A former Head Girl at Queen’s was awarded the OBE in the New Year Honours for her work in the Cabinet Office.

Mary Jones, who comes from Nynehead, left Queen’s in 2005.

She took History, Maths, French and English Literature before going on to study Law with French Law at Oxford.

After graduating in 2009, Mary joined the civil service in the Ministry of Justice, where her early career focused on criminal justice and constitutional issues, followed by a stint in Ministerial offices ahead of the 2016 Brexit referendum.

This led to Mary joining the Cabinet Office – the heart of Government – where she spent nearly four years managing Government decision making on home affairs (eg immigration), Brexit, the Union and Northern Ireland.

Mary’s OBE was awarded for this work, and in particular for setting up intensive decision making structures in the run-up to various Brexit deadlines and a possible ‘no deal’.

Mary has recently moved to a new role in the Business and Health departments, creating opportunities for the UK’s life sciences industry to contribute to our economic and health recovery.