The Whitworth Society Committee

Incoming President for the 2025–26 year, accepting the Presidential medal at the Summer Meeting in Preston in July 2025.

Project Manager in International Sales at BAE Systems.

Hosted the 2025 Summer Meeting in Preston before handing on the Presidency.

Kevin has worked in process and product development roles at senior management level for most of his career, founding his own product development consultancy in 2007. He provides a diverse range of clients with tailored product development support, most recently in F1 and the marine energy industry.

Kevin is a Chartered Engineer with the IMechE, and spends his spare time travelling as much as possible with his wife, photographing wildlife, watching motorsport, or observing the skies in his self-built observatory at their home in North East England.

Working as a Supplier Quality Manager in the Civil Aerospace function at Rolls-Royce, Derby. Previously worked as a Quality Manager for Winbro Group, with prior roles held as a Manufacturing Engineer and Six Sigma Black Belt for Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery Ltd.

Chris's spare time is spent with his wife and two children as well as racing with his local cycling club.

Chartered engineer with the Institution of Civil Engineers. Worked at AMEC as a structural design engineer initially, before progressing to site-based roles including Construction Manager, Planner, followed by Design Manager on PFI (Design, Build, Finance & Maintain) projects to extend the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) in London out to City Airport and then under the Thames to Woolwich.

A move to the public sector followed, working in project and programme management.

James has worked in the entrepreneurial space for nearly 20 years, having scaled five start-ups to date (the largest to 50 people and £12m turnover). He has more recently put his engineering and systems-oriented mind to helping others scale their business through his business coaching and online training programmes.

James spends his spare time travelling to the coastline of the UK and overseas with his wife and two boys, to enjoy surfing, kitesurfing and stand-up paddle boarding when not in his home city of Bristol.

James now works for RayTen.ai as an AI and Automation Advisor, alongside his work with Amplified Futures.

Working with UK innovators and Universities on multiple new proposals and projects.

Brian is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Physicist, and Fellow of the IET and the Institute of Physics. He is a two-time Past President and Chair of the Whitworth Society Trustees.

Led the Society through the #Whitworth150 commemorations marking 150 years of the Whitworth Scholarships in 2018.

Lee is responsible for Business Development in the Aerospace sector for GOM globally. In previous roles he was a Metrologist within the Structures and Transmissions Aerospace division of Rolls-Royce Plc accountable for measurement, inspection and calibration activities in the Rolls-Royce factories and external supply chain.

Lee has also carried out a number of Manufacturing Engineering roles at Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motors prior to specialising in the field of metrology.

Lee has a wife and two children and enjoys spending his spare time with them as well as being a keen triathlete.

Ben served a 4-year mechanical apprenticeship with Shell UK in their fine chemicals division, before embarking on a part-time mechanical engineering degree at Sheffield Hallam University. After graduating with 1st Class honours he went on to study a full-time PhD which focused on developing a zero-energy ventilation system.

Upon completion in 2009 he was elected a Whitworth Senior Scholar and took up an academic post at Heriot-Watt University on their Dubai campus. In 2011 he returned to the University of Leeds as a Lecturer in Building Physics, then was promoted to Associate Professor in 2013, and in 2015 he joined the University of Sheffield as a Reader in Energy.

He currently leads a built environment research group focused on developing low-energy technologies, ranging from low-energy residential heating systems to the Qatar 2022 World Cup thermal comfort criteria.

Working as a Shift Operations Technician at Drax Power Ltd. Previously worked as a Maintenance Engineer in various departments at Tata Steel, Scunthorpe.

Scott is a Chartered Engineer with the IMechE. Scott's spare time is spent enjoying family life with his wife and two young boys, as well as cycling and motorcycle trials riding.

Lecturer, School of Mechanical Engineering. Principal research interests focus on mechanical design and tribology.

Karl has published papers in journals and conference proceedings in multidisciplinary research areas that include engine and component lubrication and durability, the physical and chemical properties of fuels, the characterisation of polymer and polymer composite machine elements, and the development of spinal implants. His research covers both fundamentals and industrial applications.

Associate Head of Engineering Management department; Principal Lecturer in quality management. Research topics include international students and PG studies, implementing ISO 9000 in educational institutions, and quality improvement methodologies.

Gillian is a Chartered Engineer with the IET. She spends her spare time with family and friends, enjoying Pilates and gardening.

Working as a Six Sigma Black Belt within a process improvement function at Springfields.

David is a Chartered Engineer with the IET.

Following a project management and commercial role at Allen Gears, an Engineering Programme Lead role on Joint Strike Fighter at Rolls-Royce, plus legal training part-time during evenings and weekends, a move into the current Commercial Manager role at QinetiQ followed, where one of the main outputs is Intellectual Property — a great combination of engineering, law and business.

Hobbies include piano, bricklaying (City and Guilds!), teaching maths and music, travel, socialising, and most importantly competing with my horse.

Engineering profession promotional activities: Young Enterprise (aimed at A-level students), Engineer Ambassador (all school ages).

Lead Engineer manufacturing prototype exhaust casings for the Joint Strike Fighter LiftSystem.

Hobbies include cycling, climbing, historic wargaming, brewing, song writing and a 1972 VW campervan.

A Business and General Manager for Cavendish Nuclear with responsibility for a Design Office in West Cumbria.

I enjoy swimming and cycling on a regular basis, training and coaching at Cockermouth Swimming Club.

Leading an IC design team (hardware and software) located at several sites around the world. Application area is mobile TV.

Married to Alyson. Hobbies include digital landscape photography, hill and coast walking, cycling, and a keen interest in the history of technology — particularly domestic valve-based radio receivers.

Busy with family life — two young children and a lovely wife.

Hobbies include photography, travel and historic war novels.