Janice Bunting Awarded MBE

We are delighted to announce that our CEO Janice Bunting has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her outstanding contribution to her community. She was recognised in the King’s New Year’s Honours List 2026.

Janice joined Victim Support NI as Deputy Chief Executive in 2017 before taking on the role of Chief Executive in September 2022. She has over 30 years’ experience working in the private, public, voluntary and community sectors, of which 17 are at senior management levels.

She is passionate about the rights of victims and witnesses and is dedicated to representing their views across the sector. In her time as Deputy CEO, Janice was instrumental in expanding dedicated services to children and young people within Victim Support NI, including the ground-breaking Child Independent Sexual Violence service (CHISVA) and Phoenix Youth (formerly ART). She is an accomplished public speaker and has experience in lobbying government to make positive changes for victims. She has been involved in the Gillen review of sexual violence cases and the Hate Crime Review led by Judge Desmond Marrinan.

Sinéad Lynch, Victim Support NI’s Chair, shared her well wishes: “The board and I are delighted that Janice is to receive an MBE in recognition of her dedication to supporting victims and witnesses of crime. She is a source of great inspiration, and this honour is a fitting acknowledgement of her longstanding commitment and significant impact.”