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Notes on higher level awards in the New Year Honours 2026 Overseas and International List

Published 29 December 2025

GCMG (Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George)

Dame Barbara WOODWARD DCMG OBE

Lately UK Representative to the United Nations, UK Mission to the United Nations, New York.

Dame Barbara Woodward is recognised for her outstanding leadership and achievements over her career. She is the first female member of His Majesty’s Diplomatic Service to receive this, the highest award that can be conferred in the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael & St George, which recognises exceptional service to the UK overseas and internationally. 

Throughout her distinguished career, Dame Barbara has demonstrated unwavering dedication, exceptional leadership and achievement, and as the first female British Ambassador to China and then as the UK’s Permanent Representative in New York, where she has been at the heart of some of the most complex and sensitive diplomatic challenges of our time, including on Russia/Ukraine and Israel/Gaza, leading and delivering for the UK with integrity, empathy, impact and focus.

KCMG (Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George)

Tim EICKE KC

Lately UK Judge at the European Court of Human Rights. For services to the protection of Human Rights in Europe.

Tim Eicke KC is recognised after nearly a decade serving as the judge elected to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of the UK. He has profoundly influenced the development of human rights law across Europe and given exceptional service, and benefited the UK’s reputation, through the consistent quality of his legal opinions. 

He has also been a pre-eminent figure in the development of the law in the digital space, as well as having leading knowledge and expertise of the principles of public international and human rights law. He also ensured a regular and strong dialogue between the Court and the judiciaries of England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the UK Supreme Court as well as Parliament, Attorneys General and Lord Chancellors.

Professor David MABEY CBE

Professor of Communicable Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Professor Mabey is recognised for an exceptional and sustained contribution to global health. He has led successful efforts to eliminate trachoma, the leading infectious cause of blindness, with remarkable results in more than 20 countries, delivering major progress in preventing mother-to-child transmission of syphilis, shaping World Health Organisation policy through his role as the Chair of the World Health Organisation Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for neglected tropical diseases and through his role at the organisation on diagnostics and sexually transmitted infections, mentoring global leaders, and leaving a profound legacy in infectious disease control and capacity building as well as reflecting well on the UK’s contribution to world health. 

Simon MANLEY CMG

Former UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.

Simon Manley is recognised for his outstanding 35-year diplomatic career, giving exceptional service to UK foreign policy and British citizens around the world. He has delivered results in some of the most challenging roles, including EU Exit, Covid repatriations (the top-rated government pandemic programme) and success for the UK in difficult bilateral and multilateral negotiations on trade, health and human rights. 

Renowned for his mastery of technical and specialist detail, Simon Manley has played a pivotal role in achieving UK objectives in demanding multilateral and bilateral settings.  He led the UK’s response in Geneva on Russia/Ukraine following the invasion and he has been a consistent champion of gender equality in diplomacy and Girls’ Education. As HM Ambassador to Spain, he led the way in building a strong modern partnership between the UK and Spain, as well as strong engagement with the large number of British nationals living in Spain as the UK approached leaving the EU.

Professor Anthony REDMOND OBE

Founder of UK-Med and Emeritus Professor of Emergency Medicine.

Professor Tony Redmond is recognised for his exceptional and long-term contributions to healthcare and humanitarian response, both in the UK and internationally. As a world-leading specialist in emergency medicine and the founder of UK-Med, he has played a pivotal role in coordinating the deployment of UK health workers to international crises, saving countless lives and revolutionising emergency medical care globally. His contribution, over many years, has had significant and life-saving impact on vulnerable people in many parts of the world, also improving emergency medical care and response strategies worldwide. 

UK-Med originally evolved from the South Manchester Accident Rescue Team, which he also founded. His early emergency response work included leading a team during the 1988 Armenian earthquake and the Lockerbie air disaster and UK-Med’s work continues to this day in many of the major crises, including Ukraine and Gaza. Professor Redmond also co-founded the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute at the University of Manchester and remains an active ambassador for UK-Med, sharing his expertise to further advance global emergency medicine.

