Psychologists in the 2025 New Year Honours

Researchers in childhood food insecurity and poverty, and eating disorders and autism, are among the British Psychological Society members named on this year's New Year Honours list. 

Professor of Developmental Psychology and Director of the Healthy Living Lab, Greta Defeyter, (Northumbria University) has been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for services to education. A Fellow of the BPS, Defeyter has worked tirelessly to research issues caused by childhood food insecurity and has repeatedly highlighted these issues to the UK government. Professor Defeyter said she was 'absolutely astounded' to hear she was to receive an OBE. 

'I am extremely thankful for this recognition but there is no time to pause. The devastating effects of child poverty remain a reality for many in the UK and we need to work collectively, across multiple sectors and government departments, to eradicate child poverty.'

Professor of Psychology in Eating Disorders and Consultant Psychologist Kate Tchanturia (King's College London Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience) has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to people with eating disorders and autism. Also a BPS Fellow, Tchanturia researches both the cognitive and emotional causes and consequences of eating disorders, as well as comorbid conditions – particularly autism – to develop better treatments.

She said it was a delight and honour to be recognised in the King's New Year Honours and thanked the community she served, her colleagues, students, research and clinical teams, those her nominated her, and her family. 'I look forward to continuing to work hard and collaborate with great people. I have been blessed with fantastic opportunities since moving to the UK 28 years ago, and I hope to make further contributions to both academic and clinical psychology.'

Associate BPS Fellow Carol Anne Watterson, lately lead educational psychologist, Darlington Borough Council, also received an MBE for services to children and young people with special educational needs.