We’re delighted to announce that Professor Matthew Woollard, who served as Director of the UK Data Service and UK Data Archive from 2010 to 2023, has been awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List, which he collected on 18 October, 2024.
This richly deserved award recognises the impact Professor Woollard has had in advancing data accessibility and data innovation in the UK and beyond. His visionary approach to data management has revolutionised the way information is shared, accessed and used.
As our Director, Professor Woollard ensured the UK Data Service fulfilled its mission of contributing to the creation of knowledge and the pursuit of a more equitable world. He also played a pivotal role in establishing the UK Data Service SecureLab, which has facilitated ground-breaking research.
He said: “It is wonderful to receive this recognition for the contribution of the UK Data Archive and UK Data Service to research, policymaking and education. I am proud of what our team and partners have achieved over the past decade and our national and international impact. The appropriate management and curation of data is becoming increasingly important and we have laid strong foundations for the future.”
Outstanding leadership
Professor Woollard has been a champion of data literacy, promoting open access to data, advocating for research transparency and nurturing the next generation of data scientists. His expertise helped develop the Digital Economy Act (2018) and he has driven initiatives that ensure data security, privacy and ethical considerations are at the forefront of research practices.
His role in establishing partnerships with leading academic institutions, government agencies and international organisations has strengthened the UK’s position as a global leader in data-driven research. He helped integrate datasets from the Office for National Statistics into the UK Data Service, enhancing the scope and reliability of available data and providing researchers and policymakers with high-quality data for robust evidence-based decision-making. Professor Woollard has also been a driving force in taking the influential European collaboration, CESSDA, from a plan to reality.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex, Professor Anthony Forster, said: “We are extremely proud Professor Woollard has received this recognition for his outstanding leadership of the UK Data Archive and the UK Data Service. His leadership of a world-leading team has ensured the UK Data Archive remains one of the jewels in the crown of the University and at the heart of the UK’s data infrastructure, while also building on its international reputation for setting the highest benchmark for data curation and management.”