Overview
Sir John will examine how the civil engineering profession - and ICE itself - can best fulfil their roles in a fast changing world. He will argue that the Institution must be relevant and valued by both its members and by society, but that that value will be perceived differently according to different communities’ demands and expectations. Drawing on examples from his own career, he will also outline why engineers, working with other professions, have a responsibility to help decision makers answer the ‘how, ‘what’ and ‘why’ questions. Civil engineering is the fundamental enabler of civilised life, and the profession must get better at fostering greater innovation in our industry, as well as use every opportunity to encourage young people to join the profession.
About the speaker:
Sir John Armitt is Chairman of the National Express Group, the City & Guilds Group and Deputy Chairman of the Berkeley Group.
Sir John first served on ICE Council from 1989 to 1992. More recently Sir John has been a Vice President chairing the International Committee and before that the UK Regional Affairs Committee. Sir John is currently ICE President.
In September 2013 Sir John published an independent review on long term infrastructure planning in the UK. The recommendations in the Armitt Review received widespread support and in large part have now been adopted by the current government, Sir John is a commissioner on the resulting National Infrastructure Commission.
After leaving John Laing plc in 1993, where Sir John had been Chairman of Laing’s international and civil engineering divisions, he became Chief Executive of Union Railways. In 1997 he became Chief Executive of Costain, a position he held until 2001. Sir John was Chief Executive of Railtrack plc from 2001-2002, Chief Executive of Network Rail from 2002-2007, Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority from 2007-2014, a member of the Airports Commission from 2012-2015, and a member of the Board of Transport for London from 2012-2016.
Sir John is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Civil Engineers and City and Guilds of London Institute and has received honorary doctorates from the universities of Birmingham, Imperial College London, Portsmouth, Reading and Warwick. He was Chairman of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council from 2007-2012.
Sir John was awarded the CBE in 1996 for his contribution to the rail industry and received a knighthood in 2012 for services to engineering and construction.
The lecture will start promptly at 7.00pm with refreshments served from 6.30pm.
