Former Shell executive takes the helm of IChemE
1st June 2015
Dr Andrew Jamieson OBE has become the 75th president of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) with a pledge to further advance relationships and partnerships in Africa.
Jamieson, who finished his Royal Dutch Shell career as executive vice-president gas and projects in Shell International in 2009, is a Fellow of IChemE and the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Jamieson held many managerial and directorial positions during the 35 years spent working for Royal Dutch Shell, most notably as managing director and CEO of Shell subsidiary, Nigeria LNG Ltd, on Bonny Island from 1999 to 2004.
In 2006, Jamieson was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the UK Government for “services to British business and sustainable development in Nigeria”.
He currently holds non-executive director positions for Woodside Energy Ltd, Hoegh LNG Holdings and Velocys, and is also chairman of Seven Energy International.
Jamieson replaces Geoff Maitland, professor of energy engineering at Imperial College London as IChemE president. Jonathan Seville, executive dean of the faculty of engineering and physical sciences at the University of Surrey, has joined IChemE council in 2015 and been appointed IChemE deputy president.
During his presidential address, ‘Continuity and change – A history of the future of IChemE’, Jamieson said that he was “honoured” to take up the position as president and pledged to continue in IChemE’s mission to ‘advance chemical engineering worldwide’.
Jamieson said: “Few professional disciplines have such potential to make a positive impact on society as chemical engineering. Moving on from its genesis in wartime, the profession has demonstrated its contributions to the well being of society in the fields of sustainable food supply; new materials; adequate and safe supply of water; advancing human health and well-being.
“More complex challenges remain to be tackled, and perhaps pre-eminently, the challenge of reshaping the world’s energy mix while keeping the lights on and the wheels of economies turning, will demand that chemical engineers must rise to the occasion.”
Jamieson is keen to advance IChemE’s work in Africa, where IChemE has recently launched a partnership with the South African Institution of Chemical Engineers (SAIChE), and in Nigeria, where membership is rapidly expanding.
Jamieson continued: “Africa is the global economy’s last economic frontier and we should not ignore it. It is my aim to use my experience and enthusiasm for Nigeria to explore avenues to advance our relationships with the Nigerian chemical engineering community.
“I am keen to see the appointment of senior ambassadors in that country and I want to see what more can be done to develop IChemE's community in a country with enormous potential.”
Also joining IChemE’s Council in 2015 in addition to Jonathan Seville, are: Lynn Gladden – Shell professor of chemical engineering at the University of Cambridge; Rose Amal – scientia professor at the University of New South Wales; and David Platts – managing director of PDV Consultants.
IChemE’s annual general meeting (AGM) and presidential address was held in London, UK, on 26 May.