Impulse To Innovation

Season 5 Episode 7: Mechanics of the Microscopic - Engineering in Quantum Technologies

The world of quantum technology is not some science fiction flight of fantasy, it is an exciting field of science which is turning into a rapidly growing engineering sector. You might not know it but you can already buy quantum-dot TVs and mobile phones with quantum-enhanced encryption. Quantum technologies are poised to expand the realm of engineering in ways that were unthinkable until just a decade ago.

 

     

Dr Elizabeth Eso aligning an optical system to experimentally demonstrate a time-bin quantum key distribution system. Credit: Chris Watt Photography

 

Quantum engineering is the development of technology that exploits the laws of quantum mechanics (the behaviour of nature at and below the scale of atoms), using it as a toolbox for the development of quantum technologies, such as quantum sensors or quantum computers. There are many devices available which rely on quantum mechanical effects such as medicine, optical communication, high-speed internet, and high-performance computing, just to mention a few examples.

 

   

An IBM engineer adjusting on one of the company’s quantum computers. Credit: Connie Zhou for IBM

 

After the technological advances that brought us lasers, MRI imagers and transistors, a second wave of quantum technologies is expected to impact society in a similar way. These new technologies will make use of quantum coherence (the regular and predictable behaviour of atoms), building on the progress achieved in the last century, to enable us to have greater control of these atomic-scale systems.

 

The burgeoning quantum industry requires a quantum-literate workforce; something that is in short supply at the moment. Those working in the field mainly come from either a physics or engineering background and have acquired their ”quantum engineering skills” by experience. Many of the companies that could benefit from quantum technologies already have a strong presence here in the UK, including those involved in new materials, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, aerospace, defence and financial services, but what other application will we as engineers be able to use quantum technologies for?

 

   

An IBM engineer working on the refrigerator casing inside of which the company plans to install a 1 million-qubit quantum computer by 2030. Credit: Connie Zhou for IBM.

 

Helen’s Guests are Tobias Lindstrom, Head of Science for the department of Quantum Technology at the National Physical Laboratory and Sir Peter Knight, Professor of Quantum Optics and Senior Research Investigator at Imperial College London, and principal of the Kavli Royal Society International Centre.

 

Tobias received his PhD in Physics from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, before joining NPL as a Senior Scientist , then Principal Scientist and now head of department. During his time at NPL, Tobias has primarily worked on superconducting quantum technology.  In addition to conducting research relevant for the emerging superconducting quantum computing sector, he has also pioneered the use of precision frequency metrology methods for the study of noise in superconducting resonators and qubits. Tobias is also part of a global effort to develop international standards for quantum technologies.

 

Sir Peter is a leading academic in the field of quantum optics and has been described as "one of the UK’s most influential scientists and leaders of scientific policy" by his peers. He has been the recipient of several major awards including the Royal Medal from the Royal Society and the Thomas Young Medal from the Institute of Physics.

Sir Peter was President of the Institute of Physics from 2011 to 2013 and of Optica; The Optical Society of America and is also a Fellow of the Royal Society. He was also Chief Scientific Advisor until his retirement to the National Physical Laboratory and is Chair of NPL's Quantum Metrology Institute. He continues to act as an advisor to the British government.

 

Useful Links:

NPL Quantum Technologies

Quantum Computing & Simulation Hub 

Bristol University - What is Quantum Engineering?

 

 

We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at podcast@imeche.org

You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org 

Season 5 Episode 6: Keeping Your Cool - How Engineering is Preparing Athletes for a Hot Olympics

As the Olympics gets underway, summertime temperatures will only continue to get hotter, giving athletes additional challenges as they seek to bring home medals.

 

With Paris 2024 taking place in the host city’s hottest months of the year, leading athletes are already warning that intense heat could lead to competitors collapsing and in worst case scenarios dying during the Games.

 

What role can engineering play in ensuring athletes, officials & volunteers, and those just watching the games, stay cool in an around the various sporting venues?

Dr Jo Corbett University of Portsmouth (right) conducting heat chamber tests in the University's Extreme Environments Laboratory with Jamie Farndale, a rugby 7s player for Great Britain. https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/news/rings-of-fire-heat-risks-at-the-2024-paris-olympics 

 

Helen's guests this month are Ruth Shilston and Professor Mike Tipton. They share their thoughts on the potential heat risks facing the Olympics this year, and in the future, in light of growing global temperatures, and how engineers are designing devices and building facilities to mitigate the effects of heat.

