Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has been appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2025 New Year Honours List.

“I am genuinely humbled and honoured to receive the CBE in this year’s Honours list. It came as a total surprise and it still hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Tanuku, who has been chief executive at NDNA for 20 years.

She added: “This honour represents the commitment and passion that early years providers, and the incredible workforce in our sector, have in working with our youngest children day in day out. It is this passion that drives me in everything I do to support the early years sector.”

In her time as chief executive, Tanuku has led NDNA to become the voice of the early years sector across the UK, with national offices in Scotland and Wales, and established the National Early Years Enterprise Centre as the organisation’s head office and training centre in Yorkshire. NDNA has grown to represent a network of 24,000 nurseries and their educators across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, training around 35,000 educators a year and also supporting hundreds of nurseries internationally.

Sarah Steel, NDNA chair of trustees, said: “We are extremely proud of all the work Purnima has done to further the cause of seeing all children and families thrive through high-quality early education and care. To be honoured with the CBE in the New Year Honours List shows that her dedicated work and commitment to our crucial sector has been truly recognised.

“We have seen a lot of change in the world of early education, from funded childcare being introduced and expanded to radical changes in curriculums, safeguarding and new standards in quality. Purnima has been at the forefront of providing leadership and support to the whole sector, she thoroughly deserves this remarkable award.”

Born in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Tanuku was raised and educated in India before moving to the UK, where she held senior positions in local government and the private sector. When she received her OBE in 2011, she was the first South Indian woman to receive the award – now she will be the first to receive the CBE honour.

As well as leading large organisations, Tanuku loves performing arts. She is a classically trained dancer and played a major role as a trustee and chair in the development of Kala Sangam, the renowned South Asian Academy of Performing Arts in Bradford.