David Edwards

David graduated from Imperial College with a BSc (Eng) and PhD in Chemical Engineering. He began his career working on process plant simulation and economic analysis with Chem Systems. He later developed Linear Programs and crude oil properties databases for oil refinery modelling and deals databases for analysing the crude oil spot market.

At Loughborough University (1990-2002) he was a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, and he researched new methods for economic, safety and environmental impact process feasibility assessment with Trevor Kletz, Andy Rushton, and others. He was awarded the IChemE Hutchison Medal in 2002 with Professor Jai Gupta for their paper ‘Inherently Safer Design – Present and Future’.

During his 14 years at Granherne / KBR (2006-2020), he championed designing for inherent safety and a safe and healthy working environment. While working for Granherne in Moscow, he helped to introduce the Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) study, into the Russian Federation. In 2018 he was awarded the IChemE Franklin medal: ‘In recognition of your long and distinguished career in academia and industry, during which you have made many theoretical and practical innovations in process safety and health.’

He was the IChemE Journal, Process Safety and Environmental Protection (PSEP) subject editor for inherent safety from 2002 to 2009 and was PSEP Editor in Chief (Safety) from 2010 to 2020.

He is a Visiting Professor of Chemical Engineering at Loughborough University, the ‘Safety and Environmental Expert’ for Imperial College final year design students, Treasurer and Trustee of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.