The Engineering Council has been saddened to learn that Sir Colin Terry KBE CB DL FREng, past Chair of the Engineering Council and leader in the fields of engineering and aerospace, has passed away. He was a figure of immense respect within the engineering community.

Sir Colin devoted almost 40 years to the Royal Air Force (RAF), rising to the rank of Air Marshal before retiring in 1999. He served as Chief Engineer RAF; Director-General of Support Management; Chief of Staff, Air Officer Commander in Chief at RAF Logistics Command, and on the RAF Board as the Air Member for Logistics. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) and Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in recognition of his exceptional service.

Following his retirement from the RAF, Sir Colin continued to shape the future of engineering in the UK. In 2002, he became the first Chair of the then newly-formed Engineering Council UK, and quickly earned the confidence of the Board, being regarded as a neutral and unifying figure among professional engineering institution leaders.

He advocated tirelessly for the value of Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status, leaving a lasting impact on the status and recognition of the engineering profession in the UK, and in December 2002 he featured in the Economist as one of the 100 most influential people in Britain, alongside then-Prime Minister Tony Blair and Lord Woolf, the Lord Chief Justice.

Sir Colin’s influence extended beyond his work with the Engineering Council. He held senior positions in industry, including as the Chair of companies including Parker Meggitt, Centronic Limited and BOXARR. He also served as President of the Royal Aeronautical Society and was a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a recognition of his significant contributions to the advancement of engineering. 

Sir Colin’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of engineers and military leaders.