Hackitt named as 2013 IChemE president

Judith Hackitt, chair of Great Britain’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE), has been confirmed as IChemE president for 2013-14.

Hackitt, already an IChemE Council member, was nominated by the Nominations Committee headed up by the immediate past president Desmond King, president of Chevron Venture Technologies. Hackitt will first take up the role of deputy president in 2012-2013, under Russell Scott, MD of Uhde Shedden, who will be IChemE’s next president.

Hackitt graduated from Imperial College London, UK, in 1975 as one of only four female chemical engineers in her cohort. She initially joined Exxon Chemical as a graduate engineer and moved up through the ranks, becoming head of process safety at Fawley refinery, the largest in the UK.

Hackitt worked at the Chemicals Industry Association (CIA) as director of business and responsible care from 1998-2002 and was appointed its director general from 2002-2006. She then became the implementation director for the Chemistry for Europe project at the European Chemical Industry Council, taking a leading role in developing the EU’s REACH chemicals regulations.

Hackitt was also an important part of the whynotchemeng Flash Bang campaign to promote more exciting science experiments in schools.

Hackitt said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been asked to take on the role of President in 2013. I certainly intend to continue to champion the importance of chemical engineers around the world delivering process safety, but this is only one of several challenges facing our profession and over the next year I will be giving careful thought to what I want to achieve during my presidency.'

IChemE CEO David Brown said that he is “personally delighted” at the nomination and that IChemE is looking forward to working with her.