Presidential Blog: Welcoming the next generation

Students have been a constant and central part of my professional journey in chemical engineering. With a career in academia, I have come to value their potentials and their role in shaping the future of our discipline.

I have always approached education as a two-way dialogue where students learn from academics, and academics gain insight and inspiration from their students. This reciprocal exchange is what makes education truly impactful and it’s a philosophy I actively advocate for and observe within IChemE.

The Institution must serve as a welcoming and forward-looking home for the next generation of chemical engineers, just as it supports today’s professionals. By empowering students and integrating their voices into our community, we can ensure the Institution remains relevant, inclusive and future-focused.

Being educated outside the UK, I had no interaction with a professional institution during my undergraduate years. In fact, I do not think I was even aware of what a professional body was at the time. Looking back, I now realise how much I missed out on – not just in terms of professional development, but in being part of a wider community.

In the UK, things are different and in IChemE we now have around 6,700 student members and 77 Student Ambassadors across 32 universities in the UK. We are also actively expanding our Student Ambassador network in Malaysia and Australasia.

This presents an incredible opportunity for students worldwide who are passionate about shaping their Institution. If this sounds like you, I encourage you to connect with our current ambassadors – hear their stories, get inspired and carry their legacy forward.

As I pledged in my Presidential Address in June, the DiscoverChemEng platform is now up and running, and in November we are hosting DiscoverChemEngLIVE, a day of in-person activities and exhibits for local schoolchildren to learn more about chemical engineering. This initiative wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of around 30 student volunteers, to whom I am personally very grateful. Their involvement has also been essential in delivering flagship events like 2024’s Big Bang On Location at our Rugby office, Hazards 2024 in Manchester, and many others.

But supporting students is not just about asking them to contribute – it is also about giving back.

That is why we are so proud of our public speaking workshops, where 30 students and early-career members have gained vital presentation skills to support their ongoing CPD. These workshops not only build confidence but also open doors to high-profile speaking opportunities at IChemE events. I have benefited from them myself – my own Presidential Address was introduced and hosted by a student and an early career member.

I am also particularly proud of our Shell NXplorers Workshops, which introduced 90 students to systems thinking – a skill that lies at the very heart of modern engineering. Our student members are living proof of the Institution’s vitality. Their contributions – both technical and voluntary – speak volumes. This year alone, we received over 100 submissions to the YEAIS Awards 2025 from students and early career professionals. That level of engagement and excellence is something we should all celebrate.

I’m looking forward to continuing my work with our students, and to meeting many more in the months ahead.

If you would like to discuss any of the points raised or have ideas you would like to share, you can contact me at president@icheme.org