An education leader has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours for his contributions to Holocaust education.
Alex Maws, head of education and heritage at the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR), has been awarded an MBE for more than 20 years of work shaping Holocaust education in the UK and internationally.
Since joining the AJR in 2017, he has led educational and heritage programmes designed to deepen understanding and remembrance of the Holocaust for future generations.
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Michael Newman OBE, chief executive of the AJR, said: "Alex Maws has made an extraordinary contribution to Holocaust education over more than twenty years. Through his leadership, vision and unwavering commitment, he has helped ensure that the stories of Holocaust survivors and refugees continue to educate and inspire new generations."
Mr Maws has overseen the AJR’s grant-making efforts, helping to fund projects nationwide that promote Holocaust research, testimony, and public engagement.
He led the development of the UK Holocaust Map, a digital resource documenting hundreds of Holocaust-related sites across the UK, in partnership with the government. He also produces and hosts the AJR’s Kindertransport podcast.
Most recently, he led Remembering & Rethinking 2025, a major international conference exploring the future of Holocaust education amid rising antisemitism and Holocaust distortion.
Michael Karp OBE, chairman of the AJR, said: "Alex has been one of the most influential figures in Holocaust education in Britain over the past two decades. Through his deep knowledge, thoughtful leadership and commitment to educational excellence, he has helped shape not only AJR’s work but also the wider landscape of Holocaust remembrance and learning in the UK."
In addition to his role at AJR, Mr Maws serves as a member of the UK delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and works closely with UNESCO and other international organisations to train educators and policy makers globally on issues relating to Holocaust education and contemporary antisemitism.
Mr Maws said: "My own great-grandfather was murdered by the Nazis, so the significance of receiving this incredible honour amidst a backdrop of rising Holocaust denial and antisemitism is not lost on me.
"I hope that this announcement can, in some small way, shine a light on the crucial work carried out by our dedicated team at the AJR and by so many other treasured colleagues across the Holocaust remembrance sector."
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