Alumni recognised in King’s first Birthday Honours list

Serena Kennedy (credit: Merseyside Police)

Fouzia Younis (2011, International Relations), Serena Kennedy (2013, Applied Criminology), Gavin McKinnon (2008, Applied Criminology and Police Management), and Navleen Kaur (2000, Education with Psychology) were all honoured in the list announced on Friday 16 June 2023.

Their selections – which are also reflective of the College’s historical strength in Criminology, Internal Relations, and Education – continue a long line of alumni recognition in the royal Birthday Honours lists, including Wolfson Fellow Professor James Wood OBE and Fellow and Tutor Professor Giles Yeo MBE.

Serena Kennedy (2013 Applied Criminology), Merseyside Police’s first female Chief Constable, was awarded the King’s Police Medal (KPM). She was recognised for her long-term commitment to policing, the Covid response, and for driving improvements in wellbeing for officers and staff.

Serena told the BBC that the honour reflected the "hard work" of everyone at the force. “It is them that I want to thank for me being recognised," she said. "I am so proud to be the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police and lead such professional, dedicated, passionate staff who are committed to putting the communities of Merseyside first."

Gavin McKinnon (2008 Applied Criminology and Police Management), The Chief Officer of Kent Special Constabulary, was awarded an OBE in recognition for his work to transform Kent Police’s Special Constabulary.

“I was shocked and deeply honoured when I received the news,” said Gavin. “In 2014, we became the first Special Constabulary in the UK to receive the highest national honour for volunteering, The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which is a collective MBE. That recognition was for our ‘innovative, community focused, volunteer policing’. We have continued to deliver exactly that, so I view this OBE as a higher collective award for the exceptional team of Specials I have the privilege to lead.”

Fouzia Younis (2011 International Relations), the British Consul General for Toronto, was awarded an MBE for her services to the UK’s foreign policy. Before her posting in Toronto, she was Communication Director for the Pakistan Network, as well as the Co-Chair of the FCDO Race Network.

“Can't quite believe I am tweeting this,” she announced on Twitter, “but [I am] honoured to be part of the King's Birthday Honours list & be awarded with a MBE for contributions to foreign policy. As we say in Birmingham, I am well chuffed. Thank you!”

Navleen Kaur (2000 Education with Psychology) was awarded an MBE for services to Women and to Interfaith Relations.

As the founder of Sahara Sisterhood, Navleen works to provides a safe and secure space to assist women in releasing, relaxing and recuperating from trauma and violence. She is also actively involved with Strengthening Faith Institutions in providing safeguarding training to places of worship. She receives an MBE for services to Women and to Interfaith Relations.