Congratulations to Robinson alum Matt Brittin (Land Economy, 1986) who has been awarded a CBE in the King’s New Year Honours for services to technology and the enhancement of digital skills. Matt led Google in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for ten years until 2025 and is now a non-executive director of Guardian Media Group. During his time at Google, more than eighteen years in total, Matt pioneered and scaled work on digital skills for everyday people, businesses and communities that led to over 100m people being trained around the world.

Matt said: “I’m grateful and touched to be awarded a CBE for services to technology and digital skills. There are so many people to thank - on whom this recognition really rests. It was a privilege and honour to work with many very talented colleagues for two decades - at Google and beyond. Collectively, we helped people and businesses harness new tools: search, maps, translate, video, cloud, AI and more... across so many countries. Thanks also to many brilliant partners from governments, businesses, unions, NGOs and community groups. Together, we trained many millions - helping their confidence and ability to put technology to work safely and productively in their lives and careers. And to critics, challengers and policymakers who pushed hard for better products, practices and protections.

“Sadly my dear Dad Sid, died this autumn. He grew up in a condemned corner shop between St Pancras and Euston, his world of technology was a wireless radio for BBC news and entertainment. I have much to thank the British education system for - particularly for the scholarship funding that took my father - and later me - to grammar school. Neither he nor my mother Shirley had the chance to go to University - making me the first in our family to do so. At Robinson College, the combination of academic rigour and fierce Boat Race competition (leading to three silver medals) taught me so much.  You win or you learn, as they say...

“Today, I remain fiercely committed to enhancing digital skills for all and this is why I'm involved in AI and education. It’s an exciting time of vertical take-off for technology - extraordinary breakthroughs and real risks, not least the scale and pace of change. Technology can be a huge force for good if we understand it, shape it - manage it well. To do so, it needs to be built by everyone and shaped by everyone - everywhere, not least in Britain.  I'm excited to see Robinson, and Cambridge, seize this opportunity too.” 

Huge congratulations to Matt, we look forward to learning where his work in AI and education takes him next.