IChemE Matters – October 2024

Raising the profile of the profession

Mark Apsey, IChemE president

IN the September issue (see TCE 999), I spoke about the importance of building relationships with fellow organisations and making connections that will help us achieve our mission of engineering a sustainable world.

Over the past month, the activities I’ve engaged in will have done much to fulfil these aims.

On 10 September, IChemE hosted a joint event with the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee (see TCE’s report on p10) and it was a huge pleasure to represent the Institution on such an important stage. I suspect the words “chemical engineering” have never been uttered quite so many times before in a parliamentary setting.

Sticking to government matters, I was also delighted to be a part of an introductory call with Paul Monks, the chief scientific adviser for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Central to our conversation were the UK’s prospects for industrial decarbonisation, including a discussion on how IChemE and its members can share our support and expertise with the government. More on this developing relationship to come.

My recent trip to Lancaster University for the opening of its fantastic new engineering facility gave me much hope for the future of the profession (see TCE’s report on p12). It was a great honour to be invited along for a tour and to see the chemical engineering lab. I particularly enjoyed hearing about the “living lab” campus that allows students to study and experiment with the energy demands of the university to improve efficiency and sustainability.

As I close, I’d just like to remind you of a few crucial developments: the opening of IChemE’s refreshed Andrew Fellowship (p20) and the announcement of the finalists for the 2024 IChemE Global Awards. Best of luck, and I will see you all at the awards ceremony very soon.

I always welcome any feedback, and value any input or ideas you would like to share – you can contact me at president@icheme.org

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Making Connections

Duncan Lugton, Head of Policy and Impact

In September we took the voice of chemical engineering to the heart of Westminster, holding a session with the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee on the topic of “In the next parliament and beyond, how can engineers contribute to achieving a more sustainable world?” Among the speakers for this fully booked event were IChemE president Mark Apsey and MP and IChemE member Chris McDonald (see TCE’s report on p10).

We are at the start of a new parliament, with a fresh intake of MPs bringing an injection of interest and experience in science and engineering. There was a real sense of excitement and optimism in the room, and I’m looking forward to making the most of that energy over the coming months.

We have also been busy making connections to support our policy work in Australasia, with recent meetings with Engineers Australia and Engineering New Zealand to discuss how we can work together. Drawing on the input and networks of our members, we have been engaging with government directly, such as feeding into the Australian government’s plans for a new National Water Agreement and the New Zealand government’s Emissions Reduction Plan.

And there is plenty of activity ahead. Following the UK election, parliamentary committees are choosing their new chairpersons and looking at what inquiries they want to hold or resume. Now that it’s in office, the government is having to work out how exactly it is going to implement its plans, and given how important the specialist knowledge of chemical engineers is for many of these, it’s a really exciting time for IChemE’s policy work.

We will also be continuing to feed into policy formation in Australia and New Zealand as well, making sure that the voice of chemical engineering is included in these critical conversations.

For more on our work: www.icheme.org/policy

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Embracing a World of Opportunities

Mark Lester Real reflects on his reasons for joining the Member Engagement Committee (MEC), and of the influences, challenges, and opportunities of global collaboration

AS A PROCESS ENGINEER working at a Tier 1 engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company in the Philippines with experience on global engineering projects, I joined MEC to support IChemE extend its global engagement. I believe that by embracing diverse perspectives and opportunities, we can shape the future of our profession together. Supporting global collaboration and sharing knowledge is key to advancing our field.

THE INFLUENCE OF MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES
Multinational companies shape the global engineering landscape by bringing together diverse teams and fostering collaboration across geographical boundaries. Working in such settings exposes engineers to alternative perspectives, practices, and standards, enhancing their skills and global competitiveness. To benefit from global engagement, engineers need to be open to learning and integrating new methodologies and technologies, improving their technical expertise and cultural competence.

WORK SHARING, COMMUNICATION,AND COLLABORATION
Nowadays, engineering teams often have members with a range of international backgrounds. They may be working in a fixed location or working remotely. Working with diverse teams requires effective communication skills and a strong understanding of different cultural and regional perspectives. Engineers must convey complex technical information clearly and be aware of cultural and regional differences to ensure all team members feel valued and respected.

THE IMPORTANCE OF GLOBALLY RECOGNISED QUALIFICATIONS
Mobility is essential for engineers aiming for technical growth and influence. IChemE’s Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, for example, demonstrates competence and commitment to high professional standards, and is recognised and respected worldwide. Achieving chartered status enhances career prospects, opening doors to international job opportunities and enabling engineers to work on projects with global impact. Clients often require proven credentials, and so specifically ask for chartered engineers for certain projects, highlighting the importance of this qualification.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LIFELONG LEARNING
Continuous professional development is essential for maintaining global relevance and CEng status. Engineers must stay updated with the latest advancements and continuously seek opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills. Professional organisations like IChemE play a vital role by offering extensive professional learning opportunities and resources to keep engineers informed about industry trends and best practices. Membership also provides networking opportunities, allowing engineers to connect with peers and industry leaders worldwide.

ENGINEERING REGISTERS AND GLOBAL STANDARDS
Several engineering registers, such as the Engineering Council, ASEAN Engineering Register and the APEC Engineer, contribute to global standards. Organisations like the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and Engineers Australia (EA) play significant roles. By extending our membership globally we have the ability to increase our global impact in helping to set personal and global standards.

I would like to see more collaboration among these registries to further standardise and thus enhance the ability of engineers to work on international projects.

SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL MEMBER GROUP GROWTH
The MEC have been talking about what is needed to support sustainable global member and member group growth. We feel it is important to continue to improve engagement in existing regions and countries where we have an established presence and member groups. To start, growth areas need to have a good member base, potential collaboration partners including other professional institutions, the support of global companies, and universities with degree courses that are or could become accredited.

We’d love to hear the views of other members and encourage you to participate in our IChemE Connect discussion thread on this topic.