We are delighted to congratulate two of our members with outstanding histories of leadership in the Society, Professor Sheila Bird and Professor Rachel Hilliam, who have been recognised in this year’s
King’s Birthday Honours for their outstanding contributions to statistics and society.
Sheila Bird has been awarded a Damehood (DBE) in recognition of her continued and exceptional contribution to public health through statistical research. Since receiving an OBE in 2010, Sheila has continued to demonstrate the profound societal value of statistics, carrying out influential research that has shaped understanding of disease transmission and informed major public health policy decisions.
Sheila has also made an enormous contribution to the RSS, including serving as Vice President for External Affairs, and has been recognised with several Society medals for her contributions to the field.
We are equally delighted to celebrate Rachel Hilliam, who has been awarded an OBE for services to professional standards in statistics and data science, including through her work with the RSS and the Alliance for Data Science Professionals (AfDSP).
Rachel played a leading role in establishing professional standards for the rapidly expanding data science profession. She became the first Chair of the AfDSP, bringing together organisations across the discipline and supporting a more coherent professional landscape. In recognition of her outstanding work in this area, Rachel was awarded the RSS Chambers Medal last year.
RSS CEO Sarah Cumbers said, ‘On behalf of the Society, I warmly congratulate Sheila and Rachel on these richly deserved honours. Both have made exceptional contributions to statistics for the public good, demonstrating the profound impact that statistical expertise can have across society.
Sheila’s work has shown the life-changing power of statistics in public health. Through pioneering research and a longstanding commitment to using evidence to improve policy and outcomes, she has helped deepen understanding of disease transmission and vulnerable populations in ways that have made a tangible difference to people’s lives. Sheila has also given enormously to the RSS, and we are delighted to see her contribution recognised at this level.
Rachel’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping the UK’s first professional standards for data science, bringing together voices from across disciplines to build a framework that is ethical, rigorous and globally influential. Her tireless voluntary work through the Alliance for Data Science Professionals has strengthened integrity across professions and set a benchmark that will benefit society for years to come.
We are immensely proud of both, and delighted to see their remarkable achievements honoured in this way.”
We would also like to extend our warmest congratulations to the following awardees in the areas of statistics, mathematics and data science:
- Professor Andrew David Morris, KBE, for services to medical sciences, public health and patient care.
- Professor Carol Elspeth Goodeve Brayne, DBE, for services to medicine, medical research and public health.
- Professor Ian David Abrahams, CBE, for services to mathematical sciences.
- Professor David John Gunnell, CBE, for services to public health and suicide prevention.
- Vishal Kumar Marria, CBE, for services to technology, economic crime prevention, and the data and AI sector.
- Professor Ann John, OBE, for services to suicide prevention and digital innovation.
- Dr Rashmi Mantri, OBE, for services to Mathematics Education.
- Professor Stephen Jolles, OBE, for services to immunology and rare diseases.
- Dr Nicola Jayne Rose, OBE, for services to science and public health.
- Hiren Bhimjiyani, MBE, for services to trade, data-driven supply chain intelligence, and machine learning innovation.
- Heather Joanne Harrison, MBE, for services to defence.
- Sanjiv Mahajan, MBE, for services to economic statistics.