Alan Walker awarded a CBE

Professor Alan Walker, Director of the NDA Programme and Professor of Social Policy and Social Gerontology at the University of Sheffield (Department of Sociological Studies) was also awarded Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the prestigious honours list which was announced on Saturday (14 June 2014).

Alan has an exemplary career-long record in championing impact of research – most recently demonstrated as the central aim of the collaborative New Dynamics of Ageing (NDA) programme.

He was recently named Impact Champion of the Year at the inaugural Celebrating Impact Prize for his work on ageing, including quality of life, building stronger links between research and policy, and identifying the priorities for growing older and health.

Professor Walker said: "I am absolutely delighted by this honour for services to social science. It recognises a long and sustained contribution to social research in several fields including ageing.

"I am really pleased too that it acknowledges the leading position of the Department of Sociological Studies in social science research. I am also very grateful for the continuing support of Departmental and Faculty colleagues in this University and would be glad if they regarded it as a collective honour."

Professor Walker, who joined the University in 1977, also led the FUTURAGE Road Map project which provided the European research agenda for ageing over the next 10 years. The Road Map, which was launched at European Parliament, brings together 24 partners, 14 European countries and over 700 contributors and organisations representing many thousands of people to create a better future for ageing in Europe.

Professor Paul White, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield said: "We are extremely proud and delighted that Dame Hilary Mantel and Professor Alan Walker CBE, have been awarded such prestigious honours and received well deserved recognition for exceptional services to their respective fields.

"Dame Hilary’s achievements as a novelist are truly outstanding and Professor Walker’s dedication and contribution to social policy with regards to ageing has proved inspiration across a wide range of disciplines."

Download a full list of honours (PDF, 576KB).