Lisa Fathers OBE receives honour at St James’ Palace

Lisa Fathers, Bright Futures Chief Executive Officer (Interim), received her Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) at an investiture ceremony at St James’ Palace on Thursday 29 January, presented by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.

The honour was awarded in the King’s Birthday Honours in June 2025,  in recognition of Lisa’s services to education. It reflects more than 25 years of leadership dedicated to improving outcomes for children and young people and strengthening the education system.

As Interim CEO, Lisa leads Bright Futures with a continued focus on school improvement, system leadership and professional development, including the Trust’s Professional Development Institute, which supports schools across Greater Manchester and nationally.

Lisa’s work is underpinned by a strong commitment to inclusion, wellbeing and collaboration, with impact extending beyond the Trust through cross-sector partnerships and system-wide initiatives.

Reflecting on the investiture, Lisa said:

“It was an enormous honour to receive my OBE from HRH The Princess Royal at St James’ Palace. This recognition reflects the collective work of colleagues and partners who share a commitment to improving the life chances of children and young people through education.”

The Order of the British Empire recognises individuals who have made a significant and lasting contribution to public life, including education.