Honorary Fellowship

This thread is drifting off topic a bit, but I would just like to add a slightly tempering note to Barry and David's posts (although NOT regarding will.i.am, many thanks Barry for pointing to that very inspirational page.) I agree with David's point that the IET is moving in the right direction, but it is most definitely not there yet. This was brought home to me most recently at the Registration and Standards conference - at this gathering the age profile was probably somewhat to be expected by the nature of the gathering, but the sex profile (as was commented in a point raised from the floor on the day) was not something for us to be proud of at all. And this is only one example, at the majority of IET events I attend the majority of other members (not staff) who attend - and lead - are male. Realistically, of course, this is a reflection of the current state of UK engineering at senior technical / senior managerial level (perhaps particularly in the rail and safety critical sectors where I tend to attend events), and hopefully this will change. But we need to accept it hasn't changed yet and the IET can have a very useful role here - provided we recognise it is a problem.


So yes, let's be pleased that we're trying to head in the right direction, but hold the champagne for the moment...


However, given David's figures on Hon Fellows, this issue relating to diversity generally within the IET is a subject for another thread.


Incidentally, I do note with pleasure the wide range of candidates in the 2018 IET elections. Again, maybe not perfect, but definitely moving in the right direction.  


Thanks,


Andy

This thread is drifting off topic a bit, but I would just like to add a slightly tempering note to Barry and David's posts (although NOT regarding will.i.am, many thanks Barry for pointing to that very inspirational page.) I agree with David's point that the IET is moving in the right direction, but it is most definitely not there yet. This was brought home to me most recently at the Registration and Standards conference - at this gathering the age profile was probably somewhat to be expected by the nature of the gathering, but the sex profile (as was commented in a point raised from the floor on the day) was not something for us to be proud of at all. And this is only one example, at the majority of IET events I attend the majority of other members (not staff) who attend - and lead - are male. Realistically, of course, this is a reflection of the current state of UK engineering at senior technical / senior managerial level (perhaps particularly in the rail and safety critical sectors where I tend to attend events), and hopefully this will change. But we need to accept it hasn't changed yet and the IET can have a very useful role here - provided we recognise it is a problem.


So yes, let's be pleased that we're trying to head in the right direction, but hold the champagne for the moment...


However, given David's figures on Hon Fellows, this issue relating to diversity generally within the IET is a subject for another thread.


Incidentally, I do note with pleasure the wide range of candidates in the 2018 IET elections. Again, maybe not perfect, but definitely moving in the right direction.  


Thanks,


Andy