IChemE Fellow recognised in 2023 New Year Honours List
3rd January 2023
Dr Oluwole Olawale Folayan, a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s 2023 New Year Honours List for services to equality, diversity and inclusion in engineering.
Dr Folayan, known as Ollie, co-founded the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers UK (AFBE-UK) in 2007 alongside his sister, Dr Nike Folayan, who is also an MBE. AFBE-UK provides support to students and professionals, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds, promoting higher achievements in education and engineering.
Ollie is a chartered process engineering consultant with a doctorate in the environmental effects of fuel combustion. At AFBE-UK, Ollie has helped to create a number of key initiatives including ‘Transition’, a program that aims to prepare university students for life as professionals. He currently leads the Scottish arm of AFBE-UK which launched in Aberdeen in November 2011.
Speaking about his MBE, Ollie said:
"I was thrilled and surprised to receive this recognition. Back in 2007 when my sister, Nike, and I set up AFBE-UK, we did not imagine that it would have the impact it has gone on to have.
“This recognition is for all of our members who work selflessly for the benefit of others. We hope this gives our work even greater visibility so that people of all backgrounds feel engineering is a career they can thrive in. Our objective is to ensure that our organisations look like the communities in which we operate. That is the most exciting thing about this."
New Year Honours recognise the achievements and services of extraordinary people across the UK. A full list of 2023 recipients is available online.
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Dr Oluwole Olawale Folayan
Links
Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers
Contact
For more information please contact:
Lucy Cook, Communications Manager, IChemE
t: +44 (0) 1788 534454
e: lcook@icheme.org
Claire Shepherd, Communications Executive, IChemE
t: +44 (0) 1788 534457
e: cshepherd@icheme.org
What is chemical engineering?
Chemical, biochemical and process engineering is the application of science, maths and economics in the process of turning raw materials into everyday, and more specialist, products. Professional chemical engineers design, construct and manage process operations all over the world. Oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, food and drink, synthetic fibres and clean drinking water are just some of the products where chemical engineering plays a central role.
IChemE
The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) advances chemical engineering's contribution worldwide for the benefit of society. We facilitate the development of chemical engineering professionals and provide connections to a powerful network of over 29,000 members in more than 100 countries.
We support our members in applying their expertise and experience to make an influential contribution to solving major global challenges, and are the only organisation permitted to award Chartered Chemical Engineer status and Professional Process Safety Engineer registration.