Illés awarded honorary fellowship

Zoltán Illés, Hungary’s state secretary of environmental protection, nature conservation and water management was made an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) at an exclusive ceremony in London, UK yesterday.

The presentation evening took place at the Hungarian Embassy in front of an international audience of invited guests and speakers, which included the Hungarian Ambassador, Janos Csak, UK Government Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir John Beddington and IChemE president, Sir William Wakeham.

Illés was first elected to parliament for the Budapest constituency in 1998. He has been responsible for several pioneering environmental and conservational projects in Hungary. Illés played a crucial role in the clean-up operation of the red mud disaster in 2010 when a bauxite refining tailing dam burst. He has also sat on many environmental advisory panels, including those within the EU.

As well as a successful parliamentary career, Illés is an associate professor of the department of environmental sciences, policy and management of the Central European University and adjunct professor at the Gödöllő University of Agricultural Sciences, both in Hungary. He is involved with various environmental, nature conservation and wildlife protection organisations.

Sir William Wakeham presented Illés with the award on behalf of the Institution, and welcomed the Hungarian state secretary to IChemE's growing international community: “We are delighted to recognise Dr. Illés' outstanding contribution in the area of environmental science. Chemical engineers play a key role in protecting our natural environment and IChemE is committed to supporting governments in the pursuit of sustainable development worldwide."

Honorary Fellowship is the most senior award bestowed by IChemE. Illés now joins an exclusive community of just forty nine IChemE Honorary Fellows; the title is reserved for those who are distinguished members of the profession in national, European and international affairs.