Among those honoured in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours is Michael Geoffrey Shaun Farrell, Secretary & Chief Executive of the Church of England Pensions Board, awarded the OBE "for services to the Church of England".

Mr Farrell joined the Church Commissioners’ staff in 1969 and spent 29 years at No 1 Millbank in a variety of roles, covering investment property, clergy housing, IT, finance and policy. Senior positions held included Chief Systems Analyst, Deputy Estates Secretary, Commercial Property Manager and Stipends & Allocations Secretary.

He became the Director of Finance & Central Services at the Archbishops' Council upon its creation in 1999, a post he held for 5 years before being appointed Secretary & Chief Executive of the Pensions Board in October 2004.

Mr Farrell was educated at Gillingham County Grammar School and at the Open University. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a Licentiate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development. He lives in Hempstead in Kent and is married with three children and one grandchild.

Speaking today following the publication of the Honours List, Shaun said: "I was delighted to receive the news that I had been awarded an OBE and feel very honoured that my work for the Church has been recognised in this way.

"I am also extremely grateful for all the support I have received throughout my career both from fellow staff members and from members of the three National Church Institutions.

"Without that support none of this would have been possible".