Deb Leary, chief executive of Staffordshire-based Forensic Pathways, has received her OBE from the Prince of Wales at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

She was named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her commitment to entrepreneurship and the community.

As well as being CEO of Forensic Pathways, which provides advanced data analytics, forensic intelligence, forensic products, training and consultancy, Deb is also chair of the Midlands World Trade Forum, vice president of the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs and deputy chair of the United Nations UK Global Compact.

She was also one of just five businesspeople to meet with Prime Minister Gordon Brown last week to launch the Annual Innovation Report, the world’s first progress report on innovation. The report draws together information and data against which the UK’s future progress on innovation will be judged and underlines the vital role innovation has to play in securing the country’s long term prosperity.

Deb said: “I am a passionate supporter of entrepreneurship and do whatever I can to motivate and inspire people to set up in business and develop their ideas. To receive this award is a tremendous honour and I am immensely proud. I never forget how much help and support I’ve had to get to this point and I will continue to put something back into local businesses and the community.”