Nike Hyperice Vest - Nike Press Release 21st June 2024

 

Ruth Shilston is a fellow of the imeche and a current trustee and Technical Director of Engineering Sciences at Mott MacDonald. She has been a leading specialist on the engineering of major construction projects worldwide and is a subject matter expert in human thermal comfort and climate aware design as well as Author of numerous industry guidelines, technical and policy papers on heat adaption and construction.

 

Mike Tipton MBE is Professor of Human and Applied Physiology at the University of Portsmouth. Mike has spent 40 years working in the areas of thermoregulation, environmental and occupational physiology. He leads the Extreme Environments Laboratory, in the School of Sport, Health & Exercise Science at Portsmouth, examining the physiological, patho-physiological and psychological responses to adverse environments and the selection, preparation and protection of those who enter such environments. He has authored over 750 papers, reports and books on the subject and in April this year published the ‘Rings of Fire – Heat Risks at the 2024 Paris Olympics’ the second in this series of reports highlighting the worrying impact global warming and climate change is having on elite sports.

 

Useful Links:

Rings of Fire – Heat Risks at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Sustainable, Inclusive, Innovative: The Role Of Engineering In Sport

Heat Risks at the Paris Olympics

 

We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at podcast@imeche.org

You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org 

Season 5 Episode 5: Enhanced by Engineering - Celebrating 105 Years of Pioneering Women Engineers

Sunday – 23^rd June – marks the 11^th annual International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), and as always we are celebrating the amazing contribution women engineers make, not just to the profession as a whole, but to society.

The 23^rd June is significant as it marks the founding day in 1919 that a group of seven women from the National Council of Women met and signed a Memorandum of Agreement which created the Women’s Engineering Society WES.

The Original Pioneers - the gathering that became WES

 

WES’s early members were campaigners, hands on engineers, inventors, designers, electricians, pilots, managers and administrators. Many of its leaders and committee members were from the better-off industrial middle or upper classes, but the organisation’s work covered women working on the shop floor, making their way into management, those accessing formal education and even the female end users of engineering innovations such as the introduction of electricity into the home.

 

Since its inception, WES has become internationally recognised and continues to drive change in the industry; ensuring women have the opportunities to work and be educated in technical fields, and by campaigning for equal rights and equal pay in a sector which remains heavily male dominated. 

 

2024 Winners of the Top 50 Women in Engineering Award - Seven of whom are IMechE members

 

My guests are Dawn Bonfield MBE president of the Commonwelth Engineer’ Council and past president and former chief executive of the Women's Engineering Society. Dawn was the founder of National Women in Engineering Day in 2014 and in 2015 established the inaugural 50 Women in Engineering List.   A materials engineer by profession, working in the aerospace sector she now runs her own consultancy, Towards Vision, working on projects to improve inclusion in engineering

She was given an MBE in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours list for 'Services to the promotion of diversity in engineering'.

And Holley Reece-Barkell, is a fellow of the ImechE. She is Strategy & Growth Director for Frazer-Nash Consultancy and newly elected chair of the IMechE’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Holley has over 18 years experience in the consultancy sector and is responsible for developing the over-arching ‘’one Frazer-Nash strategy to drive growth across the business.

Holley brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her appointment as D&I chair from her role as part of the team leading diversity and inclusion in the company, and is keen to ensure its employees feel empowered to achieve their personal and professional goals regardless of their circumstances, identity or background.

 

Useful Links:

International Women in Engineering Day 2024

Women's Engineering Society Website

IMechE members recognised as 2024 Top 50 Women Engineers

IMechE appoint Holley Reece-Barkell as EDI Chair

 

We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at podcast@imeche.org

You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org 

Season 5 Episode 4: Future-proofing the Profession - Talent Retention & Attraction in the Engineering Industry

In 2023 EngineeringUK commissioned a report focusing on the demand for engineers and the skills they would need in the coming decade.  The report identified there were approximately 6.1 million engineering jobs (including tech roles) across all industries in 2021, representing around 19% of all jobs in the UK, 43% of those jobs were in ICT or software-related areas. At the same time the report found that between 2022 and 2023, recruitment activity for engineering roles accounted for a quarter (25%) of all job postings in the UK, suggesting that the skills shortage in engineering is greater than in any other area.

