Medals recognise volunteer commitment to chemical engineering

Shell’s Executive Vice President for Commercial and New Business Development, Ed Daniels, was awarded the Council Medal for his work on the creation of IChemE’s technical strategy Chemical Engineering Matters. Drawing on his experience at Shell, Daniels brought a valuable industry perspective to the project, which sets out the challenges in energy, water, food and health from a chemical engineering perspective.

Daniels said: “I am delighted to receive this medal. Helping with the development of Chemical Engineering Matters was both challenging and rewarding. The thinking behind the technical strategy is to consider future challenges now, so that chemical engineers can work on potential solutions. The discipline sits at the heart of many of the world biggest challenges and we have an opportunity to make a real difference.”

Nuclear Chemical Engineering Lead at Sellafield Ltd., Keith Johnson, was awarded the Arnold Greene Medal for his long-term contribution to IChemE. Keith supported the growth of the Sellafield graduate scheme, and played a significant role in the development of IChemE’s Nuclear Technology Special Interest Group.

Johnson said: “It’s an honour to be awarded the Arnold Greene Medal. I have been an IChemE member since the 1970s and it’s been great to play a part in supporting the Institution’s work in the nuclear sector.  The graduate scheme at Sellafield Ltd is a real success story and it’s a real pleasure to see talented young chemical engineers start their careers with us.”

Fiona Macleod, received the Frank Lees Medal in recognition of her contribution to a special issue of IChemE’s Loss Prevention Bulletin, marking the 30^th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster. Macleod’s article, Impressions of Bhopal, had a big impact thanks to her thought-provoking assessment of the causes and aftermath of the incident. She offered a new, and extremely sensitive, perspective on the tragedy.

Macleod said: “I am delighted to receive this recognition from my peers, many of whom provided encouragement and support for the article. Visiting Bhopal was real eye-opener. What shocked me most was to find the factory still standing - a rusting toxic heap with no serious containment. It’s essential that we keep this tragic case in the professional and public eye. Whatever the root cause, and whoever was responsible for the accident; we should not rest until the site is remediated and the people of the beautiful city of Bhopal can return the land to productive use."

The medals were presented by the new IChemE President, Professor Jonathan Seville, following IChemE’s Annual General meeting in Edinburgh on 24 May.

Seville said: “It is important to recognise the contribution of the dedicated member volunteers who support so many different aspects of IChemE’s work. Technical strategy development, graduate training and process safety are three very different aspects of the Institution’s work, but all three are tremendously relevant as we look towards our centenary in 2022.”

“Ed, Keith and Fiona gave their time to these activities whilst continuing to juggle work and family life.  So to all three and to all our member volunteers around the world, I say ‘thank you’ for their continuing commitment to our profession.”