Sheriff of Greater London. From 2015 to 2020, she was chair of the Court of Heriot-Watt University. Awards and honours Cairncross has received several awards and honorary degrees from a multiple universities. Honorary DLitt, University of Glasgow (2001) Honorary DSc, University of Birmingham (2002) European Women of Achievement Award (2002) Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2003) Honorary Fellow, St Peter's College Oxford (2003) Honorary degree, Loughborough University (2003) Honorary degree, University of London (2003) Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2004) Honorary degree, Cardiff University (2004) Honorary degree, University of Bristol (2004) Honorary DPhil, London Metropolitan University (2004) Honorary degree, Trinity College Dublin (2005) Honorary DBA, Kingston University (2005) Honorary Life Fellow, Royal Society of Arts (2006) Honorary degree, University of York (2011) Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2015) Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) (2016) President's Medal of the British Academy (2018) References Positions held 1944 births Living people Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Alumni of St Anne's College, Oxford English journalists The Guardian journalists The Times people Brown University alumni Honorary Fellows of St Peter's College, Oxford Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh High Sheriffs of Greater London Presidents of the British Science Association Rectors of Exeter College, Oxford People from Otley Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences Recipients of the President's Medal (British Academy) English people of Scottish descent Women's page journalists