The award was announced in the , which recognises individuals who have rendered exceptional service to the United Kingdom abroad. Professor Kevin Featherstone’s recognition is a fitting tribute to his longstanding contributions to international academic collaboration and diplomacy.
Professor Featherstone served as Head of the European Institute across three separate terms—2004–2007, 2011–2012, and 2015–2017—totalling seven years of influential leadership. In addition to this, he held the prestigious Eleftherios Venizelos Chair in Contemporary Greek Studies from 2002 to 2022. Kevin currently serves as Chair of the Anglo-Hellenic League, a historic organisation established in 1913 to further relations between Britain and Greece.
Professor Simon Glendinning, Head of the European Institute celebrated this achievement:
“In 2021, Kevin received the distinguished title of Grand Commander, Order of the Phoenix of the Hellenic Republic. That was an extraordinary honour for him to receive since the recipients of the award are normally Greeks. Kevin has now received a distinguished honour from his own country too. It is richly deserved. The European Institute was incredibly fortunate to have been led by Kevin for seven years. Today we celebrate his achievement with pride and gratitude.”
One of Professor Featherstone’s most enduring achievements has been his transformative leadership of the Hellenic Observatory. Over more than two decades, he led its development from a small research group into a leading international centre for research and public engagement on Greece and Cyprus. In recognition of his significant contribution to the study of contemporary Greece and UK–Greece relations, Professor Featherstone was awarded honorary Greek citizenship in 2023 while in 2021 he was bestowed the title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix by the Hellenic Republic—an honour rarely granted to non-Greek citizens.
Professor Vassilis Monastiriotis, Eleftherios Venizelos Chair of Contemporary Greek Studies and Director of the Hellenic Observatory, also reflected on this major milestone:
“Kevin’s award is only the latest – but a hugely significant one – amongst the many accolades he has received for his work and leadership at the Hellenic Observatory. As my predecessor at the Eleftherios Venizelos Chair for 20 years, Kevin worked tirelessly and with admirable vision, not only to elevate the Hellenic Observatory into a world-leading centre for the study of Greece, but also to strengthen academic and policy dialogue between Greece and the United Kingdom, raising the profile and voice of Greece in Britain and of Britain in Greece. His OBE ‘for services to Academia and to UK/Greece relations’ is richly deserved and perhaps a most beautiful way to see out his transition from the directorship of the Hellenic Observatory to the chairmanship of the Anglo-Hellenic League, where long may he continue his transformative work.”
Commenting on the award Professor Featherstone said:
"An honour like this acknowledges what a fantastic place the ½ûÂþÌìÌà is to work in – we are each lifted by our colleagues, and I thank them once again. The award refers to my academic contribution: my research has focussed on the European Union and on Greece – in combination but also separately– and to my contributions to ‘UK-Greek’ relations and my public engagement, which has largely followed my research. In these public activities, I have been hugely aided by my colleagues in the ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ’s Hellenic Observatory, creating a capacity for involvement greater than the sum of our parts."
We extend our warmest congratulations to Professor Featherstone on this well-earned recognition. His dedication, insight, and leadership have left an indelible mark on the academic world and on UK–Greece relations.