King’s Birthday Honours List celebrates museum and heritage sector

Museum and heritage professionals across the UK have been recognised for their contributions to the sector in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List.

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Melanie Keen, the former director of London’s Wellcome Collection, received a CBE for services to museums. Keen recently stepped down from the museum after seven years at the helm.

The same award went to Rhiannon Hiles, the chief executive of Beamish, The Living Museum of the North in Durham, for services to museums and to the culture and heritage of North East England. The open-air site was named Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2025.

Henry Grunwald, former chair of the National Holocaust Centre and Museum in Newark, Nottinghamshire, was recognised for services to Holocaust remembrance and education.

And Joanna Cannon, professor emerita at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, was honoured for services to art, curation and research.

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

The National Trust’s director of communications and fundraising, Celia Richardson, got an OBE for services to conservation. The trust’s director-general, Hilary McGrady, paid tribute to Richardson for her contribution to the sector.

“For eight years, she has led our communications with energy and conviction, shaping our 131-year-old brand to meet the needs of our nations, fiercely defending our reputation and putting people at the heart of every story we tell,” said McGrady. “We’re all delighted she is being recognised in this way.”

Andy Purvis, professor of biodiversity at the Natural History Museum, was awarded for services to biodiversity science, while John Fraser McLeish, chief executive of the Gordon Highlanders Museum, was recognised for services to heritage and to the community in Aberdeenshire.

Mukesh Sharma, the deputy chair and trustee of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, was honoured for services to heritage.

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

The archaeologist and historian David Austin was given an MBE for services to the heritage of Wales, economic regeneration and young people.

Alex Maws, the head of education and heritage at the Association of Jewish Refugees, received the honour for services to Holocaust education and remembrance.

A further MBE went to Patrick Newberry, the chair of Historic England’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, who was recognised for services to heritage and education.

Military artist David Rowlands was honoured for services to art, British military history and charity.

Reuben Kench, chair of Stockton and Darlington Rail Heritage Partnership, was honoured for services to heritage. The partnership played a key role in the international festival held to celebrate the bicentenary of the world’s first public railway last year.

Suzanne Raine, trustee of the Imperial War Museum, and Kimberly Klug-Miller, community partnerships manager at Historic Royal Palaces, were both honoured for their services to heritage.

Mark Mair, volunteer chair of Morayvia Aerospace Centre, received an MBE for services to heritage, tourism and to the community in Moray.

Historian John Johnston, of Clogher, County Tyrone, was awarded for services to local history in Northern Ireland and adjoining border counties.

British Empire Medal (BEM)

Paul Kitching, the head of the Natural History Museum, Tring, was recognised with a BEM for services to museums and to the community in Tring.

James Fraser, chief executive officer of the Steamship Sir Walter Scott Trust, was recognised with a BEM for services to heritage.

A further BEM went to Daniel Crow, the director of ‘A Space’ Arts, a visual arts organisation in Southampton, who was honoured for services to artists and to arts and heritage.

Paul Horton, trustee and volunteer at Mansfield Fire Station and Museum, received the honour for services to the community in Mansfield and Nottinghamshire.

Richard Starrs, the project manager of the Stockton and Darlington Railway Bicentenary, was recognised for services to heritage.

Dawn Waterman, education and heritage adviser for the Board of Deputies of British Jews, was honoured for services to education.

And heritage volunteer Jennifer Rose-Miller was recognised for services to local heritage and to the community in Nairnshire.

Correction
17.06.2026

John Johnston was awarded an MBE rather than a BEM as initially reported.