With the engineering industry becoming increasingly competitive, it is not surprising that many companies in the sector are fighting to find and hold onto the right people. The issue of talent retention is growing in importance, with many businesses looking at how they can invest in their employees for the long term.

I invited a number of engineers, recruiters and HR experts from across industry and business to share their thoughts on the challenges facing the engineering sector in maintaining its workforce.

 

Lauren Henwood - Business Manager - Head of Technology & Engineering Europe for Vantage Consulting

 

Laura Marston – Recruitment Specialist, Author and Trustee of Young Tongues cancer charity

 

Rob Armstrong - Vice President Mechanical Engineering at Leonardo

 

Bims Alalade – IMechE HR Director

 

 

Useful Links

EngineeringUK 2023 Report: Engineering skills needs – now and into the future

IMechE D & I Strategy

6 Ways to attract & retain talent in engineering

ASME - Training helps retain top talent - Article

 

 

We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at podcast@imeche.org

You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org 

Season 5 Episode 3: Digitising Transport - The Rise of Mobility as a Service

With the recent acceleration of technologies such as IoT, cloud computing, and big data – people and services have become more connected than ever. In response to this increasing availability of data and digital services the transport sector is undergoing a sizable transformation as a result of the growing need for more sustainable and accessible travel solutions.

This has stimulated a considerable amount of research aimed at improving the connectivity of transport infrastructure and services, developing new business models that package different modes and services together into one mobile application or online platform to make the planning and payment of trips easier for people and businesses.

Such innovation has been termed ‘Mobility as a Service’ (MaaS), and was outlined in the UK Government’s report Future of mobility: urban strategy, 2019 which aimed to help urban areas harness the benefits and opportunities of new transport innovation.

MaaS platforms integrate and analyse data from transport systems, such as rail, buses, taxis and even cycle hire, to offer the user a choice in journey planning.

 

The concept of MaaS is to make journeys more convenient through streamlining planning and payment and allowing people to tailor journeys to their specific needs.

 

In its drive to meet decarbonisation and net zero ambitions the UK Government produced a Code of Practice for Mobility as a Service (MaaS) in 2023. This comprehensive framework focuses on convenience, accessibility and innovation to ensure that modern mobility apps meet the needs of the public. Indeed, the main objective is to make transport options accessible to all, paving the way for an interconnected, user-centric transport ecosystem.

But how effective would such a system be in the UK? what impact would MaaS have globally particularly in remote locations and low income economies? And is the transport industry really ready to integrate this level of digital interconnectivity into its services?

 

To answer these an other questions about MaaS I spoke with Dr Kate Pangbourne, associate Professor of transport governance at the Institute for Transport Studies at Leeds University and Sharon Kindleysides, Transport engineer and board member of the European Logistics Association to get their views on what implications it might have for the UK transport sector, the impact it could have on society in terms of accessibility and cost, and what challenges it might face in the UK and beyond.

         

Dr Kate Pangbourne                                  Sharon Kindleysides

 

Useful Links

Forsight report on MaaS

European MaaS Alliance

 

We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at podcast@imeche.org

You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org 

Season 5 Episode 2: Potential Energy - Management & Infrastructure of Clean Energy Sources

This week (6^th and 7^th March) sees the IMechE host its fourth hydrogen economy conference in London. The international event will focus on infrastructure challenges as well as the storage and management of hydrogen as part of a wider ‘green energy’ supply.

 

iStock Image

 

Given the UK Government’s ambition for a decarbonised power sector by 2050, which will see the share of renewables in our generation mix increase significantly, a stable supply from these somewhat variable energy sources, will become ever more important. The UK will therefore need substantial investment in its energy infrastructure to ensure that energy can be efficiently stored for days, months even years at a time.

 

Engineers across the globe are looking at a range of technologies which incorporate not just hydrogen but compressed air, molten salts, and synthetic fuels to determine how energy could be stored in different forms, or for different durations, ensuring that our energy requirements remain affordable, secure and stable while delivering on crucial emissions reductions.

 

Home 3-phase battery storage installation - H Hudson & Imp Electrical

 

In this month’s episode Helen talks with Professor Tony Roskilly Chair of Energy Systems at Durham University about the future of energy supply decarbonisation and what engineers are doing to address the challenges of energy storage, management and infrastructure of clean energy sources.

