News Release

CEO of Royal Academy of Engineering gowns up to receive is honorary award

Grant and Award Announcement

University of Huddersfield

Philip Greenish

image: This is Rear Admiral Philip Greenish in gown. view more 

Credit: University of Huddersfield

INNOVATIVE engineers are vital to the UK's future prosperity, said Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Academy of Engineering when he received his honorary award from the University of Huddersfield.

Rear Admiral Philip Greenish, a former Royal Navy officer who has been RAE CEO since 2003. After receiving his award, the Rear-Admiral saluted the role played by the University of Huddersfield in many areas of technical advance.

He said that: "In these challenging times, it is engineers that are leading the way in addressing so many of society's needs, including the needs of the economy. The UK's future success would depend on engineering innovation, researcher and entrepreneurship."

The Honorary Doctorate was bestowed by University of Huddersfield Vice-Chancellor Professor Bob Cryan - himself a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering - at one of the November sequence of awards ceremonies.

The oration describing the career of Rear Admiral Greenish told how, as an engineering graduate, he served with the Navy for almost 30 years, beginning as weapons engineer in destroyers and frigates, with his career culminating in promotion to Rear Admiral with responsibility for engineering, personnel and front-line logistics support for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

"Philip is passionate about engineering," said Professor Cryan. "He is positive about the progress that has been made in the understanding and appreciation of engineers and engineering by government, but is determined to increase the recognition of engineering in UK society more generally."

Rear Admiral Philip Greenish

Philip Greenish joined the Royal Navy in 1969 as he started an engineering science degree at Durham University. He graduated in 1972 and spent much of the next 15 years in destroyers and frigates or in design and support roles ashore, including a spell working for the Canadian Navy in Nova Scotia.

Later jobs were mostly in the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall. In his final role, as a Rear Admiral, he was responsible for engineering, personnel and logistic support for the front-line of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. He is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies.

The Academy has grown significantly under his leadership with a vision to put engineering in the heart of society where it is in reality, if not yet in perception. The Academy's elected Fellowship of outstanding engineers provides leadership across all fields of engineering. With the UK facing a difficult future, its role, and the role of engineering, has never been more important.

Philip sits on Southampton University Council and is a Board Member of EngineeringUK. He has served on two research councils, was a founding trustee of the Science Media Centre and is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. He was appointed CBE in 2003.

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