Victoria Brownlie recognised with MBE for services to beauty and personal care industry

Victoria Brownlie, the British Beauty Council’s chief of policy and sustainability, has been named in King Charles’ Birthday Honours 2024 for her services to the UK’s beauty and personal care industry.

Brownlie has been praised as a tireless advocate for female-owned businesses and working to challenge misconceptions about the beauty sector. The British Beauty Council says her efforts have been pivotal in securing vital support for the industry in recent years.

Brownlie said: “It’s an absolute honour to receive such recognition for a role I love and take so much pride in. This award gives much-needed recognition for the beauty and personal care sector as a formidable and relevant industry with a lot to say for itself.”

During her time at the council, Brownlie has played a key role in several important initiatives. This involved:

• Helping secure an earlier reopening of the industry post-lockdown and an £18,000 'restart grant' (US$22,900, €21,311). This was a £12,000 (US$15,270, €14,207) increase on the previously proposed grant, amounting to an additional £350 million (US$445.4 million, €414.4 million) in total. • Launching the Sustainable Beauty Coalition to accelerate sustainability efforts in the beauty industry.

• Representing the industry at COP26 in Glasgow, where the British Beauty Council was the only NGO within the beauty sector to achieve observer status at the summit.• Working with the UK government on initiatives to support and champion women in the sector and enable positive social mobility.

• Helping to secure a ban on injectables for under 18s and a government commitment to introduce regulation in the aesthetics sector.

Before her roles in the beauty sector, both at the British Beauty Council and as director of policy and public affairs at the National Hair & Beauty Federation, Brownlie worked in legislation for animal welfare and the construction industry.

She also has experience in politics, having previously worked with British MP Annette Brooke and acted as a political advisor within Brighton and Hove City Council during the EU Referendum.

Meribeth Parker, chair of the British Beauty Council said: “This well-deserved honour reflects the incredible impact that Victoria and the British Beauty Council have had in delivering policy change and impact for the important beauty and personal care industry.

“The sector offers unique career opportunities, supports enhanced wellbeing and has an influential impact on the UK’s GDP, and we’re delighted to see Victoria's significant contribution rewarded in this way.”