A University of Northampton Professor is among the recipients from every part of the UK who have been named in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours list.
Eunice Lumsden (now Emeritus Professor) has been awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for her services to children’s rights and welfare.
Professor Lumsden is a leading UK academic in early childhood. Her career spans nearly half a century, with a strong focus on social justice, equality, equity research, policy development and sector leadership.
After more than 20 years in frontline social work, Professor Lumsden joined the University of Northampton in 2002.
Since that time, she has built a substantial research and publication portfolio addressing workforce development, poverty, safeguarding and the professionalisation of early childhood education and care.
Alongside research, Professor has played a significant role in shaping higher education curricula. She led the development of Early Childhood Graduate Competencies for the Early Childhood Studies Degree Network, now embedded across UK universities, and helped shape the QAA Benchmark Statement.
Professor Lumsden was also part of the movement that led to Early Childhood being included in the Sustainable Development Goals and has advised the Department for Education on early years qualifications and workforce standards.
She was a member of the expert group that advised the Early Years Healthy Development Review which led to the Best Start for Life policy initiative.
Professor Lumsden is also a member of several steering groups for third-sector organisations. In 2019, she was named one of the Women of the Year.
She retired from general academic practice at the University in 2025, allowing her more time to focus on advocating for children, policy development, editing the influential International Journal of Birth and Parent Education and Grandparent duties (she has two children and two grandchildren).
Of her latest recognition, Professor Lumsden says: “The news of the conferment of the OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours was rather a shock. I have had so many mixed emotions and not telling anyone, including my family has been a challenge!”
“My focus has always been strong integration of lived experience, research, policy engagement and compassionate sector leadership, with a consistent focus on improving outcomes for babies, children and families, and elevating the status of the early years workforce. I am deeply honoured by the confirmation of an OBE and humbled that my colleagues would recommend me this way.”