Professor Dame Carol Black receives latest honour marking distinguished career

Dame Carol received the honour from King Charles in an investiture service at Windsor Castle on Tuesday 9 July after being named in the New Year’s Honours List of 2024. 
 
Dame Carol has led the Board of Trustees as Chair of the Centre for Ageing Better since 2019 and is also Chair of the British Library and Think Ahead, the Government’s training programme for Mental Health Social Workers.  

In 2019, with drug-related deaths at an all-time high, she was appointed to lead a major independent review of the impact of illicit drugs on society, publishing hard-hitting Parts in 2020 and 2021. She successfully galvanised commitment to a cross-government approach and additional funding to tackle drug misuse, with a new holistic strategy to address the various challenges. 

She has also led three influential independent reviews: on the impact on employment prospects for people battling drug addiction, alcohol addiction or obesity; on health, work, and wellbeing; and on sickness absence - all affecting productivity. 

Centre for Ageing Better Chief Executive Dr Carole Easton OBE said: “The team at Ageing Better offer our huge congratulations to Dame Carol on this truly prestigious and extremely well-deserved award. The charity benefits immeasurably from her experience, expertise, and professional rigour.  As Chair she also brings incredible drive and commitment to our ambition to give everyone the opportunity to age well.”