Dr Christian TURNER CMG

Lately Director General, Geopolitics, and Political Director, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Dr Turner is recognised for his service in advancing UK foreign policy and international relations during some of the most challenging global events in recent years, most recently as the Political Director and as the High Commissioner to Pakistan, as well as previously as Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSA) and International Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister and High Commissioner to Kenya. A highly visible and energetic leader, he has led the delivery of the Foreign Secretary’s and FCDO’s objectives externally, drawing together overseas and international priorities for the UK during a period dominated by the change of Government and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.  He has played a central role in the UK’s response in both crises, leveraging diplomatic skills to advance the UK’s influence as well as crisis response planning and delivery including the successful evacuation of British nationals from Lebanon.

In Pakistan, he showed great leadership through the pandemic, the aftermath of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the reduction in Official Development Assistance as well as promoting the restoration of key aviation links, progress on media freedom legislation, and a successful COP business campaign, which showcased the UK’s leadership on climate and sustainability. As DNSA he co-ordinated the diplomatic response to the Salisbury poisonings, and in Kenya negotiated the reconciliation with the MauMau as well as HMG’s response to the 2013 Westgate Mall terrorist attack

Order of the British Empire

DBE (Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)

Dr Carol Colburn GRIGOR CBE

Founder and Director, Dunard Fund UK & USA, President, The Colburn Foundation.

Dr Grigor is recognised for her outstanding philanthropic contribution to the UK cultural and charitable sectors, particularly in Scotland, supporting a range of organisations, projects and good causes. Over many years, she has demonstrated deep personal commitment in supporting a wide range of organisations, projects, and causes. Her substantial donations have benefited a wide range of cultural organisations, ranging from the Edinburgh International Festival, National Galleries of Scotland, National Library of Scotland and Britain’s major opera companies and orchestras, such as the London Philharmonic, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. 

She has also contributed generously to support victims of domestic violence and communities facing deprivation. Even at the age of 81, she remains actively engaged in major new philanthropic projects, including the design and building of a new world-class concert hall in Edinburgh. She does not seek the limelight and is a strong advocate for taking the risk of making donations to enable projects to get started, thereby inspiring others to follow her example and contribute.

Knight Bachelor

Ian Stewart FORRESTER KC

Arbitrator and Practitioner and former International Judge.

Ian Forrester is recognised for his lifetime contribution to international legal practice, writing and teaching in law, supporting and actively providing pro bono legal practice, Franco-British legal relations and other charitable work. Before his appointment as an international judge, he also represented a wide range of clients including the Government of Gibraltar, the BBC and the Scottish Football Association, and was described in the legal world as one of the world’s top competition lawyers.

In 2015, he was nominated by the UK to serve as the UK Judge on the General Court of the European Union, a role he fulfilled with distinction, and earned a strong reputation, reflecting well on the UK, right up until the UK’s EU Exit. He has subsequently served on the Competition Appeal Tribunal, is a former President of the Franco British Lawyers Society and an Assembly Trustee of the Church of Scotland, further cementing his legacy in both the legal profession and public service, as well as supporting the arts and music.

Christopher VAJDA KC

Barrister and former International Judge.

Christopher Vajda is recognised for his distinguished career as a barrister, arbitrator, legal academic and international judge. Before 2012, he appeared in around 100 cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union, with more than half representing the UK Government. Appointed as the UK Judge at the Court in 2012, he gave exceptional service, and thereby enhancing the standing of the UK. 

Following the referendum, he ensured that there was no drop in either the quantity or quality of his judicial output, including leading and delivering judgment on some of the most difficult and sensitive cases to come before the Court during his time. Subsequently, he returned to the UK as a highly sought-after barrister and arbitrator and has continued to contribute to the legal profession through teaching, mentoring, and sponsoring young lawyers across the UK and Europe.