NTU researcher supporting UK resilience with two prestigious fellowships
A Nottingham Trent University (NTU) researcher has once again been recognised for her work in building resilience among at risk communities during emergencies and disasters.
By Helen Breese | Published on 18 June 2026
Categories: Press office; Research; School of Social Sciences;
Dr Rowena Hill MBE, Professor of Resilience, Emergencies and Disaster Science at NTU’s School of Social Sciences, has been elected to Honorary Fellowship of the Faculty of Public Health.
It is the highest accolade the Faculty can bestow and awarded to those who have given exceptional service to the science, literature or practice of public health.
Through this role, Rowena will support the Faculty’s mission to improve and protect public health, helping to shape public health policy and providing expert advice and insight where appropriate.
Awarded an MBE in 2024 for her work to understand the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, Rowena’s expertise focuses on supporting the most at risk in communities.
Working closely with partners in resilience, civil protection and the emergency services, she seeks to understand what people need for resilience and wellbeing during disasters and emergencies, and how to apply this at individual, community and societal levels.
Professor Rowena Hill on what it means to be prepared for emergencies and disasters
Accepting the Fellowship at a special awards event, Professor Hill said: “I have long admired the work of the Faculty of Public Health and its members, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic and through their leadership in local communities during public emergencies and the challenges posed by changing adverse weather.
“What I value most is their commitment to understanding and responding to the needs of communities. I look forward to building on this shared purpose and strengthening the links between public health, civil protection and risk management in the years ahead.”
Rowena has also recently been appointed Senior Visiting Fellow at the UK Resilience Academy (UKRA), which exists to build a more resilient nation by strengthening the capability, capacity, and connections of those working across the resilience system.
As part of the inaugural cohort of Visiting Fellows, Professor Hill will contribute to UKRA’s teaching, research and professional programmes – helping to bridge the gap between academic insight and operational practice.
Her involvement will support masterclasses, knowledge exchange and collaborative work that informs policy, learning and innovation across the sector.
Professor Gemma Stacey, Associate Dean for Practice in NTU's School of Social Sciences, added: "Rowena's fellowships are a testament to what it means to be a truly practice-engaged academic.
"At NTU's School of Social Sciences, we are proud to have colleagues who don't just study resilience from a distance but work hand in hand with communities, emergency services and policymakers to make a real difference. Rowena exemplifies the kind of research that matters - rigorous, relevant and rooted in the lives of real people."
Rowena’s high-level UK resilience work also includes roles as Visiting Fellow of the Durham Institute of Research, Development, and Invention, Embedded Scientist to Climate Security National Foresight Group, and Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council Academic Collaboration, Evaluation and Research Group.
Notes for Editors
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About Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has been named UK ‘University of the Year’ five times in six years, (Times Higher Education Awards 2017, The Guardian University Awards 2019, The Times and Sunday Times 2018 and 2023, Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023) and is consistently one of the top performing modern universities in the UK.
Students have voted us the best university in the UK and 1st in the UK for student employability (Uni Compare 2025).
NTU is 4th in the UK for number of undergraduate students (HESA 2023-24) with over 36,000 students and more than 4,000 staff located across six campuses. It has an international student population of 6,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries.
NTU owns two Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for outstanding achievements in research (2015, 2021). The first recognises NTU’s research on the safety and security of global citizens. The second was awarded for research in science, engineering, arts and humanities to investigate and restore cultural objects, buildings and heritage. The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent.
NTU was awarded GOLD in the national 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment.
NTU is a top 10 for sport (British Universities and Colleges Sport league table 2025) and was named as Sports University of the Year (Daily Mail University Guide 2025). It has also been ranked as 25th in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2026.
NTU is a holder of the University Mental Health Charter recognising the commitment an institution has shown towards continuous improvement in the area of mental health and wellbeing.
NTU is the most environmentally sustainable university in the UK and second in the world (UI Green Metric University World Rankings, 2024).