I am deeply humbled to receive the honour of Knight Bachelor in the King’s Honours list and I wish to thank everyone who sent me messages of best wishes and congratulations.

While I am the personal recipient, I consider this to be an accolade that reflects on a much wider group of people. I have been fortunate to have been surrounded by great colleagues, family and friends, over many years and this is a recognition of all their efforts and support to me, I am very grateful to them all.

Since 2018, I have had the privilege of being part of the team at Queen’s University Belfast, one of Northern Ireland’s most influential institutions, which is recognised internationally as a world class seat of learning and research. Being the Vice-Chancellor is the privilege of a lifetime. I am extremely proud of our staff and our students and their many achievements, which continue to make such a positive contribution to our economy, our people and our place. 

Today is a proud day for me and my family, but it is also one that I hope will be accepted by my colleagues as recognition of their efforts.

I look forward with optimism for continued success for Queen’s, the great city of Belfast and Northern Ireland.

Thank you

Message of Congratulations to Professor Sir Ian Greer

Dr Stephen Kingon CBE, Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Senate

On behalf of the Queen’s University community, I am delighted to congratulate our President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Greer, on receiving the honour of Knight Bachelor in the King’s Honours list.

The deserved award is in recognition of his many achievements over a distinguished career

Sir Ian was appointed Vice-Chancellor in August 2018 and in September 2022, he was unanimously confirmed for a second term as President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s by the University’s Senate, reflecting the governing body’s recognition of his significant impact in Northern Ireland. He has also harnessed Queen’s expertise as a convening force to work with government and regional business leaders to support Northern Ireland’s regional development - including leading the innovation strand to secure over £225m of City Deal funding.

He has dramatically enhanced the University’s international profile through increased student recruitment and partnerships by leading collaboration between the Higher Education, Further Education and secondary school sectors to support widening access to third-level education for socially/economically disadvantaged students. Sir Ian also led in the planning and delivery of the University’s Agreement 25 Conference, one of the largest events of its kind in Europe, held in April this year to recognise 25 years of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.

Sir Ian is also the cofounder of the Health Innovation Research Alliance for Northern Ireland, the immediate past-President of Universities Ireland a member of the British Council’s Education Advisory Group. Prior to his appointment at Queen’s he was Vice-President and Dean of Biology, Medicine and Health at University of Manchester and also served as Director of the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC) and Chair of the UK Regenerative Medicine Platform.

Sir Ian is renowned for his ground-breaking research and international reputation in obstetric medicine. He is internationally recognised as the leading obstetric researcher and clinician in managing thrombosis in pregnancy, a leading cause of direct maternal death where his research and development of national and international guidelines has led to considerable advances in the field.

He has also undertaken voluntary service on numerous senior governmental, academic and healthcare advisory and expert bodies to help spread knowledge and guide decision-making.

I again congratulate both Sir Ian and Lady Audrey on this much-deserved recognition and wish them continued success.