IMTA Chairman Dr Margaret Boanas Appointed MBE in King’s Birthday Honours 2026
IMTA is proud and delighted to announce that our Chairman, Dr Margaret Boanas, has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2026, in recognition of her outstanding services to the Meat Sector, Trade and Promoting Opportunities for Women.
Margaret has been a central figure within IMTA for nearly four decades having first joined the Board in 1986 before becoming Chairman in 2015. Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment, and deep sector expertise, earning widespread respect across the international meat industry.
Under Margaret’s Chairmanship, IMTA has successfully guided its members through periods of unprecedented change and challenge, including major global events such as Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. Margaret’s clear strategic vision and practical understanding of the complexities of the meat trade have ensured that IMTA remains a strong, relevant, and trusted voice for its members and our peers in government. A passionate advocate for knowledge-sharing and innovation, Margaret has also been instrumental in promoting IMTA’s award-winning Carcass Balance Cards.
Beyond her work with IMTA, Margaret has made a significant contribution to the wider meat industry. She previously served on the Board of the European Livestock and Meat Trades Union (UECBV), helping to shape policy and strengthen collaboration across European markets. She also held the prestigious role of Master of the Worshipful Company of Butchers from 2021 to 2022, reflecting her standing within one of the industry’s oldest and most respected institutions. In 2020, she received both the Women in Meat Industry Award (Trade Body Category) and the overarching Meat Business Woman of the Year Award, acknowledging her commitment to encouraging greater diversity and inclusion within the sector. In 2023, she was further honoured with an Honorary Doctor of Science from Harper Adams University, recognising her long-standing dedication the development of future talent.
Margaret’s MBE reflects a lifetime of dedication to the meat industry and her continued efforts to strengthen and promote the sector.