University College Honorary Fellow Christina Lamb OBE (1983, PPE) has received the esteemed Chesney Gold Medal from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), recognising her exceptional contributions to war journalism and the field of international security. This rare honour, which has previously been awarded to figures such as Winston Churchill and Henry Kissinger, is the highest accolade conferred by RUSI’s Trustees and is seldom given. Lamb and Lyse Doucet CM OBE, the BBC’s chief international correspondent, are the first journalists to receive this award, and among the few women recipients alongside former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

The Chesney Gold Medal was presented to Lamb and Doucet at a ceremony held in RUSI’s Naim Dangoor Hall by His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, RUSI’s President. The award acknowledges their distinguished and longstanding commitment to reporting on conflict, particularly in areas traditionally dominated by male perspectives. Lamb, the Chief Foreign Correspondent for The Sunday Times, has covered numerous global conflicts over the past three decades, including wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Middle East, Africa, and Ukraine. Her fearless frontline reporting has shed light on the human impact of war, focusing on those who are often silenced in conflict – especially women – and exposing the use of rape as a weapon in these regions. Her book Our Bodies, Their Battlefields, which examines this issue in depth, has been published in 25 countries and is her latest contribution to her advocacy on behalf of women affected by violence.

Following the award presentation, Lamb and Doucet joined a panel discussion led by RUSI’s Director-General, Dr Karin von Hippel, exploring the critical role of journalism in raising public awareness about the realities of conflict and the human toll of war. Lamb noted that their work is especially important in an era of increasing misinformation, saying, “At a time when there is so much conflict and challenge to the rules-based order and more and more women and children paying the price, along with so much disinformation, I believe it has never been more important to spread understanding on the human cost of war, which is what we both humbly try to do.”

Lamb’s distinguished career in journalism has been marked by fearless reporting and a commitment to the pursuit of truth. She has been a key figure in educating the public on international conflicts, having reported on the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan with the Mujahideen and chronicled the US and UK withdrawal from Kabul in 2021. Her commitment to amplifying the voices of the most vulnerable remains central to her work, making her a fitting recipient of this historic award.