to local government.

Robert Davis, deputy leader of Westminster Council, has received an MBE for services to planning and local government.

Greg Clark, an economic development expert who had advised the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and served on the independent City Growth Commission, has received a CBE.

Two former government ministers have also been awarded for knighthoods. Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes, who served as justice minister in the last government but lost his Bermondsey and Old Southwark seat at the general election, has been knighted, as has former health minister and current Conservative MP for Chelmsford Simon Burns.

Paul Kenny​, the general secretary of the GMB Union, was also awarded a knighthood.

In total, 1,163 people received an award, with 70% of the recipients being people recognised for community work.

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