King’s Honours recognise Big Issue Invest CEO and Big Issue Ambassador

Friday 14 June – Danyal Sattar, the Chief Executive Officer of Big Issue Invest, the social investment arm of the Big Issue Group, has been recognised as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in this year’s Birthday Honours.

Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, Chief Fire Officer for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and Big Issue Group Ambassador, has also been recognised with the King’s Fire Service Medal, which is awarded for distinguished service or gallantry.

A social investor with over 30 years of industry experience, Danyal Sattar has dedicated his career to supporting social enterprises and charities to find solutions to poverty and inequality in the UK.

He joined Big Issue Invest as its CEO in 2018. Prior to this role, he was Head of Social Investment with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, where he was responsible for managing the Foundation’s social investment fund. He has also worked for Big Society Capital, Access Foundation for Social Investment and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

John Bird, founder of the Big Issue and crossbench peer in the House of Lords, said: “Bravo Danyal on your OBE. I’m pleased that his 30 years of service to social investing has been recognised with this prestigious honour.

“As the tireless leader of Big Issue Invest since 2018, Danyal has helped hundreds of businesses and charities across the country make their entrepreneurial visions a reality. Long may his passion for social investment continue to burn brightly.

“On behalf of all of us at the Big Issue, I’d like to offer our congratulations to Danyal for being recognised in this way.

Sabrina Cohen-Hatton has had a varied and dutiful career, having joined South Wales Fire and Rescue Service as an 18-year-old firefighter in September 2001. She decided to join the fire and rescue service after experiencing homelessness from the age of 15, and selling the Big Issue earned her enough money to rent a small apartment after a period of sleeping on the streets of Newport. She was appointed as the Chief Fire Officer in West Sussex in 2019.

John Bird said: “I am so pleased that Sabrina has been recognised for her vital contribution to the Fire Service with the King’s Fire Service Medal.

“Sabrina experienced homelessness from an early age and selling The Big Issue offered her a means by which to move off the streets and into a safe place to live. When she came to us back in 2019 to share her story, she shined a light on the ways that The Big Issue can change lives.

“We thank her for being a tireless Ambassador for us. She continues to be an inspiration to many and everyone here at the Big Issue would like to offer their congratulations to Sabrina for being recognised in this way.”