Foundation supporters recognised in New Year's Honours

We would like to congratulate our supporters who have been recognised for their achievements and service in the Queen's 2019 New Year's honours list. Foundation of Light Trustee and North East Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive The Honourable James Ramsbotham DL has been awarded a CBE for his services to business and to the economy in the North East. John Wood, Chairman of Tolent Construction Ltd, the company who built the £20 million Beacon of Light, has been honoured for services to building and civil engineering, one of only a handful of business professionals in the industries to receive a CBE. Kevin Fitzpatrick, Nissan’s Senior Vice President for Manufacturing, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management in Europe, also receives a CBE for services to manufacturing and engineering in the North East. The automotive giant recently backed the Foundation to provide school leavers with the essential skills they need to enter the world of work, supplying engineering equipment to the Beacon of Light's World of Work Zone. Meanwhile, former vice-chancellor of the University of Sunderland, Shirley Atkinson, has been awarded an OBE for her outstanding work in widening participation in higher education.