Pembroke alumni trio recognised in New Year’s honours list

Congratulations to Pembroke Alumni Andrew Jowett (1980) Professor Ed Hawkins (1995) and Oz Clarke (1967), who were all recognised in the 2020 New Year’s Honours List for their services to a variety of different sectors.

Andrew Jowett (1980) CEO of Build It International received an OBE for his services to international development. Founded in 2007, Build It provides construction skills training to unemployed young people, and has built schools and clinics in some of Zambia’s most disadvantaged communities. Today, the charity supports around 290,000 people.

Andrew said: “It is an honour to receive this award in recognition of the work Build It has accomplished… It has been a pleasure to lead an amazing team of dedicated Zambian and UK professionals, working with partners across education, training and construction to give more young people the chance of a brighter future.”

Oz Clarke (1967) received an OBE in recognition of his long and distinguished television career that has spanned over 35 years. One of the world’s leading experts on wine, Oz has authored books, broadcasted and featured in weekly television shows on this topic.

Oz commented; “I had come up to Pembroke not knowing what I wanted to do next. I left Pembroke full of ideas and ambitions centred round Theatre, Music and Wine… I set out to tell everyone in our wonderful country that wine wasn't intimidating, incomprehensible and expensive. For most of the world wine was a simple, affordable pleasure that made people happy. I set out to persuade Britain that this vision of wine could be ours too.”

Professor Ed Hawkins (1995) was awarded an MBE “for services to climate science and science communication”, with a key aspect being the success of the ‘warming stripes’  which he designed. These simple graphics start important conversations about climate change and the risk it poses to society, and his citizen science project WeatherRescue.org has also helped to engage the public with climate science.

Ed commented: "It is fantastic that the climate stripes have resonated with so many people around the world because it raises awareness of the substantial risks that climate change poses to people, society and the environment… I strongly believe in making science accessible to everybody, and am honoured that my efforts to do so have been recognised in this way."