Professor Roskilly has over 30 years experience in the design, control, and operational optimisation of energy systems and energy management, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology. He sits on the UK Government’s Hydrogen Advisory Council Research and Innovation Working Group,and is a Member of DfT Multi-Model Hydrogen Transport Hub Board.

Tony is also a Co-Director of the Durham Energy Institute, leading on Industrial and Internationalisation Strategy, and is the UK representative for the European Energy Research Alliance’s Joint Programmes for Energy Efficiency in Industrial Processes and Energy Systems Integration.

If that didn’t fill all of Tony’s time he also leads the UK hydrogen fuelled transportation network and is responsible for a large team at Durham University which leads national research on the decarbonisation of heating and cooling, focusing on the utilisation of solar, thermal and geothermal energy, thermal energy recovery, storage and utilisation and energy systems integration.

 

Unsplash free image

 

Useful Links

Prof. Tony Roskilly

Net-Zero Research Network

Making Waves: The Future of Shipping

Durham Energy Institute

 

We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at podcast@imeche.org

You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org 

Season 5 Episode 1: Going Beyond - The World of Metamaterials & How Their Extraordinary Properties are Set to Change Engineering

The ever-present challenges of climate change, over-reliance on limited resources and a global demand for new technologies, is pushing the engineering community to find more innovative ways to design and manufacture products.

Image Source: UK Metamaterials Network https://metamaterials.network/what-are-metamaterials/

 

Engineers and scientists working in the materials science sector have been exploring the properties of everyday materials such as metals, plastics and glass for centuries, to identify new properties and behaviours which might enable us to conserve the world’s finite resources.

In this episode Helen talks with three leading experts in the field of Metamaterials -  engineered materials that have unique 3-dimensional structures, which cause them to behave in ways not found in nature.

Image Source:Exeter University Centre for Metamaterial Research and Innovation https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/groups/physics/emag/themes/mmto/ 

 

Their precise shape, geometry, size, orientation and arrangement gives them ‘smart properties’ capable of unconventional shape changes and the ability to manipulate electromagnetic waves: achieving benefits that go beyond what is possible with conventional materials.

With incredible versatility and innate sustainability built directly into their structures, metamaterials have the potential to be used in the electronics, communications, healthcare, aerospace, automotive, and energy sectors.

 

This episodes guests are:

Dr Claire Dancer - associate professor & reader in Materials Science & metallurgy at WMG – University of Warwick and vice chair of the Metamaterials Network, who is working on ceramic metamaterials and manufacture processes.

Dr Calum Williams – lecturer in Physics at the University of Exeter who is focusing on photonic and optical metamaterials and their surface properties.

Dr Tom Allen - Fellow of the IMechE and senior lecturer in sports technology at the Manchester metropolitan university who is looking at how mechanical metamaterials can change athlete’s performance.

 

Useful Links

https://metamaterials.network/ 

https://www.exeter.ac.uk/research/metamaterials/

 

 

We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at podcast@imeche.org

You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org 

Season 4 Episode 9: Rising Demand - Addressing the Energy Needs of Africa, Asia & the Middle East

The implementation of net zero initiatives across the globe is at the forefront of most governments and leadership authorities' strategic policies, none-more-so than China and India; two of the world’s biggest carbon emitters.

 

South Asia has witnessed a growth in energy demand over the past two decades, increasing by over 50% since 2000. Rising demand has been driven by factors such as an increasing population and growth in the manufacturing sector. In Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka in particular, electricity demand has grown on average by more than 5% annually over the past two decades and is expected to more than double by 2050.

However, approximately two-thirds of the energy use in South Asia is imported and the region is marred with electricity shortages, erratic electricity supply, underinvestment in renewables, and energy access challenges.

Growing populations, burgeoning energy demand, frequent extreme climate events like the recent record-breaking heatwaves in India and Pakistan, and geopolitical shocks like the Ukraine war are all likely to exacerbate these difficulties.

 

 

According to the International Energy Agency, rapid GDP growth and electrification of energy services caused China’s electricity demand to grow by 10% in 2021 to a massive 157.65 exajoules. That is faster than its economic growth at 8.4%.

