Prime Minister's Award for Exceptional Public Service
Nashima Begum
Welsh Government
Culture, heritage and sport were initially omitted from the Welsh Government’s Anti-racist Wales Action Plan (ArWAP), Nashima Begum played a pivotal role in securing their inclusion and ensuring these vital sectors became drivers of anti-racist change. Drawing on her insight, networks and leadership, she connected senior officials with community mentors from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, whose lived experience shaped the programme’s vision and delivery.
As lead policy official, Nashima designed and implemented an ambitious three-year programme, underpinned by over £5 million of ringfenced funding—secured through her compelling case to senior leaders and ministers. She embedded co-production at every level, recruiting four community mentors and establishing an external accountability group to guide the work.
Over 90 projects have since been funded and a national anti-racism learning platform launched, providing practical training and resources for organisations across Wales. Independent evaluation found “clear evidence of positive change” and praised the programme for breaking down structural barriers and enabling meaningful engagement with underrepresented groups.
Through her innovation, commitment and influence, Nashima has driven genuine cultural transformation—making the culture, heritage and sport sectors central to building an Anti-racist Wales.
School Attendance Team
Department for Education
Following the unprecedented rise in pupil absence during and after COVID-19—with one in five pupils persistently absent and 171,000 missing over half their schooling—this team led a national transformation in school attendance. Recognising the complex causes spanning mental health, housing, and illness, they developed a bold, evidence-driven strategy that combined cutting-edge data insight, targeted support, and strong system leadership.
Central to their approach was an upgraded, world-leading attendance data tool, now enhanced with AI-powered benchmarking and early-warning reports for incoming pupils. With over 450,000 interactions and 19,000 downloads, these tools helped schools act early and compare performance with similar peers. The team drove improvement through regional conferences for up to 3,000 leaders, challenge sessions with trusts and local authorities, the creation of an eventual 90 RISE Attendance and Behaviour Hubs providing direct and scalable support to thousands of schools. They also developed an innovative one to one mentoring programme, and updated statutory guidance promoting a much stronger support-first approach for absent children.
Their work has already helped to recover over 5 million days of attendance in one year—equating to perhaps £3 billion in future lifetime earnings—and earned international recognition from the OECD and global education leaders. Through innovation, collaboration, and data-driven delivery, the team is reshaping England’s approach to attendance and improving life chances for children nationwide.
Tracie Jackson
Home Office
Tracie Jackson has dedicated nearly four decades to transforming border security and canine detection in the UK. Since joining Customs & Excise in 1987, her career has spanned diverse operational roles, from passenger screening, controlled deliveries to leading multi-functional teams across major UK ports and airports. Early experiences at the Dover and Sheerness Dog Units laid the foundation for her pioneering work in detector dog operations, including the groundbreaking passive response dog trials ahead of the Channel Tunnel opening.
In 2019, Tracie joined the Border Force National Dog Team, leading the development of the world’s first canine detection capability for New Synthetic Opioids (NSOs), including nitazenes. Collaborating with the University of Lincoln and scientific partners, she introduced novel training methods, evidence-based benchmarking, and advanced chemical analysis, redefining standards in detection science globally.
Her work has enhanced operational efficiency, improved detection accuracy, and strengthened the UK’s position as a world leader in non-intrusive detection capability. Across her career, Tracie has also mentored generations of officers, advanced scientific understanding of canine olfaction, and contributed to safer borders — leaving a lasting legacy of innovation, expertise, and public service impact.