A Stevenage-based business leader and a Hitchin community worker have been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
Dr Mike Short, President of the Stevenage-based Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Vice President at Telefónica Europe plc becomes a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Mike said: “It is a great honour to receive this personally for my contribution to the mobile industry even though many others have played such a great role.
“I am particularly pleased that it helps highlight how much mobile innovation and investment has done for society, skills and services. This is a truly great year to receive my medal after 25 years in the mobile industry and only 20 years since the first digital mobile phone was approved for connection to mobile networks.”
As President of the IET, Mike oversees an organisation of 150,000 members across 127 countries as well as being an ambassador for the engineering and technology profession. The role of IET President is a voluntary one lasting for 12 months.
After working for Philips, Landis & Gyr and BT, he joined Cellnet in 1989, now known as O2 and part of Telefonica Group.
In his current role of Vice President of Public Affairs for Telefonica Europe, Mike’s focus is on European public policy that relates to innovation; including research, the responsible use of mobiles and new business development.
He is a past Chairman of the Global GSM Association, the UK Mobile Data Association, and has served on several boards, task forces and government advisory committees.
Currently a visiting professor at a number of UK universities, Mike was also awarded an honorary doctorate for services to the mobile communications industry in 2008 - the same year he joined the IET’s Board of Trustees.
Sarah Wren, from Hitchin, is to be awarded an MBE for services to the community sector in Hertfordshire.
She is chief executive of Hertfordshire Community Meals (HCM) to the elderly, which she helped found and delivers meals on wheels to senior citizens around the county.
