What an IMarEST Week!
Last week was IMarEST Week, when members from around the world gathered in London for the IMarEST’s AGM, Council Meeting, President’s Lecture, and prestigious Annual Dinner. Our CEO, Chris Goldsworthy, reflects.
This was my second IMarEST Week, and I had been eagerly looking forward to it. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet so many IMarEST members and take great strides toward achieving our organisational goals. It certainly didn’t disappoint.
Kicking off with our AGM, we saw the inauguration of our new president, Professor Stephen de Mora FIMarEST, alongside the president elect, Professor Deborah Greaves OBE.
Stephen is a renowned scientist and the former chief executive of the world-leading Plymouth Marine Laboratory in the UK. He is passionate about tackling critical issues facing the world’s oceans by catalysing cross-sector collaboration, and he eloquently outlined this theme in various speeches throughout IMarEST Week.
On Wednesday, Stephen also delivered an insightful lecture on the environmental impact of ships, followed by a drinks reception where he was able to meet members and reconnect with friends and colleagues.
Our council meeting was a great success, and we made significant progress towards building on our technical voice and defining the value of IMarEST membership. The Council also explored ways to ensure our industry attracts, welcomes, and supports a diverse workforce, as well as how IMarEST values can be lived throughout the organisation.
Our volunteers, such as those on our council, make an enormous difference to the marine world. It’s certainly an exciting time at the IMarEST and we are keen to welcome new people across the organisation. Why not find out how to get involved?
We wrapped up a wonderful week with our Annual Dinner, held this year at the beautiful Plaisterers’ Hall in the heart of the City of London. The Annual Dinner is a very special occasion that sparks a myriad of fascinating conversations with friends, old and new. It was wonderful to celebrate our incredible industry with everyone there, and a great opportunity to share our achievements and plans for the Institute.
We also presented many of our awards at the Annual Dinner. It was fantastic to see talent from across all ages and sectors of the marine industry receiving awards. As the only professional body uniting marine engineers, scientists, and technologists, it’s vital that we continue to reward and nurture talent throughout our industry.
Finally, I couldn’t write this update without thanking the fantastic people from our executive team who made IMarEST Week possible, and who work tirelessly every day to ensure you see value from your membership. We have a wonderful team, and we encourage you to come and meet us at our London headquarters or Singapore office, if you’re in the area.
Personally, I’m already looking forward to the next IMarEST Week – I hope to see you there.