A domestic abuse survivor and the leader of an organisation supporting refugees are among the Cambridgeshire residents named in the King’s New Year honours list.
The list has now officially been released and those featured from the county are being awarded for their contributions to society, their communities or their area of work.
Sharon Livermore, from Ely, has been awarded the MBE for her services to the victims of domestic abuse.
When she was in an abusive relationship, her workplace was where she felt safe.
Sharon has since set up her own recruitment company called Kameo and now visits companies to offer specialist workplace training around domestic abuse.
Last year, she established the organisation Domestic Abuse Education, offers a CPD certified course and co-created Sharon’s Policy, a free template for companies on domestic abuse policy.
Sharon is also an ambassador for the Domestic Abuse Alliance and the Employer’s Initiative on Domestic Abuse.
She said: “To be awarded the MBE is such an honour.
“Never, never in a million years would I have thought this would happen to me.
“But I do this because of what I went through, I'm passionate about this issue and I know this work saves lives.
“And I will continue doing what I am doing.”
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The MBE was also awarded to Julia Fentem, the executive vice president of safety, environmental and regulatory science at the multinational consumer goods company Unilever.
Dr Fentem, from Huntingdon, and her team have been developing tools and techniques to move away from animal testing.
She has dedicated her career to this area for the last 35 years, and the team's work has had international impact.
Her MBE was awarded for services to human health and animal welfare.
Dr Fentem said: “I feel very honoured to be acknowledged for the work I’ve been doing since I received my PhD at the University of Nottingham in 1988.”
Maxine Purdie, from Ely, has been awarded the MBE for her services to knowledge exchange.
She is the former chief executive officer of PraxisAuril, which brings together professionals from the worlds of academia, government and business.
During her 20 years of leading the organisation, it grew from offering a single training course to a wider curriculum of courses and other professional services.
It also offers connections for more than 5,000 professionals from 182 organisations.
Moez Nathu was among those awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to refugees and asylum seekers.
He is the chief executive of the Peterborough Asylum and Refugee Community Association which has welcomed hundreds of people to the city over the last 20 years.
Mr Nathu said: “It’s really the team who deserve credit for this award, not just me.
“To be recognised by our government, and also the King, for our work means so much.
“We will continue to help others on their life journey and with their integration into society.”
Awardees of the King’s New Year honours 2024 from Cambridgeshire
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Gerard Grech. Founder, Tech Nation and Managing Director, Founders at the University of Cambridge. For services to the Technology Sector.
Professor Ann Prentice OBE. Honorary Senior Visiting Fellow, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge. For services to British and Global Public Health Nutrition.
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Dr Stephen Brierley. Founder, Riverlane. For services to Quantum Computing. (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)
Dr Sabesan Sithamparanathan FREng. Founder and President, PervasID and Enterprise Fellow, Girton College, University of Cambridge. For services to Innovation Technology.
Dr Gillian Tett. Editorial Board, Financial Times. For services to Economic Journalism. (Cambridge)
Jane Toogood. Co-Chair, Hydrogen Delivery Council. For services to the Low Carbon Hydrogen Sector. (Cambridge)
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Dr Helen Abrahams (Helen Pain). Chief Executive, Royal Society of Chemistry and lately Chair, Board of Trustees, Science Council. For services to Science. (Cambridge)
Dr Julia Fentem. Executive Vice President, Safety, Environmental and Regulatory Science, Unilever. For services to Human Health and Animal Welfare. (Huntingdon)
Maxine Ficarra (Maxine Purdie). Lately Chief Executive Officer, PraxisAuril. For services to Knowledge Exchange. (Ely)
Michael Frankl. For services to Charity, to Homeless People and to the Jewish Community in Cambridge.
Anna Lapwood. Organist. For services to Music. (Cambridge)
Sharon Livermore. Founder, Domestic Abuse Education and Director, Kameo Recruitment. For services to the Victims of Domestic Abuse. (Ely)
Dr Elizabeth Williams (Kay Williams). Head of International Chemicals, Pesticide and Hazardous Waste, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For services to the International Environment and charitable service through Bees Abroad. (Cambridge)
Joan Winterkorn. Archive and Manuscript Consultant and Member, Acceptance in Lieu Panel, Arts Council England. For services to Heritage and Culture. (Cambridge)
Nicola Wood. Senior Independent Director, Information Commissioner's Office. For services to Regulation. (Stapleford)
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
Sheila Betts. Chair and Volunteer, The Jarman Centre, Girlguiding Cambridgeshire East. For services to Young People.
Moez Nathu. Chief Executive, Peterborough Asylum and Refugee Community Association. For services to Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Peterborough.
John Sharman. For services to the community in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
Kenneth Winterbottom. For services to the community in Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire.
Lorna Woor. For services to the community in Cambridge.
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