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Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers

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  • DAERA Minister congratulates Birthday Honours recipients

    Date published: 13 June 2026

    DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA has congratulated recipients of the King’s Birthday Honours who have today been recognised for their contributions to farming, marine and fisheries, food innovation, science and environmental engineering.

    Among the recipients were Claire Vincent, Deputy Director of DAERA’s Marine and Fisheries Division and former DAERA Director of Agricultural Policy, Rosemary Agnew, who are both receiving MBEs.

    Dr Stephen Jess, a former senior scientist at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, will receive a BEM.

    Former Ulster Farmers' Union chief executive Wesley Aston and William Moore are also among those receiving MBEs for services to agriculture.

    Professor of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Peter Robertson of Queen’s University, and Harry Geddis, the co-founder and co-chair of Avondale Foods, have also both been awarded MBEs for services to research, innovation and entrepreneurship.

    Minister Muir said: “It’s really heartening to see people who have dedicated years of service to Northern Ireland’s agriculture, marine and scientific communities being recognised.

    “All of these individuals have shown outstanding leadership and the recognition they have received is very well deserved.

    “On behalf of the Department, I would like to congratulate them all and also all the other people who have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours for their contribution to society today.”

    Notes to editors:

    1.    Follow DAERA on X formerly called Twitter and Facebook.

    2.    All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone: 028 9016 3460.

    3.    The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours’ service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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