OBE presentation at Palace for Deputy VC
28 February 2023
A trip to Buckingham Palace for Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Parveen Yaqoob finally confirmed her appointment as OBE.
Professor Yaqoob was officially appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire by HRH The Prince of Wales at a celebration on Thursday 23 February.
The award was announced in June 2022 in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, with Professor Yaqoob recognised for services to higher education.
Professor Yaqoob said: “Receiving an OBE from HRH Prince William at Buckingham Palace was an unforgettable experience. Aside from the pomp and ceremony, there was a warm reception by the Prince and a conversation about the University's Race Equality Review.
“I feel truly honoured to have been nominated by the many wonderful colleagues I have the privilege to work with at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø and beyond.”
As well as a highly-regarded professor in human nutrition, Professor Yaqoob is the first female Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø and provides leadership on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) issues at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø and across the Higher Education sector.
She is the inaugural Chair of the national Athena Swan Governance Committee overseeing transformation of the charter for gender equality. She supported ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø’s successful application for an institutional Athena Swan Silver Award, and co-led the University’s Race Equality Review, resulting in 20 recommendations to change practices and culture.
Professor Yaqoob also directed the University’s complex response to the Covid-19 pandemic, including overseeing measures to keep students and staff safe and collaborating with the NHS and other services.