London, 14 June 2025 — Noreen Burroughes (née Cesareo) has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List, recognising her services to women in international trade and to entrepreneurship.
With an interest in international trade and women’s economic empowerment for more than a decade, Noreen has been a strategic force in the UK and international spheres, shaping inclusive global markets and promoting capacity building, inclusive supply chains and business models. Her work bridges research, contributions to policy, business leadership, and grassroots advocacy, enabling more women to upskill in digital and business, and access international trade and investment opportunities.
Noreen is the founding President of the UK Chapter of the Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT) and currently the Executive Vice President globally. In these roles, she has worked with UK trade initiatives and multilateral organisations to advance the role of women in global trade systems. She has also built long-standing partnerships with influential UK and international networks, helping to equip women entrepreneurs with the insight, confidence, and global networks to scale beyond borders.
Noreen’s expertise spans strategic policy advisory, programme design, and business ecosystem development — all anchored in a belief that sustainable economic growth depends on the full participation of women as creators, exporters, and leaders.
“This honour is a privilege — and a recognition of the women and male allies I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside, who are driving change and redefining leadership in global business,” said Noreen. “I’ve seen firsthand the impact when women are supported to trade internationally, the economic uplift is felt across communities and global businesses — and I remain committed to building ecosystems that unlock their full potential.”
Noreen also runs Market Accents, a strategic and marketing firm she founded in 2007, and sits on several boards, including the business board of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for women and enterprise, chairing the trade task force; the Savvitas Senate and World Business Women. She is a Trustee of the Commonwealth Girls Education Fund CGEF, a founding director of Malta Opera and a director of the Malta Business Network Foundation and the UK Chapter Board. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), reflecting her contribution to society through enterprise and innovation.
Noreen is originally from Santa Lucia, Malta. She is married to financial journalist Tom Burroughes of Halesworth, Suffolk, in East Anglia, and lives in London.
This award acknowledges her sustained contribution to mainstreaming gender equity in trade policy and practice, both within the UK and globally.
