10 May 2012
Europe’s largest engineers’ body has appointed five industry experts to head up new sector-focused, global communities of engineers.
Recognising that demands on engineers and technicians have changed, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is prioritising five key sectors: Built Environment; Design & Production; Energy; Information & Communications; and Transport.
The sectors provide a focal point for engineers and technicians from all disciplines to find relevant communities, events and information.
IET Head of Sectors and Communities, Steve Perry, said: “The work of engineers and technicians has never been more important, and it’s vital that the IET supports the good work that they do.
“The modern challenges require us, far more than ever, as engineers and technicians, to work more collaboratively together, and across sectors, disciplines and continents.
“These changes mean that we’ll be helping engineers and technicians enhance their careers, as well as working together to address the engineering and technology challenges of the 21st century.”
Built Environment
Cameron Steel has been appointed Chair of the Built Environment sector. He is Director of BK Design Associates, a building services design consultancy, where he works on healthcare, data centres and government-related projects.
He said: “Finding innovative technologies and engineering strategies to control our daily use of energy is central to our success as a society. Minimising waste saves resources for future generations.
“The Built Environment sector of the IET is looking to provide an interactive forum for all professional and technical disciplines to inform industry, academia, politicians and the general public of the practical measures needed to be more sustainable in the use of our buildings and the environment in which we all live, work and play.”
Design & Production
Morgan David has been appointed Chair of the Design & Production sector. He is Divisional Director, Research and Development with Sony Europe Ltd where he heads the Professional Solutions Technology & Engineering group, a global R&D and product development facility
Morgan said: “In taking on the role as chair for Design & Production I hope that I will be helping form a team that will stir things up a bit and causing IET members and the outside world to look at this sector in particular in a different way.
“We are focussed on the intersection of innovation and entrepreneurship and as engineers and technicians we are ideally trained to exploit this. By helping people to see how essential design and production is to the essence of our economy I hope it will inspire new people to get involved and make a contribution to strengthening our longer term design and production capability."
Energy
Dr Phillip Cartwright has been appointed Chair of the Energy sector. He is a Director of the Laing O’Rourke, Engineering Excellence Group. Laing O’Rourke is the largest privately owned construction solutions provider in the UK.
He said: "The often conflicting challenges to achieve greater sustainability, security of supply and affordability in energy provision are driving an upsurge of innovation and investment in energy infrastructure, making this a time of huge challenge and opportunity for the profession.
“The IET's established reputation in power engineering and close collaboration with partner institutions, businesses and academia, will allow it to provide technical excellence in its publications, events and professional and policy support to meet the needs of this vibrant sector."
Information & Communications
Professor Will Stewart has been appointed Chair of the Information & Communications sector. He is also Chair of the IET Communications Policy Panel.
He said: “I am excited to be helping to co-ordinate member activities in IT and communications for the IET - this is a great opportunity to make the institution more responsive and to develop new events and services, and to better co-ordinate existing ones.
“'Globalisation' and the 'death of distance' are in many respects the result of work in our sector and we should lead the field in providing anywhere-anytime access to the tremendous resources of the IET, resources that can really help members develop their professional skills and advance their careers. And these are of global-leading standard - for example if you have not reviewed the prestige lectures available on demand on IET.tv you need to!”
Transport
Peter Sheppard has been appointed Chair of the Transport sector. He is System Safety Engineer with Bombardier Transportation working on the London Underground Sub Surface Railway project involved in the application of moving block signalling to the Underground Sub Surface Lines.
He said: “This is an opportunity to bring together the many threads of the currently diverse and dynamic transport sector. In the sector we are seeing new developments in electric vehicles from transmission systems to charging systems and in the UK alone we have large rail electrification projects as well as the CrossRail and Thameslink projects.
“In the aviation sector there are new developments in the long and medium-haul aircraft, looking for increased capacity and improving economy. I hope that not only can we share and support development across the sector, but through the Transport"