Who's Who in 2025?

December 2, 2024

Who's Who 2025 is the 177th edition of one of the world's longest established and most comprehensive general reference books, brought right up to date for the year ahead with just under 600 new names for 2025.

It contains more than 32,500 autobiographical entries, carefully updated for maximum accuracy from information personally supplied by the biographee. People are chosen for invitation as holders of key appointments and on the basis of their particular individual achievements. After 176 years, Who’s Who is still the most reliable directory of the noteworthy and influential people in every area of public life.

The online version, published by Oxford University Press, is available at www.ukwhoswho.com

Who’s Who 2025 has seen an influx of new entries from the world of politics following the 2024 general election, which resulted in 335 new MPs—the largest number of new members in modern history. The book has been updated to reflect the major upheaval seen in Westminster this year and includes all new MPs elected in July, comprising the most diverse parliament, in terms of gender and ethnicity, in UK history.

Politics and Government
Among the new batch of MPs, entries of interest include rower, self-help guru and environmental activist Roz Savage, consultant ENT surgeon Dr Peter Prinsley, Josh Babarinde, a self-made social entrepreneur and ‘stand up paddleboarding’ enthusiast, and Jessica Asato, who enjoys ‘exploring old castles and heritage’ with her family. Many existing contributors from the world of politics have also seen changes to their entries for the 2025 edition, such as Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton (David Cameron), Lady Smith of Malvern (Jacqui Smith) and Lord Timpson (Edward Timpson), all of whom have had the privilege of being elevated to the peerage in order to serve in government.

Music and Arts
President of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art David Harewood makes his debut in Who’s Who this year with an impressive career spanning theatre, film and television. Also appearing for the first time are singer, songwriter and producer Joan Armatrading, whose well-known singles include ‘Love and Affection’ and ‘The Weakness in Me’, artist and print-maker Katherine Jones, 2017 Ivor Novello-winning songwriter Nitin Sawhney, writer and film-maker Kate Muir, and William Fox, Director of Music at St Albans Cathedral, whose recreations include ‘concert-going’ and ‘visiting country churches’.

Education and Academia
Another notable new contributor is the psychology scholar Deborah Prentice, who was a Professor at Princeton University before taking up her role as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. Poet Daljit Nagra joins in his role as Chair of the Royal Society of Literature, as does Lyndsey Stonebridge, Professor of Humanities and Human Rights at Birmingham, who, aside from penning the internationally published We Are Free to Change the World, is also a ‘keen dancer and walker’. Prof. Marc Macias-Fauria, 2001 Professor of Physical Geography at Cambridge, mixes work and leisure by enjoying ‘old maps and just being in nature, really’, while Rachel Bailey, Headmistress of Benenden School, lists ‘theatre, ballet, equestrian sport’ as her interests.

Charity, Activism and Society
Although Sir Bill Browder could have been included solely due to his endeavours in business and finance, he is equally noteworthy for his contribution to human rights and anti-corruption efforts through the Magnitsky Act. He is in good company: Sarah Woolnough, now Chief Executive of The King’s Fund, was a driving force behind the law requiring all cigarettes to be sold in plain packaging. Adekunle Olulode, MBE began his career as a council worker, became involved in leading the Camden Black Workers Staff Group and is now Director of Voice4Change England, an infrastructure charity that connects hundreds of BAME organisations.

Science, Technology and Medicine
Although not the only entrant to list scuba diving in his Recreations, Prof. Lloyd Peck, Science Leader of the British Antarctic Survey, must win for location and quantity, with ‘850 dives in Antarctica’. Dr Matthew Lavy KC, who co-published a book on the application of the law to AI, prefers to relax in ‘light aircraft’, while Geoffrey Knupfer, consultant forensic scientist, is chiefly concerned with the earth: a former detective and police superintendent, he now specialises in forensic archaeology. Also included for the first time are Jinjer Kandola, Chief Executive of two NHS trusts in North London and Dr Helen Pain, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a fan of ‘family, gardening, home interiors, art and history’.

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