Yet despite the implementation of net zero policies, such as its plan to be net zero by 2060, China is still responsible for around a 1/3 of global carbon dioxide emissions, remaining heavily reliant on coal as an energy source and for manufacturing.

The Middle East too is powered almost exclusively on gas and oil, 77% of power came from gas in 2021, and 18% from oil, and despite its perpetual sunshine it stands out as one of the only regions in the world where solar and wind have yet to establish themselves. Saudi Arabia has published big plans for renewables, but there has been limited demonstrable progress towards those so far. Jordan is the exception, generating 23% of its electricity from wind and solar in 2021.

According to the African Development Bank Group, Africa has an almost unlimited potential of solar capacity (10 TW), abundant hydro (350 GW), wind (110 GW), and geothermal energy sources (15 GW). Yet the investment gap in African renewables is still overwhelming, and fossil fuel companies continue to invest heavily in new fossil fuel exploitation in 48 out of 55 African countries.

With the likes of Sichuan hit by record-breaking high temperatures, unseen in 60 years and water in the region’s rivers dropping to historical lows, what can the engineering community do to effect change across these vast tracts of land?

Helen spoke with three of the Institution’s leading international engineers working in the energy sector, to get their take on energy use and impact in India, China, Africa and the Middle East.

Vijay Raman is a management consultant with over 50 years experience in logistics, transport infrastructure and energy. He has worked predominantly in India and South Asia but his career has taken him all over the world. He is a fellow of the institution, past trustee and international vice president.

Chris Cheung Chief Operating Officer of energy company CLP Holdings Limited in Hong Kong. Chris is responsible for a portfolio of diversified assets including coal, hydro, solar and wind generation in China. 

He has over 30 years of experience in the power industry covering maintenance, plant enhancement, technical services and project engineering. Chris is a fellow of the institution and has held international strategy board positions including Hong Kong Branch chair and North East Asia regional chair.

Hassan Ansari is an accomplished business executive with over 37-years experience; delivering engineering projects in Nigeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia China and Europe.

He is a fellow on the institution, an active member of the Pakistan regional board and Immediate past Chair of the Middle East and Africa region.

 

Useful Links

China's Renewable Energy

Energy Requirements in India

Africa's Energy needs

 

We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at podcast@imeche.org

You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org 

Season 4 Episode 8: Adapting to Heat - Preparing Industry for Climate Extremes

“Adapting industries to, and preparing them for, a warmer world will be essential for the future successful functioning of societies of all nations.” Said Dr Tim Fox, co author of the IMechE’s latest report on Climate adaption.

 

The report entitled 'Adapting Industry to Withstand Rising Temperatures and Future Heatwaves' was published in April 2023 and produced in conjunction with the IMechE’s Process Division and a plethora of leading climate change and sustainability experts from across the globe.

While many engineers work on technologies that will help mitigate the climate crisis itself, Authors Dr Fox and IMechE Policy advisor Dr Laura Kent believe that more should be done to prepare industry for future climate change-induced, heat-related impacts. Their work demonstrates how increases in ambient temperatures and more frequent, severe, prolonged heatwaves could have a devastating impact on industry and its workforce.

 

They outline the urgent need for engineering-related standards and design codes to be based on expectations of future climate rather than past climate, adaptation solutions to be sustainable and result in net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, and strategies to be developed to make workplaces and work practices comfortable and safe.

Helen spoke with Tim and Laura about the climate adaptation report and discussed with them their reasons for bringing together such an international team of experts to advise on its content, what adaption technologies engineers are developing and how, as a leading voice in policy, the IMechE could galvanising political change.

 

Tim Fox is an internationally recognised expert in climate change mitigation and adaptation with specialist knowledge of clean energy, sustainable cooling, process engineering based industries and sustainable food system. He is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the IMechE andthe immediate past Chair of the Process Industries Division. Tim represents the IMechE on the UK Infrastructure Operators Adaptation Forum and is a member of the Adaptation to Climate Change Group of BSI Committee.

 

Dr Laura Kent joined the Imeche in June 2022 as a Public Affairs and Policy Advisor. Prior to joining the IMechE, Laura held roles at the Government Office for Science and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy working on policies and advice to support innovation in the UK. Before starting a career in policy, Laura was a scientist at the National Physical Laboratory.

