Former RSB CEO recognised alongside members in King's Birthday Honours 2026

The RSB is pleased to announce that our former Chief Executive, Dr Mark Downs MBE FRSB, has been recognised in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours in addition to five other members and Fellows.

• Dr Mark Edward Antony Downs MBE DSc (Hon) CBiol CSci FRSB
• Professor Simon John Hollingsworth CBE FRSB
• Dr Marcus John Rink OBE CBiol MRSB
• Professor Christopher Bruce Alexander Whitelaw OBE FRSB
• Mr Nicholas Knight MBE MRSB
• Mr Lawrence John McVeigh BEM MRSB

Former RSB CEO Dr Mark Downs MBE FRSB

Dr Mark Edward Antony Downs MBE DSc (Hon) CBiol CSci FRSB, former RSB Chief Executive of 16 years, has been recognised for services to biology with a Member of the Order of the British Empire award.

With a PhD in biology followed by many years of working in biotechnology, Mark took up the leadership of the newly formed Society of Biology in 2009 and was at the helm for 16 years. During his time as our Chief Executive, Mark oversaw the significant expansion of membership and the staff team, the launch of the bioscience accreditation programme in 2012 which now has a global reach, the granting of the Royal Title in 2015, and spearheaded the creation of the annual Biology Week which engages a broad audience in the UK and worldwide.

Of his award, Mark said: “I am thrilled to receive this public award which, in truth, recognises the significant achievements and impact of the Royal Society of Biology, which I had the privilege to lead, from inception, for 16 years. The work of the RSB has only been made possible through key pan-science partnerships and the enthusiastic engagement of members, alongside the extraordinary commitment and dedication of so many talented staff, trustees, and other volunteers — all of whom I gratefully wish to acknowledge.”

Professor Simon Hollingsworth CBE FRSB

Professor Simon John Hollingsworth CBE FRSB, Vice President, Global Franchise Head at AstraZeneca, has been recognised for services to biomedical research and medicine development with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire award.

At AstraZeneca, Simon oversees the journey of novel compounds through late-stage clinical development to global registration and commercialisation. He has over 30 years of experience in oncology drug and therapeutics development split across academia and industry. He maintains an active profile beyond his industry role as Honorary Professor at King's College London, alongside being Fellow of several learned societies, and continuing to serve on national and international review panels.

On receiving this award, Simon said: “In my career I’ve been fortunate to have experienced the impact developments in science can have on improving healthcare outcomes for many patients. I feel deeply honoured to be recognised for this.”

Dr Marcus Rink OBE MRSB

Dr Marcus John Rink OBE CBiol MRSB, Chief Inspector of Drinking Water for England and Wales, has been recognised for services to water quality with an Officer of the Order of the British Empire award.

As Chief Inspector of Drinking Water for England and Wales, Marcus is the technical regulator responsible for ensuring that more than 15 billion litres of drinking water are safely supplied by the water industry to over 61 million consumers every day. He oversees water companies’ compliance with their regulatory requirements and advises the Secretary of State and ministers on drinking water matters. With nearly 40 years’ experience across health, public analysis, and the water industry, including 25 years in regulation, he also holds a professional doctorate focused on regulatory risk strategies.

On hearing of his Honour, Marcus said: "I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition, and I accept it with great humility and a deep sense of pride. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) exists to protect public health and maintain the robust regulatory framework that underpins public trust in drinking water, and it is a privilege to lead that work. Any recognition of this kind belongs first and foremost to the outstanding team at the DWI, whose dedication has driven real progress."

Professor Bruce Whitelaw OBE FRSB

Professor Christopher Bruce Alexander Whitelaw OBE FRSB, former Director of The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, has been recognised for services to bioscience through an Officer of the Order of the British Empire award.

Bruce is a molecular geneticist and was until August of this year, Director of The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh. His research career focused on genetic engineering of animals, most notably farm animals, aimed to advance both animal production and biomedical applications. His research has let Bruce work with a range of technologies, most recently pioneering the use of genome editors in monogastric and ruminant livestock; his pioneering work has produced genome-edited PRRSV resistant pigs which gained FDA approval last year and recently followed this work up by producing genome edited CSFV-resistant pigs. Bruce has retained a part-time position at the University of Edinburgh where he is now focused on innovation in India through being the Co-Director (Innovation) for the University of Edinburgh — Gujarat Biotechnology University Partnership. Bruce has had roles with the OIE (now World Organisation for Animal Health), Nuffield Council of Bioethics, and various commercial Scientific Advisory Groups.

For receiving his award, Bruce said: “Being awarded such an honour by our King is a wonderful reinforcement of my, and the Roslin Institute’s, research achievements. This wonderful accolade is extremely timely as we are at a moment in history when animal bioscience offers so much to advance agriculture and biomedicine, to benefit the diverse societies across our challenged world.”

Mr Nicholas Knight MBE MRSB

Mr Nicholas Knight MBE MRSB has been recognised for services to education and to the community in Hampshire with a Member of the Order of the British Empire award.

Mr Lawrence McVeigh BEM MRSB

Mr Lawrence John McVeigh BEM MRSB has been recognised services to the community in Medway, Kent with a Medal of the Order of the British Empire.

Lawrence joined the Anti-Locust Research Centre (ALRC), as it then was, in the mid-60s as a trainee entomologist. He remained with the same organisation throughout his professional life in its subsequent guises as COPR, TDRI, ODNRI, and NRI, all funded by the UK's Overseas Development budget, until he retired some years ago. During that time, Lawrence moved from working on locust behaviour and moulting processes to non-insecticidal control of cotton and other agricultural pests, mainly in North Africa and the Mediterranean region, but with occasional excursions to other parts of the developing, and developed, world to trial techniques, offer advice, and learn. Since retiring, Lawrence has volunteered, and continues to do so, with a number of local educational, charitable, and statutory organisations.

On receiving his Medal, Lawrence said: "I'm delighted to be honoured by His Majesty, but there are many more deserving."

Contact us at membership@rsb.org.uk if you, or a member or Fellow you know, has been also been honoured this year.