Health and care leaders among those recognised in 2025 New Year Honours List

Wednesday, 8 January 2025

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Chair and Chief Executive have congratulated those who were recognised in the 2025 New Year Honours List.

Among those recognised were Kathryn Thomson, former Chief Executive of Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, who was awarded the honour of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to health.

Kathryn Thomson started her career in the health service in 1984, predominantly in Merseyside and the North West, spending 15 years as Chief Executive at Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, before retiring in 2023 after almost 40 years NHS service.

Kathryn said: 

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“It was a privilege to work in the NHS for nearly four decades. I spent the last 15 years of my career as Chief Executive of Liverpool Women’s and it is a place that will always be close to my heart.

“To be recognised with this MBE is an incredible personal honour, but I would also like to dedicate it to my family and the colleagues I worked with over the years, many of whom are still doing amazing work in the NHS to this day for the benefit of patients. I am incredibly proud to represent the NHS and all the organisations I have worked for, in this year’s honours.”

Meanwhile, outside of Cheshire and Merseyside, Lisa Ward, Director of People at the North West Ambulance Service received the King’s Ambulance Medal for “distinguished service and exemplary dedication” to her role.

Graham Urwin, Chief Executive of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said:

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“On behalf of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, Raj Jain and I would like to congratulate everyone who received well-deserved recognition in the 2025 New Year’s Honours List.

“The single most important driver of Cheshire and Merseyside’s health and care system is the expertise and dedication of its people.”

Recipients of New Year Honours from across Cheshire and Merseyside were:

  • Andrew COOKE QPM DL HM Chief Inspector, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services. For services to Policing and to Public Service
  • Dr David Michael GOTT Principal Toxicologist, Food Standards Agency. For services to Food Safety
  • Professor Andrew LEVERS Executive Director and Founder, Institute of Digital Engineering and Autonomous Systems, University of Liverpool. For services to Industry and to the Economy
  • Terence CROLLEY Chair of Trustee Board, The Whitechapel Centre. For services to Tackling Homelessness in Merseyside
  • Alan David HANSEN Lately Broadcaster. For services to Association Football and to Broadcasting
  • Charles James HUBBERT Foster Carer, Barnardo's, Liverpool, Merseyside. For services to Foster Care
  • Dianne HUBBERT Foster Carer, Barnardo's, Liverpool, Merseyside. For services to Foster Care
  • Susan JEE Non Executive Director, Nuclear Restoration Services. For services to the Nuclear Industry
  • Katarina JOHNSON-THOMPSON For services to Athletics
  • Michael Francis KILBRIDE Principal, Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Merseyside. For services to Education
  • Daniel Kevin LONGMAN JP Magistrate and Deputy Chair, Liverpool Bench, Diversity and Community Relations Magistrate, Trustee, the Magistrates' Association, and Deputy of Merseyside and Cheshire Advisory Committee. For services to the Administration of Justice
  • Adam MCCAMLEY Senior Analyst, Liverpool City Council. For services to Social Care Data
  • Professor Clare Elizabeth WILKINSON Emeritus Professor of General Practice, North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research, Bangor University. For services to Primary Care Research, Teaching and Practice
  • Rachel Elizabeth DAVIES Coach and Volunteer, Altrincham Football Club. For services to Sport
  • Lynne FAIRCLOUGH Community Volunteer, Merseyside Police. For services to Policing and to the community in Merseyside
  • Roy Arthur HEPPENSTALL President, Newton-le-Willows Unit, Sea Cadets. For voluntary service to Young People and to Veterans
  • Julie ROBINSON Foster Carer, Wirral County Council, Wirral, Merseyside. For services to Foster Care
  • John Philip WILSON Chief Executive Officer, Liverpool Seafarers Centre. For services to Seafarers' Welfare
  • Hannah Lucy COCKROFT OBE DL For services to Athletics
  • Samantha May KINGHORN MBE For services to Athletics
  • Ruth Mary AGNEW Chief Governance and Central Support Officer, Co-Op Academies Trust. For services to Education
  • Michael BENNION For services to Scouting and to Young People
  • Kevin BRADBURNE Operations Director, Youth Federation. For services to Young People
  • Margo CORNISH For services to Cancer Charities
  • Joseph Thomas CORRIGAN For services to Charitable Fundraising
  • Katherine DARLINGTON Founder and Chief Executive, The Scott Partnership. For services to Business Growth and to International Trade
  • Jennifer Anne HOLL For services to Cycling
  • Poppy Willow MASKILL For services to Swimming
  • Donald Richard POTTER Chair, Crewe and Nantwich Conservative Association. For Political and Public Service
  • Lee RAWLINSON Lately Director, Environment Agency. For services to the Environment
  • Amy TRUESDALE For services to Taekwondo
  • Jane Alison WILSON Head, Strategy and People Engagement for Enterprise Security and Risk Management, Department for Work and Pensions. For Public Service
  • Roderick Michael Haydn WOOD Founder and Managing Director, CWP Energy Ltd. For services to Renewable Energy and to Sustainability
  • Philip WILKINSON Lately Crew Manager, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to the community of Nantwich

Read the full New Year Honour list here.