Queen rewards Peter Mason, Eden Project architect Nicholas Grimshaw and Arup's Nigel Thompson.
Peter Mason, chief executive of Amec, was one of three leading industry figures knighted in the Queen's New Year's Honours List, announced last week.

Mason received the award from the Foreign Office for his governmental role in promoting international trade development.

Mason started his trade role in 1997, becoming a member of the Overseas Projects Board, and taking over the railway sector group of the board a year later. He also joined the advisory council of the Export Credit Guarantee Department three years ago.

Amec chairman Sydney Gillibrand welcomed Mason's knighthood. He said: "This appointment reflects Peter's personal achievements in the management of our company and the growing status of Amec in our industry."

Architect Nicholas Grimshaw and engineer Nigel Thompson were also knighted. Grimshaw's practice, Grimshaw & Partners, designed the £80m Eden Project in Cornwall, which was shortlisted for the 2001 Stirling award. His firm also designed the International Terminal at Waterloo station in London and the National Space Centre in Leicester.

Thompson, deputy chairman of consultant Arup, was knighted for his work in the reconstruction of Kosovo and Yugoslavia. He said: "I am honoured. It is a tribute to all those on the taskforce, Trade Partners UK and at Arup who have helped me in my work."

A clutch of honours was awarded for services to regeneration: Robert Shields, chief executive of the North West Regional Development Agency and Michael Storey, leader of Liverpool City Council, were awarded CBEs, while Brian Dinsdale, chief executive of Hartlepool Borough Council, was given an OBE.

Others in the industry honoured included Paul Finch, deputy chairman of CABE, who received an OBE for his work in promoting architectural design through architectural journalism and as a lobbyist.

An OBE was also awarded to Manmohan Singh Gujral, chief executive of the Presentation Housing Association, a body that has been involved in several award-winning regeneration schemes.

Further honours were handed to Malcolm Haxby, head of the city planning group of Westminster City Council, who received an MBE for services to local government, and OBEs were awarded to two architectural historians, Professor Frank Walker and John Knight.