Edinburgh Napier University Principal, Professor Sue Rigby, has been made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the King’s New Year Honours.
Professor Rigby was awarded the CBE, which recognises significant impact at a national level, for services to higher education.
Before taking up her role at ENU a year ago this week, she had been Vice Chancellor of Bath Spa University since 2018.
Sue is hugely experienced in the world of higher education and prior to leading Bath Spa, she was Deputy Vice Chancellor for Student Development at the University of Lincoln. She is also an HEA Principal Fellow and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
The award honours Sue’s leadership in education policy and her significant contributions in shaping the world of higher education.
In October 2025, she was appointed to the board of the Scottish Funding Council, the body charged with delivering a world-leading system of tertiary education, research and innovation in Scotland.
She is also Chair of Student Minds (a student mental health charity), and a board member for the QAA (Quality Assurance Agency) and AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research Council). She leads on culture for the West of England Combined Authority and is chair of two significant arts venues, one in Bristol and one on the Isle of Mull.
Sue’s first year at Edinburgh Napier has coincided with a time of significant change in the higher education sector, as she continues to bring her expertise ensuring the University’s contribution is at the heart of future education provision in Scotland and the UK.