New IMechE leader targets climate challenges

London -- The Institution of Mechanical Engineers has appointed John Baxter, BP group engineering director, as its 122nd president. Baxter, who replaces Alec Osborn, former chief engineer of Perkins, has promised to use his year in office to champion the IMechE’s key themes: education, energy, environment and transport.

In an inaugural speech before 200 engineers, titled Energy for Life, the BP executive highlighted the need for industry and Government to work together with engineers to combat climate change.

“We need energy sources with high output -- such as oil, coal, nuclear etc -- but with little to zero emissions," said Baxter. "The energy supply challenges faced by the world will be met by a diverse combination of nuclear, clean fossil and renewables, but to achieve this we will require more engineers who want to contribute to improving our world.”

IMechE's president also believes in re-invigorating the nuclear industry but only as part of “a balanced portfolio of diverse energy sources including clean fossil fuel generation and renewables … In recent years the almost continuous media coverage of climate change with renewable energy as the solution has hidden the immediate need for new large scale generation capacity.”

A graduate of Strathclyde University, Baxter began his career on board a Royal Navy Polaris nuclear submarine. He also held a post on the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) board before joining Powergen as group engineering director.

“Just 35 years ago, it was a great time to be an engineer. There were a variety of jobs, lots of challenges and a feeling we could make a real difference, he concluded. Today, some of that excitement seems to be missing ... It will be my duty to push for engineering to be a leading career choice for young people once more."