Nolan Smith, Director of Resources and Finance at the Office for Students (OfS), has been awarded an OBE for services to higher education in the King’s first new year’s honours list.
Nolan played a leading role in setting up the OfS as a new regulator. He is responsible for our corporate services – including legal, finance, IT and human resources – and for the team allocating over £1.4bn of funding each year to universities and colleges in England. Nolan joined the OfS from one of its predecessor bodies – the Higher Education Funding Council for England – where he was director of finance.
Susan Lapworth, chief executive of the OfS, said:
'We are so pleased that Nolan has received this much deserved honour. Nolan has made an enormous contribution to the higher education sector, in his roles at the OfS and previously HEFCE. He is a recognised expert in the financial sustainability of universities and is hugely respected by OfS colleagues and those across the sector more broadly. Nolan has also made important contributions to cross-government groups that aim to improve service delivery in the public sector. He is an excellent and supportive colleague and we are very happy that his contributions have been recognised in this way. We are delighted to celebrate this award with him.'
Nolan Smith, said:
'I am truly delighted to receive an OBE. I have been very fortunate to have worked with some really talented and dedicated colleagues without whom I wouldn’t have received this honour. Working with universities and colleges to make sure that students succeed in higher education is a very rewarding experience and I am looking forward to continuing my work.'
Nolan will receive his OBE at an investiture ceremony, most likely later in 2023.