Westminster alumni Professor Andrew Pithouse, David Astill and Monwara Ali have received Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) awards in recognition of their exceptional contribution to communities in the King’s New Year’s Honours List 2025.
Professor Andrew Pithouse was awarded the MBE for services to social care education and policy. Andrew completed a National Diploma in Business Studies at Harrow Technical College, a predecessor institution of the University of Westminster, in 1965, before continuing his studies at Cardiff University and Balliol College, Oxford. Andrew went on to become a Professor of Social Sciences at Cardiff University and was Director of Research and Deputy Director for their School of Social Sciences between 2005 and 2011.
As a specialist adviser to both the Deputy Minister and the Minister for Health and Social Services of the Welsh Government, Andrew has directly contributed to child and family safeguarding and support systems in Wales. Andrew worked on the preparation of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 and the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016; his significant contribution to the new Social Services Act was publicly noted in a speech to the Welsh Assembly by the Minister in April 2014 upon completion of the scrutiny stages and passing of the Bill.
About receiving the MBE Andrew said: “Having retired from Cardiff University in 2019 I remain Emeritus Professor of Social Research. I subsequently worked as Special Policy Adviser to the Welsh Government during Covid and its immediate aftermath supporting an unsung but fantastic and well-led body of civil servants in building legislation, strategy and policy in social care and its interface with health. The MBE is dedicated to them and the exemplary work they continue to do for Wales. I have now left government but continue to write on comparative social policy with colleagues in Scandinavia."
David Astill was awarded the MBE for his services to public transport. After graduating in Transport Planning and Management from the University of Westminster in the 1980s, David immediately began his career in the transport industry. He has since climbed the ranks to become Managing Director of Nottingham City Transport (NCT) and was awarded the Bus Centre of Excellence (BCoE) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 for his contribution to the industry.
Under David’s management, NCT now has the second highest bus usage outside of London and achieved the highest city bus operator satisfaction score in the country in the most recent independent Transport Focus survey. NCT also completed the electrification of its city single deck fleet in just 18 months, with 62 zero emission single deck buses now in operation.
About receiving the MBE David said: “I have worked in the public transport industry since graduating from University of Westminster almost 40 years ago. I am humbled to receive this award and thank all who have guided, mentored and helped me throughout my career.”
Monwara Ali was awarded the MBE for services to the community in Waltham Forest as CEO of Waltham Forest Community Hub, a grassroots charity dedicated to empowering marginalised communities. Monwara earned her Law LLB Honours degree from the University of Westminster in 1997, where she continues to support students with inspiring talks, and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Westminster Alumni Awards 2025.
Monwara’s impact extends beyond the UK through her role as Director of Stow Inspire CIC, an organisation initially set up in 2021 to transform lives in poverty-stricken areas of Bangladesh until 2023 when they changed direction to work with underserved communities in North East London boroughs. Together with her Co-founder Parvin Karim, she has helped convert 11 shelters into safe, permanent homes for single mothers and children living in extreme poverty. In December 2023, she launched a sewing class in the village of Hazi Nager to teach young women life skills for financial independence. A year later, with no external funding, she donated land to create a Learning Institute for Women with the ambition to change the lives of hundreds of women. She is on a mission to raise funds to complete the Women's Institute.
About the MBE Monwara said: "I am deeply touched and humbled to be awarded an MBE. It's such an honour to be nominated and a reminder of my social responsibility as an enabler for driving positive change. I appreciate this is no small thing.”
The work of Westminster alumni within their communities directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, 10: Reduced Inequalities and 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about studying Business, Law and Transport and Logistics courses at the University of Westminster.
Learn more about Westminster’s community of Alumni and Supporters.
Related articles
