Message from our President

During his time as Chief Executive, the IET has changed considerably, becoming the modern, relevant and inclusive Institution it is today while keeping its volunteers and members at its heart.

Since joining the IET in 2009, Nigel has overseen the introduction of many new products, services and activities, as well as upgrading our Institution’s technology and infrastructure, to inspire, inform and influence our varied audiences. The IET is a complex organisation: a global membership body, a strategic influencer, a charity and a commercial company, and it takes someone with great skills to lead it.

Last year, Nigel oversaw our 150th anniversary celebrations. Despite the many challenges caused by the pandemic, the IET used the milestone to engage successfully and inspire our global community, as well as wider society, so that engineering and technology continue to be seen as a force for good and key to solving many of the biggest challenges facing our world.

While he has led our Institution, its publishing arm has gone from strength to strength. The number of journals published each year has increased from 2,111 in 2009 to 4,796 last year and the number of books published each year has increased from seven to 65 - evidence that the IET continues to focus on one of its main purposes - to share knowledge. Launched in 2018, the IET Academy now runs 72 courses and since 2009 we have sold more than half a million copies of the UK’s Wiring Regulations.

During Nigel’s first decade in charge, the IET’s global membership increased by 10.5% and remains above the 2009 figures, despite the obvious challenges faced in the last two years. Recently he has steered the Institution through the pandemic, ensuring support continues to be available for engineers across the world.

Additionally, Nigel has overseen two large refurbishment programmes, investing in our members’ facility in London and our team headquarters in Hertfordshire. Prior to its multi-million-pound refurbishment, just 7,500 members were making use of their facilities at Savoy Place in London each year. That figure rose to 38,000 after the work was completed. As an event space, we welcomed 88,000 delegates to Savoy Place in 2019, well over double the numbers visiting before the refurbishment work started.

While Nigel will modestly say many of these achievements were down to the great team he has around him, I want now to acknowledge his vast contribution to our Institution’s growth and the strong position he will leave it in.

The Board of Trustees is focussed now on finding our next Chief Executive and Secretary and we have appointed Russell Reynolds Associates to help us with our global search in a highly competitive environment. As the leader of one of the world’s largest Professional Engineering Institutions, we are looking for someone who has exceptional leadership skills and is forward-looking to ensure the IET continues to support the global engineering and technology communities to help us engineer a better world. The job advert has been published in The Times and The Guardian, with their job websites having international reach, though you can view it on the IET Life website. We are expecting applications by 23 February with the final interviews taking place in April. I shall keep you informed on the appointment process; meanwhile, if you know of someone who might fit our exacting requirements, please encourage them to apply!

Thank you.

Sir Julian Young

KBE CB FREng CEng FIET