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New IET President to champion inspiring and mentoring the next generation of engineers

The new President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) will use his year-long term of office to champion inspiring and mentoring the next generation of engineers to transform our world.

Professor Bob Cryan became the 141st President of the IET on 1 October 2022.

With two first-class honours degrees in Engineering and Mathematics, an MBA and two doctorates (PhD and DSC), Bob will continue to build on the success immediate past president Sir Julian Young achieved.

He wants to encourage and inspire the next generation by demonstrating how engineers are transforming our world, as well as shine a spotlight on the importance of mentorship and developing engineers as inclusive leaders.   

Bob said: “Engineers hold the keys to the future of humanity and the IET has some of the best engineers in the world. In my year as President, I’m asking our members to invest in the younger generation and guide their careers, accelerating us towards our goal of engineering excellence.

“We have some incredible programmes at the IET, from First Lego League and Faraday Challenge Days to our scholarships. These important initiatives to support the next generation all need funding and I hope to gain support throughout the year to continue this life-changing work.

“This year, I will also be driving forward positioning engineers as inclusive leaders. With their set of creative and analytical skills, intelligence, dependability and drive, engineers make outstanding leaders and I want to encourage our members to invest in their leadership development. 

“This is where our partnership with the Chartered Management Institute can be harnessed so that we can develop and grow outstanding leaders that will ultimately shape society.”

In his inaugural President’s Address, which takes place online on Thursday 13 October 2022, Bob will explore the themes of supporting and mentoring the next generation and positioning engineers as inclusive leaders.

The IET President’s Address, ‘Engineers – holding the keys to the future of humanity’, will take place live online on Thursday 13 October at 1pm BST / 2pm CET / 8pm CST / 8am EDT / 5am PDT. There will also be a fireside chat and dinner at IET London: Savoy Place in the evening, followed by an after-dinner Q&A with Bob’s esteemed ex-colleague and close friend, Sir Patrick Stewart. Find out more here: https://presidentsaddress.theiet.org/.