Terry Spall CEng FIMechE has assumed office as the 135th president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
With a background in the car industry in the UK and internationally, Mr Spall brings a wealth of engineering and business experience to the role.
His career has included working at Leyland Trucks, Nissan and most recently at automotive research and testing organisation HORIBA MIRA. He led the establishment of MIRA’s overseas operations in seven countries including China and India.
He was appointed commercial director of MIRA Technology Park in October 2010. He left the company in January 2020 to become a consultant.
Mr Spall said the appointment came at a pivotal moment and time of change for the organisation. “This last year we have been working on the governance and finance reviews and how they will be implemented, which has been a massive task. The results will be rolled out over the next year and we will be consulting members on how they would like the institution to evolve. It is time for change and I’m looking forward to playing a very active role to make that happen.”
Encouraging more members to become involved in the institution’s activities and raising the profile of engineering to encourage more young people from a diverse background to consider it as a career are also priorities for this year.
Mr Spall has chosen the future of mobility as the theme of his presidency and in his presidential address in the autumn he will look ahead to see what the transport industry might look like.
“The automotive industry is going through greatest change it has ever faced, with the challenges and opportunities electrification and automated driving bring. A truly exciting time – but how will all this play out over the next decade?”
The new president gained his first degree in mechanical engineering in 1985, followed by a MSc in Engineering Programme Management from Lancaster University in 1990.
He has been a member of the institution since 1984, and has served as a trustee and most recently as chief judge at the Formula Student racing car competition for five years.
A keen mountaineer and fell walker, he also enjoys restoring classic cars, with two projects currently underway — a 1989 TVR3000S and a 1968 Morris Minor.