BMT Professor appointed Chairman of IMarEST Board of Trustees
03-Nov-2009
Professor Chris Hodge (FREng CEng CMarEng FIMarEST), Chief Electrical Engineer of BMT Defence Services Ltd and Honorary Professor of Engineering at the University of Warwick, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST), taking over the role from Vaughan Pomeroy (CEng FIMarEST FRINA FIMechE), Technical Director of Lloyd's Register who has held the post since April 2005.
_BMT_2007_Prof_Christopher_Hodge__EPS09441.JPG)
The IMarEST was established in 1889 and is the largest international membership body and learned society for marine professionals with over 15,000 members worldwide; the primary role of the Board of Trustees is to establish and review the policies, strategy and business plans of the Institute ensuring that the objectives of the Institute and its charitable status are upheld, in compliance with the Royal Charter and By-Laws.
Professor Chris Hodge FREng CEng CMarEng FIMarEST, served for 26 years in the Royal Navy gaining a BSc in mechanical engineering, a Post Graduate Diploma in Nuclear Science and Technology and a MSc in Marine Electrical Engineering. He was the Marine Engineer Officer of both Nuclear and Conventional Submarines.
He is now the Chief Electrical Engineer of BMT Defence Services (a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd), acting as the focal point for management of electrical engineering expertise and knowledge within the company's engineering department, setting the direction for development of innovative power and propulsion systems for future surface naval vessels and submarines.
His work on behalf of the organisation includes roles as Chairman of the Board of the IMarEST Proceedings Supervisory Board; and Editor-in-Chief of Part B of the Transactions of the IMarEST. In December 2009 he delivered the inaugural biennial Gordon Hodge Memorial Lecture. Professor Hodge is the son of the late Gordon Hodge who was a member of the Institute for over 50 years, and who held the unique honour of being both an Honorary Fellow and an Honorary Vice President of IMarEST.
Commenting on his appointment, Professor Chris Hodge said: "There's no doubt that my father made a huge contribution to the IMarEST over a prolonged period. He joined what was then the Institute of Marine Engineers in 1950 and was actively involved until a few years before his death in 2006. He was engaged at the top level of administration and chaired many of the key committees of Council. I am privileged now to be able to carry this important work further forward."
"Vaughan Pomeroy has done a magnificent job and we thank him for his unremitting enthusiasm for, and work on behalf of, the Institute," says Dr Marcus Jones, IMarEST's Chief Executive. "Chris Hodge has had a long involvement with the Institute and we are pleased that he can find time in his busy schedule to take on this new role and help steer the Institute."
Muir Macdonald, Managing Director of BMT Defence Services said "This is a most prestigious position in a major and learned institution of which Chris is a long-standing and loyal supporter. It is hugely satisfying for us all at BMT to see our truly outstanding people reaching these influential and high offices."
