After nearly six years of service to the Engineering Council, Alasdair Coates BEng(Hons) MSc CEng FICE MCIHT CMIOSH has decided to retire from the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Chairman Professor Chris Atkin said “I count myself extremely fortunate to have been able to work with Alasdair during this period. He has presented a calm and assured face to the professional engineering community and has, in particular, worked hard to maintain and enhance the Engineering Council’s role as a critical friend as well as the regulator.

This has allowed us to move forward by expert consensus in areas of critical importance to registrants, to the professional engineering community and to society at large. Alasdair’s leadership of the Engineering Council during the pandemic and his sure handling of  our relationships with partners in the International Engineering Alliance (IEA) are also evidence of his distinctive, collegiate style of leadership. He leaves the Engineering Council team assured, empowered and confident to take the organisation forward under a new CEO.”

Alasdair Coates said “It has been an honour and privilege to lead the Engineering Council over these last six years and deciding to retire was a hard decision. Not least, because I have been very fortunate to work with such a great team of staff, Trustees and stakeholder colleagues in delivering our strategic plans and helping to build the future strategic themes for the Engineering Council around Diversity & Inclusion, Digital Innovation, International and Engineering & Society.".

The recruitment of a new CEO has been initiated and we anticipate the new CEO taking on the role between Easter 2023 and our next AGM in June.

The Trustees and staff of the Engineering Council would like to thank Alasdair for his leadership under often challenging circumstances and wish him well for the future.

For press enquiries:

Kate Webster, Engineering Council – kwebster@engc.org.uk, 020 3206 0567

The Engineering Council was incorporated by Royal Charter in November 1981 to regulate the engineering profession in the UK. This is our 40th year of setting and maintaining standards, to ensure that society continues to have confidence and trust in the engineering profession.

The Engineering Council holds the national Register of Engineering Technicians (EngTech), Incorporated Engineers (IEng), Chartered Engineers (CEng) and Information and Communication Technology Technicians (ICTTech). It also sets and maintains the internationally recognised standards of competence and ethics that govern the award and retention of these titles. By this means it is able to ensure that employers, government and wider society, both at home and overseas, can have confidence in the skills and commitment of registrants. For more information visit: www.engc.org.uk