Health chiefs given knighthoods as public leaders are honoured

14 Jan 10
Public sector leaders have again had their work recognised in the New Year’s Honours list
By Vivienne Russell

14 January 2010

Public sector leaders have again had their work recognised in the New Year’s Honours list.

The list included knighthoods for prominent figures in the health service, notably NHS chief executive David Nicholson, chief executive of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Andrew Dillon and cancer ‘czar’ Professor Mike Richards.

In local government, Margaret Eaton, chair of the Local Government Association, was made a dame.

LGA chief executive John Ransford said Eaton’s honour was a testament to her ‘tireless work’. He added: ‘Margaret’s strong social conscience, wonderful sense of humour and passionate commitment to public service offers a template for all politicians.

‘[Her] dedication to helping councils make people’s lives better and inspiring passion has led us, and the sector, to continually improve and this honour is deserved recognition of her work.’

In central government, Helen Kilpatrick, financial and commercial director general at the Home Office, was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath. Kilpatrick, a CIPFA council member, has been instrumental in restoring strong financial discipline to the Home Office.

Kilpatrick told Public Finance she was ‘delighted’. She added: ‘It’s a reflection of all the hard work everyone in finance and corporate services at the Home Office has done to get things back on track over the past few years.’

CIPFA members Ann Beasley, director of finance and performance at the Ministry of Justice’s National Offender Management Service, and Professor Alice Brown, who was until last year the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, both received CBEs. Retired CIPFA member Bob Hutchings received an OBE for services to the voluntary sector in Wales.

There were also CBEs for Wakefield Metropolitan District Council leader Peter Box; Leicestershire County Council chief executive John Sinnott; and the former chair of the Association of Police Authorities, Bob Jones.

Several leading figures in the voluntary sector were honoured. Clare Tickell, chief executive of the charity Action for Children, was made a dame. Imelda Redmond, chief executive of Carers UK, received a CBE.

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