Environment Agency chair Emma Howard Boyd has paid tribute to the amazing work of the Agency’s staff as she was one of four named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list today (Friday 11 June).

Emma has been awarded a CBE for service to the environment. For the past five years she has led the Environment Agency’s work to create a better place, helping it deliver major successes in reducing flood risk, protecting nature and enhancing the nation’s resilience to climate change.

Her outstanding commitment and leadership in times of crisis was also recognised; turning out in all weathers and at all times to visit and support communities hit by flooding and empathetically supporting staff and services during major incidents and challenging times. As the UK Commissioner to the Global Commission on Adaptation from 2018 to early 2021, and now as one of the global ambassadors to the Race to Zero and the Race to Resilience, she has also been a key player in the UK and international effort to tackle the climate emergency.

She is joined on this year’s list by Anita Seaton, part of the EA’s incident response and resilience team, who is awarded an MBE for services to the environment and vulnerable communities.

Colin Liptrot, who works on mechanical electrical instrumentation control and automation in the EA, also receives an MBE for services to diversity and inclusion.

Flood and coastal risk management adviser Dr Karen Parker receives a BEM for services to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, said:

I am delighted to accept this honour on behalf of all the amazing people at the Environment Agency alongside Anita, Colin and Karen.

Our work to help people prepare for climate shocks, to enhance nature, to reduce emissions to net zero and to improve water quality has never been more important. It seems the world is waking up to this, but we all need to bring our creativity, enthusiasm and power to bear if it is not going to be too little, too late.

This decade is meant to be the climate decade and we’re already a year and a half into it, so we need to accelerate action now.

The full list of recipients of Queen’s Birthday Honours is available on GOV.UK.