EngD alumnus appointed AEngD vice-chair

(23 January 2017) - Dr Steven Yeomans, an EngD graduate, an ardent advocate of the EngD programme, and manager of the CICE EngD centre at Loughborough University, has been appointed vice chair of the AEngD.

Dr Steven Yeomans is an ardent advocate of the EngD programme, having first-hand experience of the significant benefits the Engineering Doctorate can help realise for Research Engineers (REs), academia and industry.

Yeomans commenced his own EngD in 2001 and upon graduating in 2005, used his research outputs to generate a successful and profitable new business stream within his former sponsoring organisation. During this time he also became an industrial sponsor and subsequent industrial supervisor of several REs.

As a result of his EngD research, Steven was invited to become the first chairman of the National Platform / Constructing Excellence ICT and Automation study (used as a 'call to arms' by government and industry) and to join the board of the Avanti initiative (a £4m DTI project to formulate an approach to collaborative working in order to enable construction project partners to work together effectively).

Yeomans also became an advisor to the Olympics Delivery Authority during his time as Head of Collaboration at an international engineering organisation.

In 2010, Yeomans returned to Loughborough University to take up a position as Centre Research Manager at his former EngD Centre, CICE, where he managed some £10m of centre funding, 100+ organisations, Research Engineers and Alumni, and successfully negotiated and setup 51 EngD research projects, as well as providing academic supervision to three EngD projects.

Yeomans is a founding member of the AEngD steering committee (initially formed in 2010 before becoming active in 2012), where he continues to demonstrate strong commitment to promoting the AEngD and the EngD programme whilst supporting the EPSRC, Industrial Advocates, AEngD and new EngD centres.

Yeomans has also chaired an AEngD subgroup to develop and promote the presence of the AEngD, and contributed to the joint EPSRC and AEngD pilot study on Understanding the EngD Impact whilst serving on the AEngD committee.

AEngD chairman William Powrie says:

"Steven's unique experience and insight gained from undertaking several pivotal roles within the EngD process (student, sponsor, industrial/academic supervisor, centre manager and AEngD committee member) in the AEngD community over the past 14 years, coupled with a background in collaboration, provides him with a strong foundation upon which to help steer the AEngD through its next chapter of development, ensuring attainment of the aims and objectives of the Association for members both current and future."