International SOS and Iqarus Celebrate Dr Jon Kendrew FRCS Winning the Lifetime Achievement Award 

Press Release

International SOS and Iqarus Celebrate Dr Jon Kendrew FRCS Winning the Lifetime Achievement Award

International SOS and Iqarus are delighted to announce that Dr Jon Kendrew FRCS received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the recent British Ex-Forces in Business Awards. International SOS was a proud gold sponsor of this prestigious event.

This award category honours the remarkable achievements of service leavers throughout their entire careers, both during their military service and their subsequent contributions to British life, society, and the economy.

Group Captain (Retd) Jon Kendrew’s illustrious career exemplifies dedication, innovation, and leadership, within the Royal Air Force and in orthopaedic surgery. His journey from serving as a Medical Cadet in the RAF to becoming a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and pioneering advances in osseointegration – a novel surgical prosthetic technique for complex amputee patients – demonstrates his relentless commitment to excellence. Jon’s pioneering work in osseointegration has transitioned from experimental stages to clinical application, significantly improving patient outcomes and offering new hope to those facing limb loss. His leadership in this field revolutionises patient care and exemplifies his dedication to achieving agreed objectives for the benefit of those in need. Alongside ongoing clinical research, he has consistently delivered high-class clinical trauma services and shown a strong commitment to the education and training of others.

As a respected faculty member on several Royal College of Surgeons courses and leader of similar courses internationally, Jon has proven himself an exceptional teacher, trainer, and manager. His leadership extended beyond the operating table, as he was appointed the Royal Air Force Consultant Advisor in Trauma and Orthopaedics in 2017 and became the Defence Consultant Advisor to the Surgeon General in 2019. His academic contributions as an Honorary Research Fellow at the Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College London further highlight his commitment to advancing medical knowledge and practice in the field of blast and other conflict injuries.

Outside of his professional achievements, Jon has served as a Clinical Trustee at the Thames Valley Air Ambulance and Parent Governor at his local grammar school, showcasing his dedication to societal welfare beyond the medical and military spheres.

Jon joined Iqarus in April 2021 as Regional Medical Director (Africa) and delivered an immediate impact by projecting surgical governance into the deployed space. Inspired by advancements in science and governance and the associated improved clinical outcomes for severely injured service people in recent conflicts, Jon established a global surgical forum. This forum brings a multi-disciplinary mindset, and an understanding of the importance of clinical data analysis, and mandates continued professional development for disparate multinational civilian surgical teams working in conflict zones.

Jon’s career is a testament to the profound impact he has made through his service and his contributions to society through medical advancements. His lifetime achievements embody the spirit of this award, making him a deserving recipient of the Lifetime Achievement accolade.

The judges said, “Jon was seen by the judges as most deserving of this special recognition award for his pioneering work in the surgical field, particularly during operations and latterly for injured people through terrorist attacks. His development of the novel surgical prosthetic technique for complex amputee patients offered new hope for limbless people. Jon has also been able to advise national and supranational organisations as to the benefit of bespoke rehabilitation and the importance of a joined-up system approach.”

Congratulations also go to those members of the Iqarus team who received nominations: Kevin Cornwell for Inspiration of the Year, Alex Stronge for Business Leader of the Year (SME), Dr Cat Davison for New Service Leader of the Year, and Ian Moorhouse for Team Leader of the Year.

About Us

As the lead for military health within the group, Iqarus delivers high standards of medical care and internationally accredited medical training in the world’s most challenging operating environments.

We work side by side with governments, IGOs, INGOs, militaries, and private companies to provide medical support that enables them to accomplish their mission objectives with total focus and confidence. We rapidly develop and deliver innovative and scalable turnkey medical solutions, from individual medics to full-scale multi-disciplinary field hospitals, tailored for high-risk or post-conflict areas.

Visit www.iqarus.com for more information.

Iqarus is part of the International SOS Group of Companies, which is in the business of saving lives and protecting your global workforce from health and security threats. Wherever you are, we deliver customised health, security risk management and wellbeing solutions to fuel your growth and productivity. In the event of extreme weather, an epidemic or a security incident, we provide an immediate response providing peace of mind. Our innovative technology and medical and security expertise focus on prevention, offering real-time, actionable insights and on-the-ground quality delivery. We help protect your people, and your organisation’s reputation, as well as support your compliance reporting needs. By partnering with us, organisations can fulfil their Duty of Care responsibilities, while empowering business resilience, continuity, and sustainability.

Founded in 1985, the International SOS Group, headquartered in London & Singapore, is trusted by over 9,000 organisations. This includes the majority of the Fortune Global 500. As well as mid-size enterprises, governments, educational institutions, and NGOs. Nearly 12,000 multi-cultural security, medical, logistics and digital experts stand with you to provide support & assistance from over 1,200 locations in 90 countries, 24/7, 365 days. Between them, International SOS employees speak nearly 100 languages and dialects in our Assistance Centres, Clinics, and offices.

To protect your workforce, we are at your fingertips: www.internationalsos.com