The CESSDA consortium is proud to acknowledge Professor Matthew Woollard’s recent recognition in the King’s Birthday Honours List, where he was awarded an OBE for his outstanding contributions to data science and higher education.

Matthew's nomination for this prestigious honour not only demonstrates his expertise and knowledge but we at CESSDA would also like to highlight how invaluable he was during the early years of CESSDA ERIC and during important transition periods. 

Professor Woollard served as the Director of the UK Data Archive and the UK Data Service (UKDS) from 2010 to 2023. Under his leadership, these institutions became global leaders in data curation, active preservation, and responsible data management, particularly within the social sciences. The UK Data Archive, housed at the University of Essex, is now one of the largest trusted digital archives of its kind, and its ongoing success is a testament to the pioneering work spearheaded by Professor Woollard.

During his tenure, he was instrumental in shaping key legislation, including contributing to the development of the Digital Economy Act (2018). His efforts ensured that data security, privacy, and ethical considerations remained at the forefront of research practices. This was further solidified by his establishment of the UKDS SecureLab, a trusted research environment that allows approved researchers to access sensitive data while ensuring compliance with stringent data protection regulations.

Professor Woollard’s influence also extends to the European stage. He played a crucial role in transitioning CESSDA together with the Interim Director from SiKT, the Norwegian Data Archive from a plan into a reality, helping to establish it as a leading European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC). His efforts were critical in ensuring that CESSDA could effectively serve the European social science community, promoting collaboration and innovation across borders. Therefore CESSDA celebrates this well-deserved honour and Professor Woollard’s contributions will undoubtedly continue to shape the future of data science for years to come.