INTERVIEW | KEVIN MITCHELL parts of the world, and to observe patterns and similarities. Mitchell returned to the UK, but only for two years. He joined Buro Happold and departed for Dubai in 2008, at the height of the Middle Eastern construction boom. Part of his motivation was the chance to bring sustainable design to the region. However, he found there was an awful lot there already, and it wasnt always possible to implement. I may have been naive, he admits. Nevertheless, Mitchell enjoyed working and living among the expats and other engineers from all over the world many of them CIBSE Members and become a country director for Buro Happold. He returned to the UK and moved to Mott McDonald in 2016, as building services practice leader for the UK. Within a year he was working in the same role globally, providing technical leadership to a team of 800 building services engineers. With a dearth of engineers to deliver the rapid changes needed to decarbonise buildings, Mitchell is keen that his five challenges raise the THE PRESIDENTS FIVE CHALLENGES 1 Celebrate building services icons Share your icons, whether it be an invention, technique, technology, publication, group, or someone who taught or mentored you and, crucially, inspired you. CIBSE will compile a shortlist and announce it at the 125th Presidents Awards Dinner in October 2022. Tell your story on social media #CIBSE125 #BSEHeroes. 2 Inspire future engineers There is a shortage of teachers who can engage with students about engineering, and universities arent consistently talking about building services as an engineering option. Reach out to students from secondary schools through to colleges and universities and engage them in engineering as a career. 3 Boost the development of early career engineers Companies can help by setting up a reversementoring scheme, an exchange programme, a shadow board, or a CIBSE Training and Development Scheme. Part of the journey is for them to become professionally registered at IEng, EngTech or CEng, and for rms to connect, encourage and sponsor early career engineers. Nominate those in your sphere for awards, including the CIBSE Young Engineer Awards. 4 Share your building services story Share the reasons why you became a building services engineer, and what inspires and engages you. You could create a blog, video, podcast, share BSE-related content on social media, or compose a why I became a building services engineer article in your LinkedIn prole. 5 Engage with your peers to share climate impact reduction knowledge All building services engineers must understand how their work can improve outcomes for the built environment. So, increase your understanding of net zero buildings and how your work can positively impact climate change. During 2022/23, challenge yourself to do 10, 20, or 30 hours of CPD, and record it in the CIBSE CPD portal. What have you done lately, what did you do, how can someone else do it? Share the knowledge, share the impact, make a difference. profile of the industry and attract new talent. He believes CIBSE Members, by sharing their stories, can get to people who may never otherwise hear about building services engineering, such as aeronautical and chemical engineers, and mathematicians. One of the great things about our profession is that it is really broad and so accessible. There are so many skills required. Theres an unlimited number of routes in, Mitchell says. He believes young people and new career starters can have an energising effect on the industry: Its really exciting to hear different viewpoints; it makes more established groups think and listen. Theres something in human nature, I believe, that makes us feel very comfortable with doing the same thing as we always used to do, but we know thats not right. When the more experienced engineers work with young professionals, they can learn as much. It works both ways, however, says Mitchell. We musnt also forget the contribution of the older generation. While the focus is to encourage the next generation, the older population are getting fitter and extending their careers. He believes thats why people are joining an engineering career later in life. Its lifelong learning, not just for people who are young, he says. A few years ago, I was talking to one of my partners who said they would be working until they were 70. I thought that was brilliant. CJ 22 June 2022 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE June 22 pp20-22 Kevin Mitchell interview.indd 22 27/05/2022 15:42