- Three members of the University community have received honours
- Two alumni and one researcher have been named for their achievements and services
- The awards were given for services to mental health, public transport and cyber security.
Aston University has congratulated members of its community who have been named in the New Year Honours list.
Two alumni and one researcher have received awards for their achievements and services.
Alumnus Gian Power CEO and founder of TLC Lions has been awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2025 list for his services to mental health.
Gian graduated from Aston Business School in 2014 with a BSc in international business and German and worked at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt and later joined PwC in their financial restructuring division in London where he qualified as a chartered accountant.
However, in 2015, life changed dramatically for Gian when his father Ranjit Singh Power was murdered overseas, this was then followed by the suicide of a colleague at work. Following these events, Gian saw the need to make workplaces more human and to do more to address mental health issues within corporate organisations. He decided to launch TLC Lions, an organisation that designs and delivers learning programmes for more than 300 global companies including Amazon, Rolls-Royce and Google. His work is also shared with up to 15 million people in the skies as TLC Lions’ content is broadcast onboard all Emirates and Virgin Atlantic flights in-flight entertainment in more than 85 countries.
Gian is also an ambassador for the Missing People Charity which he supports in his father’s memory. Since graduating he has continued to work closely with Aston University in a variety of ways from returning to campus to inspire students about their career paths to promoting the University on a global scale.
Gian said: “Receiving this honour is very personal to me and I accept this award in memory of my father who taught me so much in my life and on behalf of everyone who has supported me on the journey. It’s been my mission at TLC Lions to persuade leaders in the corporate world to take the time to listen, show compassion and be emotionally connected so they create a human first culture for teams to thrive.
“By receiving this honour, I feel that I’m closer to achieving that goal. I’ve always been an entrepreneur and I’m delighted to continue to have a close bond with Aston University which, like me, values entrepreneurship.”
In addition, the managing director of public transport company Salisbury Reds has also been recognised. Andrew Wickham has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the bus industry. Andrew graduated from Aston University in 1987 with a BSc in transport operation and planning and he joined Brighton Borough Transport in 1986, while studying for his degree.
And Professor Vladlena Benson, has also been recognised in the New Year honours list for 2025. Professor Benson is the director of the Aston Centre for Cyber Security Innovation (CSI), and she has been given the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field of cyber security.
Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University, said:”It is wonderful to see diverse members of the Aston University community be recognised for their achievements within their fields of expertise.
“As stated in our 2030 strategy the University’s purpose is to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation. We are delighted to see members of the University community honoured in recognition of supporting others to thrive economically, socially and culturally.”
The honours were officially announced on 30 December 2024.
- Notes to editors
For over a century, Aston University’s enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally.
Aston University’s history has been intertwined with the history of Birmingham, a remarkable city that once was the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing powerhouse of the world.
Born out of the First Industrial Revolution, Aston University has a proud and distinct heritage dating back to our formation as the School of Metallurgy in 1875, the first UK College of Technology in 1951, gaining university status by Royal Charter in 1966, and becoming The Guardian University of the Year in 2020.
Building on our outstanding past, we are now defining our place and role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Nicola Jones, Head of Press & Communications (interim) on (+44) 7825 342091 or email: n.jones6@aston.ac.uk