Belfast hosts YEN Global Conference and Gala

YEN Global Chair Ruth Tatanga reports on the highlights of the annual Young Engineer Network event

The YEN Annual Gala, held at Belfast’s Titanic Hotel in November, was the highlight of four days of activities at CIBSE YEN’s 2024 Global Conference.

The gala, hosted by YEN Northern Ireland, celebrated the achievement and dedication of YEN members, and special guest David Stephens, CIBSE vice-president, emphasised the importance of YEN’s contributions to CIBSE.

The conference welcomed 14 of the 16 regional chairs, plus the global chairs. The network operates as a bridge between early-career engineers and CIBSE, and we wanted to have a strong emphasis on STEM
outreach in Belfast. Many of the chairs currently serve as STEM Ambassadors for the Institution and are inspiring role models within their regions.

This year’s conference provided an ideal platform for engaging with building services engineering students in Belfast. A STEM outreach event was held at Ulster University’s Belfast Hub, where we received an amazing welcome from the students.

YEN UAE chair and vice-chair Aishwarya Chengappa and Bushra Oosman, along with YEN London chair and vice-chair Lizzy Pettitt and Zoe Dickson, shared their professional journeys and their committees’ initiatives.

Niro Siriwardena, YEN Australia-New Zealand chair, added an international perspective and technical spin, presenting the operation of sustainability markers in Australia.

The event concluded with the National Conference Meeting, where chairs discussed improving YEN’s global visibility. The discussions highlighted a shared commitment to advance the network’s mission and strengthen its integration within CIBSE’s broader framework.

To find out more about YEN visit: www.cibse.org/get-involved/young-engineers-network