Former UKRI leaders recognised in New Year Honours list

Professor John Iredale, former interim executive chair at the Medical Research Council (MRC) was awarded a knighthood for services to medical research.

Alexandra Vincent, former chief operating officer at the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) was also awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to research funding.

Iredale took up the role of interim executive chair at the MRC in January 2022, joining on secondment from the University of Bristol, where he is pro-vice chancellor for health.

He was previously director at the MRC Centre for Inflammation Research and the regius chair of medical science in Edinburgh, and has served on MRC’s council since 2016.

Iredale left his role as interim executive chair at the MRC in October 2023, when he was succeeded by Professor Patrick Chinnery.

Vincent served as chief operating officer at the AHRC and UKRI International for four years until September 2022, after several roles within the research councils.

She is now divisional registrar and chief operating officer in the Humanities Division at the University of Oxford.

UKRI chief executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser said: “It is good to see the tremendous value of research and innovation recognised in the New Year Honours list, and I would like to send my warmest congratulations to all those recognised.

“Professor Iredale’s experience, knowledge and wisdom were powerful assets throughout his service as MRC interim executive chair, and I am immensely grateful to him for his leadership.

“Alexandra Vincent made invaluable contributions in a number of roles at UKRI, most recently as chief operating officer for AHRC and UKRI International, and I am deeply grateful to her for the service she provided to UKRI and the research and innovation community.”