Maltese-Born Business Leader Noreen Burroughes Receives MBE at Windsor

London, 19 February 2026 — Noreen Burroughes (née Cesareo) has received her Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) from Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal at an investiture ceremony held at Windsor Castle, in recognition of her services to women in international trade and entrepreneurship.

The honour was originally announced in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List and recognises her sustained contribution to advancing women’s economic empowerment across the UK and internationally.

With a long-standing commitment to inclusive international trade and enterprise, Burroughes has become a recognised strategic voice in both UK and global spheres. Her work focuses on shaping more inclusive markets, strengthening capacity building, advancing inclusive supply chains, and embedding gender-responsive approaches within business and trade ecosystems.

Her portfolio bridges research, policy engagement, business leadership and grassroots advocacy — enabling women to upskill in digital and enterprise capabilities while accessing international trade and investment opportunities.

Burroughes is the founding President of the UK Chapter of the Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT) and serves as Executive President of OWIT International, working with UK trade institutions and multilateral stakeholders to strengthen women’s integration into global trade systems. She recently co-hosted and organised the Malta Women and Finance Summit in Malta, to increase financial literacy among Maltese women of all ages.

Speaking following the ceremony at Windsor Castle, Burroughes said:
“Receiving the MBE at Windsor Castle from Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal was a very special and humbling moment. It represents nearly two decades of collaboration, shared purpose and collective effort. This recognition belongs to the many women and men working every day to build stronger, more inclusive economies — in the UK, globally and here in Malta.”

Burroughes leads Market Accents, the strategic advisory she founded in 2007. She sits on several UK and international boards, including the Malta Business Network Foundation and the OWIT UK Chapter Board. She is also a Trustee of the Commonwealth Girls Education Fund (CGEF), supporting access to education for girls across the Commonwealth.

Originally from Santa Luċija, Malta, she was educated at Immaculate Conception School, Tarxien, and De La Salle College, Cottonera, and is a postgraduate alumna of the University of Malta. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). Burroughes is married to financial journalist Tom Burroughes of Halesworth, Suffolk, and lives in London.

This award acknowledges her sustained contribution to mainstreaming gender equity in trade policy and practice, both within the UK and internationally.