Forever Keele eZine Winter 2020-21 | Page 7

Forever Keele 7

Inspiring alumni

Five former Keele students have been celebrated in the Queen ’ s Birthday Honours list this year , in recognition of their services to society .
Ros Kerslake CBE
CBE which is a recognition of the tremendous work done by the National Lottery Heritage Fund . My time at Keele left me with a love of discovering and learning new things and the fabulous heritage of the UK provides endless opportunities to indulge this .”
Suzanne Banks CBE ones ) during some of the most difficult and vulnerable periods of their lives . While this can be a challenge at times , it ’ s always a privilege .”
Simon Morris MBE
Former law and psychology student , and honorary doctor of Keele University , Ros Kerslake , has been awarded a CBE for services to heritage . After graduating from Keele , Ros initially qualified and worked as a solicitor , before acquiring an MBA and later becoming Director of Property at Network Rail Railtrack .
Ros has been CEO of the National Lottery Heritage Fund since July 2016 and was previously the first CEO of The Prince ’ s Regeneration Trust where she established it as a leading heritage-led regeneration charity . Ros is also credited with saving Middleport Pottery in Burslem which is now home to the popular TV show The Great Pottery Throw Down , and was awarded an OBE in 2016 .
During her time at The National Lottery Heritage Fund , Ros has overseen more than £ 1billion of National Lottery funding awards to the UK heritage sector and the distribution of substantial Government funding to support organisations through the Covid-19 pandemic – the £ 92million Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the £ 40million Green Recovery Challenge Fund , to support the nature and environmental sector .
Speaking about her award , Ros said : “ I ’ m thrilled to be awarded a
Suzanne Banks , who is an alumna of the Keele MBA , has been awarded a CBE for services to nursing in the NHS . Suzanne has worked in nursing for 36 years and has spent the past seven years as Executive Chief Nurse within three hospital trusts , most recently Sherwood Forest , and has transitioned them all out of special measures .
Suzanne is passionate about supporting menopause in the workplace and has been recognised nationally for raising its profile within the NHS . Suzanne is also dedicated to delivering healthcare to vulnerable members of the community and has been recognised nationally for her role in Street Health : a programme that unites the medical , social and voluntary sectors , providing vital assistance to the homeless community .
Suzanne , who retired in December 2019 and has been supporting various trusts during the Covid-19 pandemic , said : “ I ’ m honoured to have received this award , especially in 2020 , the year of the nurse and midwife . In nursing , you care for patients ( and their loved
Simon Morris , an applied social studies & sociology and social anthropology alumnus , has been awarded an MBE for services to the Jewish community . Simon is the former Chief Executive of Jewish Care , the largest social care provider for the UK ’ s Jewish community which provides a wide range of culturally sensitive care services for older people , people with disabilities , mental health needs , visual impairment , as well as Holocaust survivors and refugees .
Prior to Simon ’ s twenty-year career at Jewish Care he spent twelve years working in local government , starting out as a community social worker for Buckinghamshire County Council before becoming commissioning manager of adult services for a London borough . Simon is now a nonexecutive director at two organisations : Advinia Health Care ; and Hillingdon Hospital Foundation Trust .
Speaking of his honour , Simon said : “ I was delighted to receive the honour , but it is a reflection of not only what I achieved but all of us at Jewish Care , in striving to build the best social care