'Distinguished Graduate of the Year’ Joanna Abeyie awarded MBE
09 January 2020
A Reading alumna, who was named the University’s Distinguished Graduate of the Year for 2019, has been appointed an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.
Joanna Abeyie, 32, an award-winning entrepreneur and champion of diversity, inclusion and equality, was named Distinguished Graduate of the Year during the July 2019 graduation ceremonies in recognition of her work helping organisations diversify their workforce and leadership so that they better represent society.
She has been appointed an MBE for services to diversity in the media and creative industries.
Ms Abeyie graduated from Reading in 2008 with a BA in English and Sociology. She is about to launch Blue Moon, the latest of a series of consultancy and recruitment enterprises she has founded to help organisations source talent from BAME and working-class backgrounds.
Her work has included advising the likes of BBC, ITV, Sky, Facebook and Barclays, and has seen her recognised by the Prime Minister and the Mayor of London.
Professor Ed Hawkins has also been named in the New Year’s Honours List, having been appointed an MBE for services to climate science and science communication. Read the full story here.