Institution news
Richard was accompanied by Chair of the
Scottish Region, Dr Alex Galloway CEng FIMechE; Andrew McBride AMIMechE, Glasgow YMP Chair; Malcolm Robb MIMechE, co-Chair Glasgow and South West Scotland Area Committee; and Sandra Mulligan, Business Development Manager for Scotland.
The Institution representatives were first welcomed to
Doosan Babcock by Andrew Hunt, CEO. Andrew was joined by Doosan Babcock engineers, including David Irving FIMechE, Customer Manager; Suzanne Birney, CAD Technologist and former Brian Hildrew Apprentice of the Year; and Marie Karlsson Carruthers CEng FIMechE, Key Account Manager at the company.
The Institution has a long and fruitful relationship with Doosan Babcock, and supports over 200 members through company-based registration, monitored professional development and EngTech schemes. Many of Doosan Babcock’s engineers, including Suzanne and Marie, are actively engaged with STEM outreach activities and have been commended for their hard work to raise the profile of engineering among young people.
Later the Institution party moved on to the
Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) which hosted lunch and a tour of the engineering facilities there. The £35 million facility focuses on developing forming and forging technologies to support the development of high integrity components.
Alex Galloway said that the day’s visit was a great opportunity for the President to meet key supporters of the Institution’s work in the Region, and to engage with developing engineers and senior executives.
He said: “The Scottish Region was delighted to host Professor Richard Folkson during the recent Presidential Visit to Doosan Babcock and the Advanced Forming Research Centre. We enjoyed a tour of Doosan Babcock’s extensive and highly impressive facilities and an engagement session with management and developing professional engineers in which Richard was able to share his vision for the Institution.
“In addition, Richard was able to tour state-of-the-art research and development facilities at the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming and Research Centre where he again passed on an inspirational message to key staff and researchers in the Centre.”
Andrew McBride, currently in the fifth year of his MEng in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, said: “From an undergraduate point of view it is always exciting to see engineering in practice. The opportunity to join the President on site visits to two world-class facilities was a real honour.
“The visit was a rare and much-valued opportunity for people to meet and network with the President. The lengths to which Doosan Babcock and the AFRC went to provide a full picture of their operations was greatly appreciated amongst all of us. Richard asked lots of questions, told some fantastic stories and shared his own experiences. The visits undoubtedly helped to strengthen the Institution’s relationship with industry in Glasgow and so I feel very privileged to have accompanied him on the day.”
In the evening, the President joined over 400 members and guests at the Scottish Region Annual Dinner, held in Glasgow at the Radisson BLU Hotel. Speakers were Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities; and Sandy Strang, one of Scotland’s most popular after-dinner speakers. Guests who joined Richard at the top table included Primary Engineer CEO Susan Scurlock; Bryan Buchan, CEO of Scottish Engineering; and Niall Caldwell, CEO Artemis Intelligent Power and winner of the Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Medal.
Alex Galloway said: “I’m sure that our members appreciate the engagement and passion that was demonstrated by Richard during his visit, and in his attendance at our Scottish Region Annual Dinner. Richard clearly enjoyed the evening and he spent a lengthy period of time, after the dinner, networking with members and developing engineering professionals”