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Leading by Example: Spotlight on Our Board Leaders

This National Volunteers Week, we’re shining a light on our Operating Board Chairs whose work makes a huge contribution to the Institution.

Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam

Meet Prof Ir EUR ING Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, Chair of IMechE’s International Strategy Board and an active member of the Process Division’s Sustainable Resources Working Group.

With an impressive career spanning over 27 years, Vinesh brings a wealth of expertise in engineering education, ICT, operations and maintenance, facilities management, design, and project management. His experience spans diverse sectors—from oil & gas and co-generation power plants to district cooling systems, ports, and property services.

Since 1997, Vinesh has successfully led international projects across the globe, including in the US, UK, China, India, Russia, and Malaysia. His global perspective and unwavering commitment are instrumental in shaping the Institution’s international strategy.

What volunteering experience did you have before you applied for the Chair role?

I have grown organically step by step which started with being a Malaysia branch committee member since 2012, then in 2016 as the Malaysia Chair. In 2017 I became South East Asia Regional Chair and in 2022 was appointed as the International Strategy Board Vice Chair and to the Chair role in 2024.

What attracted you to the role of Chair on the International Strategy Board?

I wanted to bring the international community into a single circle, one voice, one strategy and uniform the pathways for members – both youth & the seniors.

What are your goals as Chair? Are there any achievements in your term as Chair you would like to highlight?

To ensure IMechE is known on the international front, ensuring members are engaged and opening new markets based on a strategic growth plan.

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    Facts

    Name: Vinesh Thiruchelvam CEng FIMechE

    Role: Chief Innovation & Enterprise Officer for Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation, Kuala Lumpur

    Education:

    • 1998 Bachelor of Science – Electrical Engineering, Western Michigan University, USA

    • 2006 PhD Technology Management, University Tun Abdul Razak, Malaysia

    Career history:

    • 2005-2012: Principal Consultant, Atkins, Dubai.

    • 2012: Professor & Dean, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Technology, Asia Pacific University, Kuala Lumpur. 

    • 2019: Deputy Vice Chancellor and Chief Innovation & Chief Innovation Officer.

    • 2022: Chief Innovation and Enterprise Officer. Vinesh’s current area of focus is to engineer emerging tech solutions addressing various societal issues in his capacity of overseeing 7 tech research centres at APU.

    Interests outside engineering:

    Sports – especially statistical analysis of sports results, trending data and using tech to improve performances based on a strategic technical action plan..

    Proudest moments:

    Being a father to both my kids, living abroad for half my adult life where I have worked in 17 countries around the world and now leading over 24,000 IMechE international members as Chair of ISB.

     

    Dan Bunfield

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