Chief Executive Ian Lush awarded OBE in New Year Honours List
Chief Executive Ian Lush awarded OBE in New Year Honours List
31 December 2020
Ian, 60, played a critical role in leading our efforts to help our hospitals throughout the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Supporting the five hospitals of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, we raised £3 million for our Covid-19 Relief Fund and funded a number of projects to support NHS staff and patients, including a major programme of improvements to rest areas, kitchens and changing room facilities for hospital staff.
In addition, Ian led the national fundraising campaign for NHS charities across the country this year. As chairman of NHS Charities Together – the umbrella organisation representing over 240 local NHS charities in the UK – he oversaw the successful Covid-19 Appeal, which raised more than £150 million.
These funds enabled individual NHS charities to provide vital support to front-line hospital staff and volunteers responding to the crisis, as well as funding a range of initiatives to improve care for patients and their loved ones.
Ian has also been a public champion of Captain Sir Tom Moore, whose extraordinary fundraising efforts contributed more than £30 million towards the appeal.
"I'm truly honoured to receive this OBE at the end of a year unlike any other"
Ian Lush, Chief Executive of Imperial Health Charity
Commenting on the award, Ian said: “I’m truly honoured to receive this OBE at the end of a year unlike any other for our NHS and its charities. The pandemic has posed the most extraordinary challenge for our health service and we’re all indebted to the tireless efforts of our heroic NHS staff, whose compassion and commitment to outstanding care has been a shining light during a long, dark year.
“I'd also like to pay tribute to the many other unsung heroes who have stood side by side with the NHS throughout the pandemic. From the thousands of dedicated volunteers who gave up their time to lend a hand to the many generous donors and fundraisers, like the remarkable Captain Sir Tom Moore, who helped us raise such extraordinary sums - your kindness enabled NHS charities across the country to provide vital extra support when it was needed most.
“Finally I'd like to recognise all my fantastic colleagues at Imperial Health Charity whose hard work and support over the last year has been inspiring.”
Ian was appointed chief executive of Imperial Health Charity in December 2014 and has served as chairman of NHS Charities Together since April 2020.
Before joining Imperial Health Charity, Mr Lush was Chief Executive of the Architectural Heritage Fund and held roles at the London Mozart Players, Barbican Centre and London Symphony Orchestra. He also served as Lead Governor for the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Members’ Council.
"We couldn't have achieved the incredible feats of this year without Ian's dedication"
Ellie Ortion, Chief Executive of NHS Charities Together
Ellie Orton, Chief Executive of NHS Charities Together, said: "This is incredible news and thoroughly deserved. Ian did an amazing job leading the NHS charities' celebration of the NHS 70th birthday with the creation of the NHS Big Tea event in 2018. The response to our Covid-19 Appeal this year has been overwhelming, but Ian has been a fantastically calm support through it all.
"At NHS Charities Together we couldn’t have achieved the incredible feats we have this year without Ian’s hard work and dedication and it’s wonderful to see his efforts recognised in this way.”
