Queen’s honour for University Secretary and health professor

Glasgow Caledonian University’s (GCU) Secretary and a professor have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for their outstanding contribution to higher education in Scotland and infection prevention and control respectively.

Jan Hulme, University Secretary and Vice-Principal Governance, has been awarded an MBE for services to Higher Education in Scotland, while Jacqui Reilly, a Professor of Infection Prevention and Control, has received a CBE for services to healthcare and public health.

Professor Jacqui Reilly splits her time between the NHS and GCU's Research Centre for Health. She leads a team of researchers in GCU's Safeguarding Health through Infection Prevention (SHIP) research group.

With a background in clinical practice, epidemiology, public health and clinical leadership in the NHS in Scotland, Professor Reilly has worked in a variety of settings, nationally and locally, inclusive of acute care and public health. She was the lead consultant for HAI, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in Health Protection Scotland for more than 10 years.

Having authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, Professor Reilly has contributed extensively to national and international guidelines, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance on core components for IPC.

Professor Reilly was past-elected chair of the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) HAI network coordinating committee and has contributed to UK and international policy. She is a member of the WHO technical advisory group on Hand hygiene and IPC guidance and research. She is a fellow of the Faculty of Public Health (FFPH) and the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB). In the NHS, she works for NHS National Services Scotland where she is Director of Nursing and Executive lead for AHPs, Quality and Healthcare Associated Infection.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Professor Reilly has served on the Scottish Government Chief Medical Officer COVID-19 Advisory Group, as well as Scottish Government advisory groups on care homes and public health threats. At the invitation of the Chief Nursing Officer in Scotland, Professor Reilly has chaired the COVID-19 Nosocomial Review Group (CNRG) and, at the invitation of the four UK country Chief Medical Officers, has led the UK CMO High Risk Aerosol generating procedures (AGP) independent panel.

Professor Reilly said: “I am surprised and honoured to be awarded a CBE. I accept this on behalf of the many talented and committed colleagues I have worked with in the specialty of infection prevention and control and the wider clinical community. I have been inspired and supported by so many colleagues throughout my clinical and academic career.

“The pandemic has highlighted to all the importance of infection prevention and control measures in reducing the risk of infection transmission. I look forward to continuing to work in support of the national and international efforts to improve the evidence base for clinical practice and improving outcomes in healthcare settings.”

Jan Hulme is responsible for the work of GCU’s University Court, its Committees and Senate, and, as a member of the Executive team, her responsibilities include the University’s legal services provision, information governance, registry services, School professional services, and student discipline and complaints. She has also led Student Services, People Services and the Estate departments, including the development and the commissioning of the University’s transformational Heart of the Campus programme of work.

Ms Hulme began her career at the University of Edinburgh, established its international recruitment operation and progressed to senior roles in governance and management before moving to the University of Glasgow as Academic Secretary, where she held responsibility for Strategy and Planning, the Senate, Registry, devolved administrative services, home and international student recruitment, admissions, including widening participation, and student services.

Throughout her career, Ms Hulme has been committed to widening participation and promoting international cooperation. She has been a member of the UK-Sweden Seminar of Registrars and University Directors and participated in the Observatory of the Magna Charta Universitatum.

She said: “I am deeply touched to have received this great honour from Her Majesty the Queen on the very special occasion of her Platinum Jubilee. It is an immense privilege to work within the Higher Education sector in Scotland with so many creative and dedicated colleagues and with our students who bring their enormous vitality and focus on the future.  I would like to thank my wonderful colleagues, without whom the journey would not have been as productive or rewarding.”

In addition, GCU honorary graduate Ian Urquhart, Director at Gordon and MacPhail Scotch Whisky Distillers and Distributors, and President, Johnstons of Elgin, received a CBE for services to the Scotch whisky and textile industries and to charity in Moray.

GCU graduate Victoria Wright, Vice Skip, British Olympic Curling Team, received an MBE for services to curling.