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Professor wins prestigious award and is appointed to commission in recognition of community work

Professor Jagbir Jhutti-Johal awarded Sigmund Sternberg Interfaith Gold Medallion and appointed to the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion.

7 July 2025•4 min read
(L-R) Laura Marks CBE, Dr Julie Siddiqi MBE, Professor Jhutti-Johal with their awards in a sunny garden.

(L-R) Laura Marks CBE, Dr Julie Siddiqi MBE, Professor Jhutti-Johal with their Gold Medallions. Photo credit: Sam Friedrich/acumenimages.com

Jagbir Jhutti-Johal, Professor of Sikh Studies, has been awarded the Sigmund Sternberg Interfaith Gold Medallion and been appointed to the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion.

A leading University of Birmingham academic, Professor Jagbir Jhutti-Johal, has been awarded the Sigmund Sternberg Interfaith Gold Medallion, in recognition of her ‘exceptional contribution’ to faith understanding in the UK and beyond.

The Sigmund Sternberg Interfaith Gold Medallion is one of Britain’s highest accolades for interfaith work, and has previously been awarded to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Pope John Paul II, Dr Harriet Crabtree OBE, and Lord Yehudi Menuhin.

Alongside Professor Jhutti-Johal, Laura Marks CBE, co-founder of the Jewish-led social action initiative Mitzvah Day and co-founder of Nisa-Nashim, a Jewish-Muslim women’s network, and Dr Julie Siddiqi MBE, co-founder of Nisa-Nashim and the British Muslim Network, also received the award.

I was deeply humbled and honoured to receive the Sigmund Sternberg Interfaith Gold Medallion. Having worked in the interfaith space for over twenty-five years, this recognition is not just a personal recognition but a tribute to the many extraordinary individuals I’ve had the privilege to work alongside...

Professor Jagbir Jhutti-Johal, University of Birmingham

As well as being Professor of Sikh Studies, Professor Jhutti-Johal was a former Commissioner on Religion and Belief in British Public Life, currently she is a steering group member of the UK Freedom of Religion or Belief Forum, and a member of the Panel of Experts on Freedom of Religion or Belief at the ODIHR (Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights).

On her award, she said: “I was deeply humbled and honoured to receive the Sigmund Sternberg Interfaith Gold Medallion. Having worked in the interfaith space for over twenty-five years, this recognition is not just a personal recognition but a tribute to the many extraordinary individuals I’ve had the privilege to work alongside—among them my fellow recipients, Julie Siddiqui MBE and Laura Marks CBE - two trailblazers in interfaith leadership whose tireless work continues to inspire and uplift communities across the country.

“This award is for all those who have supported me along the way—mentors, colleagues, friends, and fellow community builders—who recognise the transformative power of dialogue in these polarised times. It is so important if we are to build a more inclusive, compassionate, and connected society.”

. At a time of increasing polarisation and division, this work is more vital than ever.

Professor Jagbir Jhutti-Johal, University of Birmingham

As further recognition of her expertise in community and interfaith work, Professor Jhutti-Johal has recently been appointed to the Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion. The commission brings together leading voices from across the UK to explore what is driving disconnection and division, and what/how change can help build stronger communities, something Professor Jhutti-Johal is very passionate about in her academic and advocacy work.

Professor Jhutti-Johal concluded: “As someone of faith, I have never undertaken this work in pursuit of accolades or recognition. It has always been driven by a deep sense of duty and responsibility—to foster dialogue, build bridges, and promote understanding across faiths and communities. At a time of increasing polarisation and division, this work is more vital than ever. We must all work together to build strong, cohesive, and resilient communities must be built on empathy, listening, and mutual respect.”

Notes for editors

  • For media inquiries, please contact Ellie Hail, Communications Officer, University of Birmingham on +44 (0)7966 311 409. Out-of-hours, please call +44 (0) 121 414 2772.
  • Photo credit: Sam Friedrich/acumenimages.com
  • The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries.

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  • Professor Jagbir Jhutti-Johal

    Professor of Sikh Studies

    Biographical and contact information for Professor Jagbir Jhutti-Johal in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham.

    Phone: +44 (0)121 41 58338
    Email:

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