CIBSE 125 | CAREER CHAMPIONS CELEBRATING CAREER PIONEERS Kevin Mitchell FCIBSE has called on CIBSE members to inspire the next generation of building services engineers. Alex Smith finds out what makes a great mentor and looks at the value of paying forward A t his inaugural address, new CIBSE President Kevin Mitchell made special mention of four people who had helped develop his career. They were past President Terry Wyatt FCIBSE, Treve Mitchell, Tim Dwyer FCIBSE, and Alan Knight, who at Hoare Lea had encouraged Mitchell to explore the world of building services when he was still on the road to becoming an automotive engineer. Mitchell said he was lucky to have been surrounded by brilliantly supportive people and challenged the audience to celebrate their icons, including people who had inspired them in their careers. It was one of five challenges laid down by the President (see page 20). Two more relate to careers: the second was to reach out to future engineers and encourage them to join the industry, and the third was to boost the development of early career engineers. Mitchell was asking the audience to pay forward the support they received from their mentors to the next generation of talented engineers. Immediate past President Kevin Kelly says a great mentor will help develop someones full potential. He remembers past president of the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) Professor Brian Norton as his great FLOOR MOUNTED LIFTING STATIONS inspiration, encouraging him during his doctoral degree. He inspired me to increase research output by supervising PhD research and, later, through my staff, when I was a head of department and again as head of school in DIT. He himself supervised dozens of PhD students and was a towering intellect and inspirational leader, says Kelly. In the autumn, Mitchell will host an event that celebrates the industrys icons and, to get the ball rolling, we have asked engineers to name those who inspired them, and tell us how mentoring can help develop the next generation of engineers. CJ 0118 9821 555 Compli 1000 Compli 2500 DrainMajor Compli 400 www.jung-pumps.co.uk 32 June 2022 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE June 22 pp32-33 Industry Icons.indd 32 27/05/2022 18:06