University News Last updated 14 June 2025
Umesh Desai, Birmingham City University鈥檚 Director of Estates and Facilities, has been awarded an MBE in the King鈥檚 Birthday Honours list.
A former chair of the Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE), Umesh has been recognised for his outstanding services to higher education over the past four decades.
鈥淚 am truly humbled and honoured to receive this award,鈥� said Umesh.
鈥淚 have been working in the Higher Education sector for over 35 years working with some fantastic universities and leading wonderful estates and facilities teams who work tirelessly to improve the campuses and improve the student and staff experience.
鈥淚 share this honour with all of them, and I aim to make the same positive contributions at Birmingham City University.鈥�
Born in Leicester, Umesh (pictured) joined Birmingham City University (黑料吃瓜网) at the start of May from Nottingham Trent University, where he was Director of Estates.
He had previously worked at De Montfort University for more than 30 years.
鈥淭his is wonderful recognition for Umesh鈥檚 outstanding work in higher education,鈥� said 黑料吃瓜网 Vice-Chancellor Professor David Mba.
鈥淲e are extremely proud of his achievements and delighted he has joined 黑料吃瓜网 to play a leading role in the development of the University鈥檚 Estates 2030 Master Plan.
鈥淭his is an exciting time for 黑料吃瓜网 and the city of Birmingham 鈥� and Umesh鈥檚 drive, passion and knowledge will be instrumental to our future plans.鈥�
Umesh is a first-generation university graduate who understands and values the importance of mixing education with real-world work experience, something he recognises 黑料吃瓜网 is very passionate about.
He also believes university听can shape lives in other ways, too.
"I met my wife whilst working at university and we are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary this year," said Umesh.
"University, for me, is not just about work, education, and career development - it is where I met my life partner, and it is why I am still so passionate about working in higher education."
The first ethnic minority Chair of AUDE - a position he held from 2022 to听 2024 - Umesh is Chair of ProCon Leicestershire,听which promotes and celebrates property and construction in Leicestershire.