Steve Orr, Matrix panel member and Chief Executive of Catalyst, the Northern Ireland innovation hub, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to innovation.

Prior to succeeding Dr Norman Apsley as Chief Executive of Catalyst in 2018, Steve founded Connect at Catalyst, a not-for-profit network of experienced entrepreneurs, business professionals and top research talent dedicated to the creation and scaling of innovation companies in Northern Ireland.

A Business Information Technology graduate of the University of Northumbria, Steve co-founded Kineticom, Inc a San Diego, California based technical talent firm in 2000. He has also worked in Buckinghamshire, UK and San Diego and San Francisco, California for S.Com Ltd and S.Com Inc.

Writing about his award on LinkedIn, Steve said “I am honoured to receive an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours today. This is really recognition of the efforts of so many brilliant people over the years.”

The Matrix panel and secretariat are delighted that Steve’s contribution to Northern Ireland’s innovation in Northern Ireland has been recognised in this way and extend their warmest congratulations to him on this well-deserved honour.