David Harrison CBE: 1991–1992

David Harrison, born on 3 May 1930, was educated at Bede School, Sunderland and Clacton County High School before reading Natural Sciences (Chemistry) at Selwyn College Cambridge. He went on to complete a PhD in Physical Chemistry and then remained at the University to teach in the new Department of Chemical Engineering until 1979. Whilst there he was made a Fellow of Selwyn College and served as its Senior Tutor and was also a member of the University Council, Chairman of the Faculty Board of Education & Trustees of Homerton College, as well as a member of the Faculty Board of Music.

In 1979 he moved to the University of Keele where he spent five years as its Vice Chancellor; and then in 1984 took on his current role of Vice Chancellor at the University of Exeter.

His relationship with IChemE began back in 1963 when he first joined the Institution as a Chartered Member, transferring into Fellowship in 1968. In 1989 he began a two-year term as IChemE Vice President before taking on the Presidency.