Mr Kenny, who graduated with degrees in chemical engineering from University College Dublin and Georgia Institute of Technology, and who later lectured in the subject before turning to broadcasting, has continually voiced strong support for engineering, helping to promote the profession, especially among young people.
Ireland’s First Chartered Environmentalist and Professional Titles Awarded
The event also saw Alison Delahunty, Scientific Officer at the Environmental Protection Agency, named as Ireland’s first Chartered Environmentalist. The Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) title is awarded to individuals who demonstrate outstanding environmental expertise, and Engineers Ireland is the first organisation outside the UK licensed by the Society for the Environment to award this title. Several awards were made by President of Engineers Ireland, Laura Burke, to those who have distinguished themselves within the profession.
Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council; Sharon McManus, Group Head of Sustainability at the ESB; April Mangan, Portfolio Performance Manager at Uisce Éireann; Kara Stuart, Chief Executive Officer at Collen Construction, were named Fellows of Engineers Ireland by Presidential Invitation in recognition of their leading roles in the profession.
President’s Awards and Recognition of Engineering Leaders
Additionally, Professor Aoife Ahern, Dean of Engineering at University College Dublin; Richard Crowe, Consultant and former Managing Director at Nicholas O’Dwyer; and Jerry Grant, Chairperson of Uisce Éireann and the Dublin Port Company received the Engineers Ireland President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Engineering Profession.
Accredited Titles and Industry Impact
82 members of the Institution were conferred with the Registered Professional Titles at the National Conferring Ceremony. This included 59 recipients of the title of Chartered Engineer, which provides peer-reviewed and internationally recognised formal recognition of a member’s professional competence and is considered the gold-standard recognition of professional competence within the industry.
Engineering’s Vital Role in Ireland’s Future
Damien Owens, Director General of Engineers Ireland, offered his congratulations to all those conferred, saying:“All engineers conferred with professional titles stand as exemplars of our profession, at a time when Ireland needs engineers more than ever. There is no easy path to an accredited professional title and each recipient can be exceptionally proud of their achievements.
I also wish to commend all those who received special awards yesterday for their distinguished standing in our profession and the outstanding contributions they have made to promoting the value of engineering in Irish life.
Challenges in housing, water infrastructure, energy, climate action, AI and digital applications require engineers’ expertise and experience to navigate, and engineers will play a central role in shaping Irish society over the coming decades by pursuing innovative solutions to the many pressing questions in these areas, and beyond.”
