An academic who has lived in Highgate all her life has been made an MBE for her work in education.

Joanna Newman was honoured for her work in promoting British higher education internationally as director of the international unit of Universities UK, which represents British universities.

She said she was “thrilled, shocked and surprised” when she read the letter revealing her MBE.

“The UK is the second largest receiving country for international students in the world and we want to do more to increase the number of UK students spending time at partner universities across the world, for short or longer periods of study,” the married resident of Holly Lodge Estate said. Dr Newman, who is also chairman of the Holly Lodge Leaseholders’ Association, celebrated her honour with family and friends over the festive break.

After completing a PhD in history in 1998, she worked as a lecturer at the University of Warwick and University College London and for six years as executive director of the London Jewish Cultural Centre, North End Road, Golders Green.

She also served as head of higher education at the British Library before moving to Universities UK.

Dr Newman joins the chief executive of a committee supporting UK pharmacies in being recognised in the New Year’s Honours List.

Sue Sharpe, 63, of Highgate, said she felt “very fortunate” to have been made an OBE for services to pharmacy in her role with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.

The committee works to make sure pharmacies can support and supply patients with exactly what they need to lessen the strain on the NHS.

“The NHS won’t get enough money to look after patients in the future so we are trying to find significant ways of helping them give patients the care and support they need,” the married mother-of-three, of Westhill Park, said.

The former barrister became chief executive in 2001 and has worked in a community pharmacy since 1991.

In 1980, her husband, David, was also made an OBE for services to pharmacy for his work as chairman of the same committee.

Mrs Sharpe celebrated the honour by baking cakes for her colleagues and raising a glass with her family.