Useful Links

Adapting Industry to Withstand Rising Temperatures and Future Heatwaves Article

Adapting Industry to Withstand Rising Temperatures and Future Heatwaves Policy Report

'The urgent need for climate adaptation solutions' article

PE Magazine Report on Sustainability

 

Season 4 Episode 7: Paying It Forward - Leading the Institution Through Member Volunteering

During the first week of September the Institution hosted Volunteer Week.  A back-to-back week of committee meetings and networking, enabling members from all over the world to take part in a wide range of activities.

As a Chair of a Division of the IMechE, this was a great opportunity for Helen to meet up with not just her division members but members from across the Institution. Helen personally always find it a fulfilling and enjoyable time, meeting new members, seeing a few old faces in some cases, ones she had not seen since covid.

Catching up with old friends - Volunteer Week enables international members to share their experiences

 

Helen decided, as she was going to be there for 2 days, she would take the opportunity to record some interviews for the podcast. Helen spoke with members about why they were there, what they hoped to gain from attending sessions and what got them excited about being a volunteer.

On day 1 of her visit she attended Council.  As a divisional chair Helen has an ex-eficcio seat on Council which enables her to represent the over 3000 members who identify as Biomedical Engineers in the Institution. In the last few years, the structure of Council has changed significaly, with a much more streamlined membership.

Council in its simplest form acts as both a sounding board and mirror for the trustees, reflecting the views and ideas of members, to help the Trustee Board make informed decisions on behalf of the whole membership. Its work however, is much more nuanced than that, with small task and finish and sub-groups being formed to ensure every aspect of a topic is analysed and agreed.

To some of you listening that might sound like your worst nightmare; sitting in lots of meetings, it's something we do at work all the time. Of course, it can be laborious at times, but surprisingly it is an excellent forum in which to test your negotiating and management skills, as well as listening abilities, and learning new ways to view opinon, ensuring that everyone has a voice and that a well-reasoned outcome can be agreed upon.

 

Taking a break - Council Members chat over coffee

 

Despite the hectic Council agenda, Helen was able to sit down with Council Chair Martin Robinson to ask him about the structure and purpose of Councill and how Council’s decisions flow down to the grassroots members. They also discussed the impact of the newly released strategy and why members should consider getting actively involved in the operational and governance committees at HQ.

Helen spoke with Emil Tschepp, Chair of the Young Members Board. Emil has been actively involved in young engineer’s activities for many years, with various roles on the YMB committee, taking up the position of Chair of the Board just a few months ago. When Helen caught up with him, he was just coming out of his first Council session.  She asked Emil, what was the value of having young member representation on Council and what he hoped to achieve as YMB Chair in the coming years.

Sylvain Jamais has been an active volunteer for many years, both at regional level, being Chair of the BmED Cambridge centre and at board level as a Trustee, Vice-Chair of Council and CLC and several strategy sub-groups. During a quick tea break, Helen asked Sylvain what being on Council meant to him and what impact the new strategy would have on the future of the IMechE.

 

With a short overnight rest, Helen headed back to HQ for Technical Strategy Board. The TSB is one of seven operational boards. Its role is to represent members across their industrial sectors and technical specialisms, which are divided into eighteen divisional boards and groups.

 

Inclusive Discussion - IMechE IT enables members to dial in and be part of the conversations

 

TSB's purpose is to develop and support the engineering and technical activities across the Ds and Gs as well as advise the Trustee Board on technical issues facing industry and coordinate strategic development by producing reports and advice to Government authorities through the IMechE’s policy team.

Earlier in the year Helen spoke with the then Chair of TSB Paul Jones about the work TSB had been doing in the development of the Instituion’s strategy document.  In June, Paul finished his tenure and James Collinson, past-chair of the railway division, took up the post.

Just before they went into the TSB meeting, Helen caught up with James to ask him why he felt driven to volunteer on the Technical Boards and how the members of TSB engage with the wider membership to ensure they have a voice within the Institution.

 

Useful Links

If this episode has got you keen to find out more about volunteering within the Institution then check out our web page www.imeche.org/get-involved 

You can also find out more about the structure, operation and governance of the Institution at www.imeche.org/about-us 

If you would like to speak to a member of staff or ask a question about volunteering then email the Member Engagement Team at membernetworks@imeche.org

 

 

We would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this episode. If you would like to get in touch, email us at podcast@imeche.org

You can find more information about the work of the IMechE at www.imeche.org