Capital City College Group Governor receives OBE

The newly appointed Capital City College Group governor Dr. Dwain A. Neil has been awarded an OBE for “services to the British African Caribbean community”, announced as part of the Queen’s birthday honours list on 7 June 2019.

OBEs are British orders of chivalry, serving to recognise the significance of an individual’s contributions in local community roles.

Dr Neil is a cofounder of Reach Society, a social enterprise for encouraging young people, and especially young black men, to realise their potential, and also joins us as co-founder of the British Caribbean Junior Chamber of Commerce (or BCJCC).

His contributions to the conversation around race and inclusion over his 40 year career extend to membership of the Home Secretary’s Race Relations Forum and Race Equality Advisory Panel, Commissioner with the Commission for Racial Equality (or CRE) and Commissioner in the Household Cavalry Formal Investigation, looking at the treatment of Black and minority ethnic service staff in the armed services in 1998.

On leaving university in 1979 he joined Shell International Chemicals, and he was inspired to become a community volunteer by his parents who were passionate about helping others less fortunate than themselves. He joined an education charity founded by his mother and rose to become its chairman. He also served as chairman of governors at a school in North West London before cofounding the BCJCC for young Black executives who wanted to hone their skills and expertise while pursuing their careers.

Dr Neil says: “This national honour came as a wonderful surprise for my family and me. I guess it means that my four decades of volunteering has not gone unnoticed; and I am slowly getting used to this level of recognition.”

As the chairman of Reach Society he continues to spearhead the roll out of inspirational events for young people in London and the South East, and also in urban areas in the regions. He is “delighted to be appointed to the CCCG board, and hopes to add value to this leading FE College Group”.