OBE presentation at Palace for Deputy VC

A trip to Buckingham Palace for Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Parveen Yaqoob finally confirmed her appointment as OBE.

Professor Yaqoob was officially appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire by HRH The Prince of Wales at a celebration on Thursday 23 February.

The award was announced in June 2022 in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, with Professor Yaqoob recognised for services to higher education.

Professor Yaqoob said: “Receiving an OBE from HRH Prince William at Buckingham Palace was an unforgettable experience. Aside from the pomp and ceremony, there was a warm reception by the Prince and a conversation about the University's Race Equality Review.

“I feel truly honoured to have been nominated by the many wonderful colleagues I have the privilege to work with at Reading and beyond.”

As well as a highly-regarded professor in human nutrition, Professor Yaqoob is the first female Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading and provides leadership on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) issues at Reading and across the Higher Education sector.

She is the inaugural Chair of the national Athena Swan Governance Committee overseeing transformation of the charter for gender equality. She supported Reading’s successful application for an institutional Athena Swan Silver Award, and co-led the University’s Race Equality Review, resulting in 20 recommendations to change practices and culture.

Professor Yaqoob also directed the University’s complex response to the Covid-19 pandemic, including overseeing measures to keep students and staff safe and collaborating with the NHS and other services.