A young civil engineer based in Cardiff has been chosen to shadow the new President of the Institution of Civil Engineers Barry Clarke, to observe his work during his presidential term commencing November 2012.
Mark Sanders is joining five other young engineers representing different engineering sectors from across the UK and will be given a unique insight into the world of a senior engineer. He will also see first hand how the ICE - the oldest professional institution in the world - works to represent its members by attending important events and meetings with senior civil servants or ministers.
Additionally, Mark will have mentoring sessions with Barry Clarke and be closely involved in presidential initiatives, as well as being able to engage with key ICE members.
Barry Clarke said: “We received a significant number of high-quality applications and while it was tough to pick just six, I am confident that I have chosen some of the brightest and most innovative young engineers in the country.”
Mark achieved a first class honours Masters of Engineering (MEng) in civil engineering from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh. He is now a highways engineer working for Halcrow Group Limited and is working towards his professional qualification as a chartered engineer.
He said he was thrilled to have been chosen to shadow the Institution’s President: “I was honoured to be selected for this prestigious role as one of Barry Clarke’s apprentices for his Presidential year. I’m looking forward to assisting the President, tackling his theme of sustainability and ethics, gaining an insight into the workings of the Institution and engaging with the future generation of civil engineers – students and graduates.”
Mark is an active member of ICE Wales Cymru’s Graduates and Student’s group and won ICE Wales Cymru’s Graduates and Students Papers Competition 2012, receiving his award at the Award Ceremony in May from current President Richard Coackley (left) and past ICE Wales Cymru Chairman Ian Davies. Photo by Steve Pope Photography.
Barry Clarke, who will take over from Richard Coackley in November, said that the central theme for his apprentices will be around ‘ethics and practice’, with the aim of helping to produce an ethical guide for civil engineering graduates.
“How ethics impacts on engineering practice is a topic I was keen to weave through my apprentice scheme as it’s an area that throws up many questions and challenges and one that has been raised by young engineers at the start of their careers,” he said.
As part of the application, candidates were asked to submit a 500-word essay on the subject ‘Ethical challenges: the conflict between the design brief and sustainable principles.’
Mark responded: “We need to recognise that the conflict between design brief and sustainable principles is the key balancing act for the future of our industry. Equilibrium needs to be achieved between the two, especially in a time of economic austerity. It is essential that new generations of civil engineers are actively encouraged to promote and pioneer sustainable principles, whilst still giving careful consideration towards achieving economical results, and vitally, the overall public good.”