Nick Partridge, chief executive of the United Kingdom’s largest HIV/AIDS charity, the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), received a knighthood on December 31 for his 20 years of service to health care, aidsmap.com reports.

According to the article, Sir Nick Partridge first joined THT as an office manager in 1985, later becoming its chief executive in 1991. He has since been appointed the commissioner of the Healthcare Commission in 2004, and also chair of INVOLVE, an organization that advises on public involvement in the National Health Services (NHS).

An advocate for the rights of those living with HIV, Partridge directed the mergers of numerous HIV charities with THT, making the organization a comprehensive national AIDS service provider.