Society news

New RAeS CEO

Thank you to Sir Brian Burridge

It seems incredible that three years have passed since Sir Brian answered the call to take on the role of Chief Executive of the Society. After such an illustrious career in the Royal Air Force and in industry many may have thought that Sir Brian might have been considering a very well earned retirement but I had no doubt that he would bring his incredible energy and intellect to the role and play a major part in driving the Society forward.

What none of us knew at the time was that Covid-19 would arrive in March 2020 bringing major disruption to the Society, its traditional business operating model and indeed the sectors it represents. Working with Trustees and Council, Sir Brian has provided phenomenal leadership in guiding us through this massively difficult period. All of us have been deeply impressed by his calm, matter-of-fact approach to the crisis and his ability to embrace new and innovative ways of working. While the Society, in common with many of its peers, still has some considerable challenges ahead, I believe we can be confident of a vibrant future. Sir Brian has guided us through a thoroughgoing review of strategy, governance and operations which is laid out in the new Corporate Plan. Some of the lines of development were already in train but the process has been accelerated and I believe that the Society can look forward to growing its reputation and influence as it transforms to become genuinely more international, genuinely more digital and genuinely more diverse.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I offer deep thanks to Sir Brian for all his hard work and his influence as Chief Executive. He has given massive service to the Society over many, many years in a wide range of roles and I hope that the end of his tenure as Chief Executive will merely be the prelude to his ongoing involvement. I wish him the very best of success in all that he takes on in the future.

We look forward to welcoming Dave Edwards as our new Chief Executive in the knowledge that he will inherit an organisation well prepared to play its part in the recovery of aviation and aerospace and in promotion of the vital contribution they make, along with our burgeoning space industry, to wider society and the economy.

Martin Broadhurst 
OBE FRAeS
Chair of Trustees

NEW RAeS CEO

Appointment of RAeS CEO

David Edwards has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the Royal Aeronautical Society in place of Sir Brian Burridge who is stepping down. David Edwards will take over as Chief Executive on 20 September.

Until recently David was Chief Executive of the Air Charter Association and led that organisation through a significant period of change and growth and represented the sector to government and regulators during the Brexit transition and Covid-19.

He also has experience as a former Executive Vice President of Qatar Airways and 15 years with Gama Aviation where, latterly, he headed the company’s expansion into the Middle and Far East, as well as serving on the group’s board.

David has been a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society since 1999 and was appointed a Fellow in 2010. He’s had a Private Pilot’s Licence since he was 17 and holds a degree in Transport Management from the University of Plymouth.

David is a strong advocate for diversity, inclusion and encouraging the next generation of talent to join the aviation and aerospace industries.

David Edwards FRAeS said:
“I am delighted to be joining the Royal Aeronautical Society at this challenging, but nonetheless exciting time.

“Sir Brian and the team have placed the Society in a really strong position to embrace the collective knowledge of our membership and contribute to global debates on issues such as aviation’s contribution to climate change, the burgeoning space industry, supporting tomorrow’s aerospace professionals and promoting diversity.

“I am looking forward to carrying on that work and ensuring that the Royal Aeronautical Society continues to grow its membership and its relevance within our industries and beyond.”

Martin Broadhurst OBE CDIR FRAeS FIOD, Chair of the Trustees of the RAeS said:
“David is a perfect choice for us, and I am delighted that we were able to appoint him.

“I pay tribute to Sir Brian as he prepares to move on. His time as Chief Executive was fraught due to Covid-19 but he led our Society exceptionally well, and brought his vast experience as a senior Royal Air Force and industry figure to bear in helping us make big strategic decisions and prepare us for the future. He leaves David an extremely well-run organisation to take over and one which is well prepared to play its part in the sector’s recovery and in promoting the vital contribution they make to wider society and the economy.”

Sir Brian Burridge CBE FRAeS, outgoing Chief Executive of the RAeS said:
“David Edwards is extremely well-placed to take forward the Society’s ambition as a learned society in continuing to provide independent, evidence-based and authoritative thought leadership. He also well understands the nature of engineering businesses and the challenges that they face. With David in place, alongside our excellent staff and hard-working Trustees, Council members and supported by our enthusiastic cohort of volunteers, we can be assured that the Society is in good hands.” 

Branch celebrates its 95th anniversary

On Sunday 25 July the Coventry Branch celebrated its 95th anniversary with a dinner and talk at Brandon Hall, Coventry. A very insightful and informative talk was delivered on ‘post war aircraft’ by Prof Keith Hayward FRAeS.

From left: Scott Philips, RAeS Corporate Affairs Officer; Prof Keith Hayward, after dinner speaker; Ron Carr, Branch Chair; Air Cdre Bill Tyack, RAeS past President; and Stephen Pilling, Branch President.

There is so much history and so many people to acknowledge and thank for keeping this great Branch going for 95 years, not least our current committee members. Here are a few notable facts:

  • The Coventry Branch was the first to be officially formed under the rules for the formation of the Branches issued by the Council in 1926 and remains the longest running Branch within the Society.
  • The first Branch lecture was delivered by Sir William Farren in 1926.
  • The first Branch President was Sir John Siddley (Lord Kenilworth) 1926-1939.
  • Sir Frank Whittle was Branch President 19461947.

In recent years the Coventry Branch engaged in the ‘schools Build-a-Plane scheme’, in conjunction with a local academy (Ernesford Grange Community Academy). On successful completion of the ‘build & flight’ many of the academy pupils enjoyed their first flying experience. The legacy of this project remains today with many of the academy students engaging with further engineering projects and indeed careers in engineering and aerospace.

The Branch continues to maintain strong links and support from both Meggitt, based at the new facility at Ansty, and Coventry University where all lectures are held.

Stephen Pilling, Branch President, said: “Looking forward, with one eye on our centenary anniversary in five years’ time, it’s our focus now to further strengthen the Branch with the recent introduction of our Young Members committee representative to drive a ‘younger generation’ into the Branch, while building on our historic past.”

We were also joined by Scott Philips, Corporate Affairs Officer, representing the Main Society and past Society President, Air Commodore Bill Tyack CBE FRAeS.

Stephen Pilling CEng FRAeS, Branch President

Ron Carr MRAeS, Branch Chair

 

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