09 January 2004
Rabbi Julia Neuberger, the former chief executive of the King's Fund, has been created a dame commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year's honours list.
Neuberger, a member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, is a leading figure in health service thinking. She joined the King's Fund Institute in 1989, becoming the campaigning charity's chief executive in 1998. She is also the former chair of the Public Servants of the Year judging panel.
Peter Gershon, chief executive of the Office of Government Commerce, was awarded a knighthood. He is currently carrying out a wide efficiency review of the public sector.
Mavis McDonald, permanent secretary at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, becomes a dame, as does Jane Roberts, the leader of the London Borough of Camden, for services to local government.
Telford & Wrekin chief executive Michael Frater, seconded in June 2002 to act as the interim chief executive of Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council in the wake of damning corporate government reports, was awarded a CBE.
A head teacher who turned around a failing inner-city school was awarded a knighthood. Under the leadership of Dexter Hutt, the number of pupils getting five
A* to C GCSEs at Ninestiles School in Birmingham rose more than tenfold.
Downing Street said the list was designed to reflect those who 'work at the sharp end'.
PFjan2004
