The award is judged on service to British sociology and awarded to the outstanding individual who has contributed most to the discipline by leading an extraordinary life as a sociologist.

Professor Brewer is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and a Member of the Royal Irish Academy. 

He served as President (2009-2012) and Chair of the British Sociological Association (2004-2006) – the premier body for the discipline in the UK. Since 2010, he has been on the United Nations Roster of Global Experts for his work on peacebuilding. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2012 from Brunel University for services to social science. He is Honorary Professor Extraordinary at Stellenbosch University (since 2017) and Honorary Professor of Sociology at Warwick University (since 2021).

Professor Brewer has worked at Queen's between 1981-2002 and 2013-2023. He was most recently Professor of Post Conflict Studies in the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice. 

On receiving the award, Professor Brewer commented: "I am thoroughly delighted to receive this award. I have enormous respect for the British Sociological Association and I consider my service to the Association as a highlight of my career."

Congratulating Professor Brewer on the honour, Professor Richard English, Director of the Mitchell Institute at Queen's said: “It is excellent to see Professor John Brewer's immense contribution to sociology being celebrated with this prestigious award. Many congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.”

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