PRESIDENTS

178th President of the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers 2025

It is an honour and a privilege for me to be elected President of this unique organisation for 2025.

Founded in 1771 by John Smeaton and seven other engineers, we are the oldest engineering organisation in the world.  John Smeaton was the first engineer to call himself a “Civil Engineer” to distinguish himself from Military Engineers and, after his death, the name of the Society was amended to ‘The Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers’ in his memory.

The term “civil engineer” in 1771 included all disciplines of engineering, rather than today’s narrower definition of a ‘Civil Engineer’, and the Society continues to embrace all branches of engineering.

In over 250 years of our existence, we have seen the evolution of major engineering and technological changes. A number of First Class members played key roles in contributing to the success of these, many of which have achieved significant benefits to the wider society in the UK and around the world - long may it continue. Over the same period there have been changes to the operations and membership of the Society: Discussion Dinners, new Toasts and increased numbers of Members have been introduced in recent years, and have given added richness to both the engineering and the social aspects of our meetings.

The Society has always had a limited membership and currently has a maximum of 72 First Class Members, plus small numbers of Emeritus Members and of Honorary Members.

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The Society normally meets seven times per year for dinner over which the professions engage and network with each other in a convivial atmosphere. It is normal for Fellows to bring guests associated with the professions. Two of our meetings are more formal Discussion Dinners, with an eminent speaker introducing a subject chosen by the President, followed by discussions at each table on questions posed by the speaker and President. Each table’s rapporteur summarises the discussion at their table and a summary of the meeting is published on the Society’s website. The Society also supports the Institution of Civil Engineers in the annual Smeaton Lecture, which is presented by a Smeatonian and given to a wide audience.

In 2025, the focus of our discussions will be on the policy and practical challenges of enabling the future sustainability of the water sector, in which I have spent the greater part of my career. For these discussion dinners, we will continue our recent innovation of inviting younger engineers who are the potential future leaders of the engineering professions to take an active part in the discussions.

Our Annual Lunch Meeting will be held at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, RNLI, in Poole, Dorset. This links to one of my other interests (I am a national RNLI Vice President after spells on its Technical Committee and Council) and will enable members to visit the training and lifeboat-building facilities.