Triple recognition for Manchester Met in King’s Birthday Honours

Three distinguished Manchester Met figures have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours for their outstanding contributions to education, the arts, and social justice.

Professor Janet Lord,Deputy Faculty PVC for Health and Education, has been awarded an OBE for services to education, while Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing, Anjum Malik, has been awarded an MBE for services to British South Asian Arts.

In addition, Manchester Met law alumnus Professor Sir Patrick Vernon has received a knighthood for his services to racial equality and social justice.

Professor Janet Lord has dedicated more than 35 years to education, with her work spanning both professional and voluntary roles. Her expertise focuses on digitally enhanced learning, inclusion, disadvantage, and teacher development.

In 2022, she was invited by the Department for Education to serve as Independent Chair for the Halton Priority Education Investment Area, helping to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children and young people. Her leadership roles include Independent Chair of the Brilliant Futures Fund in Barrow, supporting a £5m programme to enhance education in the region.

Professor Lord said: “Receiving this OBE is an honour. My work in is driven by a firm belief that education is the cornerstone of society – when we get it right, it can transform life chances. 

“Too many children are growing up facing significant disadvantage, and I am committed to improving outcomes for them. By training and supporting teachers effectively, we can shape generations of young people and help them fulfil their potential. It means a great deal to have this work recognised.”

Senior Lecturer Anjum Malik is a prestigious and prolific writer, poet, teacher and community practitioner whose work spans poetry, radio, television, theatre, film and community arts. In addition to supporting students and emerging writers as a Senior Lecturer at Manchester Met’s Manchester Writing School, she has written more than 80 scripts for broadcast, performance and exhibition.

Malik said: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive an MBE. When I found out, my first thoughts were of my mother, Imtiaz Tahira Malik, and my father, Abdul Latif Malik, who believed passionately in education, opportunity and hard work, and encouraged their children to believe they could achieve anything they wanted.

“Much of my work has focused on creating opportunities for people whose voices and experiences are overlooked to be heard, celebrated and valued, as well as writing my own original dramas and poetry about worlds and people not normally represented in the mainstream media. This recognition belongs not only to me but to all the communities with whom I’ve have the privilege to work. I am proud to accept this in honour and in memory of my parents who made this wonderful life of mine possible.”

Over the past 30 years, law alumnus Professor Sir Patrick Vernon has worked across the voluntary, public and community sectors campaigning for racial equality, health equity and social justice. His work has included leading the successful national campaign for Windrush Day, supporting efforts to expose the Windrush Scandal, and co-founding the Majonzi Fund to support communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19 bereavement.

Commenting on the accolades, Manchester Met Vice-Chancellor Professor Malcolm Press CBE DL, said: “Many congratulations to Professor Janet Lord and Anjum Malik, and to Professor Sir Patrick Vernon, on their hugely deserved honours.

“Through her commitment to education and improving the lives of children and young people, Professor Lord has had a hugely positive impact on communities, providing firm foundations for children to achieve their full potential.

“Anjum Malik’s work reflects not only her boundless creativity but her community spirit. Her generous contributions to communities across many years have given voice and expression to people who have been too often unheard.

“Professor Sir Patrick Vernon’s tireless leadership and lifelong commitment to racial and social justice have transformed lives and deepened our collective understanding of equity. 

“All three influential and inspirational leaders exemplify the impact Manchester Met strives to make in society.”

These latest recognitions follow several Honours List successes for Manchester Met. Professor of Contemporary Writing Professor Andrew McMillan was awarded an MBE for services to literature in this year’s New Year’s Honours, while last year Bamidele Adebisi, Professor of Intelligent Infrastructure Systems, was awarded an MBE for services to knowledge transfer. In 2024 Liz Price, Professor of Environmental Education and Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor Sustainability, was given an MBE for services to sustainability education.