2013: Patrick Kniveton

2013: Patrick Kniveton

 

Patrick Kniveton

128th President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Kniveton trained at Reyrolle, then commissioned the Isaac Newton Telescope in the Canary Islands for Grubb Parsons.

He spent two years developing commercial skills as a sales engineer at SKF Engineering Products, then became Engineering Manager, Rotawing Fans, where he designed bespoke air conditioning systems.

Joining Rolls-Royce Controls in systems design for Sizewell B, he then developed and joint-patented a world-leading technology for electronic motorway signs.

Engineering Manager for Rolls-Royce Materials Handling, in 1999 he then moved to Derby, as Head of Business Management, Gas Turbine Operations Engineering. In 2007 he joined Rolls-Royce Marine Power as Head of Infrastructure. In that role, he launched multi-million-pound office and factory redevelopments.

Since 2009, he has been Head of Engineering Improvement for Rolls-Royce Submarines - a multi-£100million business in the nuclear sector – in which role he drives process improvement for engineering areas and leads business management for the engineering function.

Active in the Institution since 1990, initially he was involved in the North East region, then joined Council in 1992. He was a founder member and served twice as an ordinary member of the Trustee Board. He was elected Vice President for 2004-2007 and was Deputy President from 2011-2013.

He has chaired CRC (now Regional Strategy Board), leading reviews of best practice; Academic Assessment Committee; International Affairs (now ISB); QMB and has been active on many national committees, including Investigating Panel, Marketing and CPD.

For 15 years, he has been a Trustee Director of one of his company’s pension schemes.

He takes part in many graduate recruitment activities for Rolls-Royce. Patrick has supported many people in the membership process, both for Member and Fellow, and is a mentor for several engineers, both inside and outside his own company. In 2001, he led an initiative in the company to encourage many mid-career engineers to complete their applications for CEng, with more than 300 successes in two years, many to Fellow.

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