Spotlighting Black women awarded in The King's 2024 New Year Honours list

Since 1890, every year on New Year's Day (1 January) new members of orders of chivalry and recipients of other official honours are named as part of the New Year Honours.

This year's list notably included over 30 Black women in the UK, recognised for their transformative work within society, their communities, or their area of work. 

Here are profiles from a selection of the Black women awarded in the King’s New Year Honours list: 

Bayo Adelaja MBE

Bayo is the founder and Chief Executive of Do it Now Now and was awarded an MBE for services to Social Mobility, to Financial Inclusion and to Entrepreneurship. Bayo comes from a long line of entrepreneurs and changemakers with both Grandfathers being honoured by the late Queen of England for their contributions to social service and welfare within the Commonwealth. Inspired by the potential for a better future, Do it Now Now is committed to the empowerment of Black people through the provision of access to opportunities for social mobility through entrepreneurship and employment.

Bolanle Tajudeen MBE

Bolanle is the Founder and Director of both Bolanie Contemporary and Black Blossoms and was awarded an MBE for services to the Arts. Bolanle began displaying the work of Black artists for Black History Month at university and by 2019, she’d hosted many successful exhibitions and taught a sell-out course, Art in the Age of Black Girl Magic, at Tate Britain. Bolanle's work is dedicated to documenting and showcasing the art histories and current creative practices of artists from historically marginalised backgrounds.

Carla Marie Williams MBE 

Carla is Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Girls I Rate and an award winning songwriter. Carla was awarded an MBE for services to Music. She has written for some of the biggest artists in the world including Beyonce, Sean Paul, Craig David, Paloma Faith, Britney Spears and Naughty Boy. She’s worked in A&R and as a vocal producer, and in 2019 joined the X Factor team as guest judge. Carla founded the nonprofit organisation, Girls I Rate, to push for change and create opportunities for young women aged 16-30 in the music & entertainment industry. 

Huda Yassin Mohamed MBE

Huda is a Female Genital Mutilation Specialist Lead Midwife at Whittington Health NHS Trust and was awarded an MBE for services to Midwifery. Huda is passionate about educating women and families about their healthcare options and rights. 

Joslyn Hoyte-Smith MBE

Joslyn is the Chair of GB Olympians Association and was awarded an MBE for services to Athletics. Joslyn is a British former 400 metres athlete and was the winner of the 400m at the UK Championships in 1979, 1981 and 1983. She also won the 400m title at the AAA Championships in 1981 won a bronze medal as part of the women's 4×400 metres relay team in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. 

Shalom Ijeoma Lloyd MBE

Shalom is the Director of Naturally Tiwa Skincare and was awarded an MBE for services to International Trade and to Women in Business. Shalom worked in the pharmaceutical industry for nearly 30 years supporting the research that brings new medicines to patients across the world. Recently, Shalom established Naturally Tiwa Skincare which ethically sources raw materials from Nigeria and collaborates to provide infrastructure and trade that goes beyond her business

Dr. Sandra Ngozi Okoro OBE 

Sandra was the Senior Vice President and General Counsel at the World Bank and was awarded an OBE for services to Diversity in International Finance. In 2022, Sandra joined Standard Chartered as Group General Counsel. Sandra has been named one of the Top 20 Global General Counsel (2019) by the Financial Times, Britain’s 5th most influential person of African and African Caribbean heritage by Powerlist (2018),  one of the Power 100 Women by City A.M. and 100 Women to Watch by Female FTSE Board.

Virginia Barrett OBE

Virginia is the Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Farnborough College of Technology and was awarded an OBE for services to further education. Virginia has worked over the years in various colleges shaping curriculum for young people and adults, particularly in close collaboration with schools, employers, Higher Education, LEPs, local authorities, County Councils and others. 

Zamanganga Mbatha MBE 

Zamanganga is the Head of Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities, Royal Docks Academy and was awarded an MBE for services to teenagers with Learning Difficulties in the London Borough of Newham. Zamanganga has over 23 years of experience in education, specialising in teaching teenagers with Special Educational Needs. Through all these years, Zamanganga has dedicated her life serving and advocating for teenagers with profound and complex medical needs to access meaningful education.

For a full list of all the 2024 New Year Honours recipients, see here