Chemistry alumna recognised in New Year Honours 2025
Congratulations to School of Chemistry alumna Professor Gill Reid, who has been appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the chemical sciences and to inclusion and diversity.
HM The King’s New Year Honours List 2025 recognises unsung heroes who have made outstanding contributions to their communities across the UK.
Gill was born and raised in Scotland and studied Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh, receiving a BSc (hons) in 1986 and a PhD investigating the synthesis, structures and electrochemical properties of transition metal macrocyclic complexes in 1989. After graduation, she went on to hold a PDRA position at the University of Edinburgh before taking up a lectureship in Chemistry at the University of Southampton in 1991.
Professor Gill Reid speaking at the Joseph Black Building centenary event
Gill shared her inspiring career journey at the Joseph Black Building centenary event last year, including her route into the discipline, outreach work and her experience of leadership as the recent past President of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2022 – 2024).
Commenting on receiving the honour, Gill described it as one of her ‘proudest moments’:
It really is one of my proudest moments. That the citation refers to both chemical sciences and inclusion and diversity is significant to me. We must strive to create a truly inclusive chemistry community that welcomes diversity and inspires young talent to follow careers in chemistry. More than ever, bringing together different talents and experiences is essential to tackle the climate, sustainability and biodiversity challenges that the world faces.
The experiences and support I received in both Edinburgh and Southampton have been hugely important and served me well.
Professor Gill Reid
Professor of Chemistry, University of Southampton
I was delighted to see the award of a CBE to Gill. This is richly deserved and reflects the tremendous work she has undertaken to ensure that everyone can contribute to education and research in the chemical sciences.
Professor Jason Love
Head of the School of Chemistry
