Engineers Ireland Annual Conference set for Limerick on April 13

Engineers from every corner of the island are set to descend on the Limerick Strand Hotel on Friday, April 13, for the Engineers Ireland Annual Conference 2018. Entitled 'Engineering a Region: Infrastructure, Industry and Innovation', the theme of the conference reflects the growing need for collaboration between industry, academia and innovators to create opportunities for regional development and growth. The conference, held in association with Engineers Ireland’s Thomond Region, will aim to showcase the midwest region as a leader in this field. Our conference speakers will share their experience and knowledge of the resources, techniques, innovation and focus required to develop regional growth and meet Ireland’s future challenges and opportunities in relation to infrastructure development; industry innovation and job creation; and securing a strong engineering talent pipeline to meet current and future industry demands. The speaker line-up includes: • Lord Andrew Adonis, former chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, UK • John Moran, member of Limerick Economic Forum and former secretary general, Department of Finance • Stephen Blair, director of the Southern Regional Assembly • Michael Lohan, head of lifesciences, engineering and industrial technology division, IDA Ireland • Mike Quinn, CEO, Ervia • John Cormican, general manager, Jaguar Land Rover • Dr Pat Daly, deputy chief executive and director of service, economic development and planning, Limerick City and County Council • Dr Emma Silke, head of business development, ESB ecars • Paschal Meehan, chair of Limerick for Engineering and head of Faculty of Applied Science, Engineering & Technology at Limerick Institute of Technology • Prof Conor McCarthy, associate professor of aeronautical engineering at UL’s Department of Mechanical, Aeronautical and Biomedical Engineering and also director of the SFI Research Centre

Early Morning – Session 1: Engineering a region: infrastructure

Kindly sponsored by Roadbridge

Lord Andrew Adonis: Lord Adonis is the former chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission and Secretary of State for Transport. Lord Andrew will present on his experience of the establishment and function of the National Infrastructure Commission; long-term trends in infrastructure planning and financing and the National Infrastructure Commission’s relationship with the political system, including investment planning and National Infrastructure Assessments. Stephen Blair: The National Planning Framework and its associated legislative framework, which was published recently by the government as part of ‘Project Ireland 2040’, has an enhanced role for regional assemblies in spatial planning – with a requirement to publish statutory regional, spatial and economic strategies. Blair will discuss the challenges and exciting opportunities for the Southern Region, which covers the counties of Carlow, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick and Clare. Mike Quinn: Quinn will be providing insights on our conference theme as CEO of Ireland’s first multi-utility company that has a proven record of developing and maintaining critical infrastructure and delivering projects that are crucial to regional growth and the Irish economy.

Mid – Morning – Session 2: Engineering a region: industry and talent

Dr Pat Daly: Dr Daly will focus on regional planning best practice; the ongoing evolution and success of Limerick and the mid-west; his strategic approach – Limerick 2030, An Economic and Spatial Plan for Limerick; – and the role of innovation in job creation. Michael Lohan: Lohan will present on the IDA’s strategic approach to winning new investment for Ireland; the IDA’s commitment to greater regional dispersal of investment projects; Ireland’s value proposition for foreign direct investment and how integral skilled engineers and the talent pipeline are to that proposition. Paschal Meehan: Delegates will benefit from the insight and experience of Limerick for Engineering, driven by Meehan’s leadership as chair, particularly in terms of collaboration with stakeholders to build and develop the region with a focus on engineering excellence, student development and delivering a talent pipeline for the wider region.

Afternoon – Engineering a region: innovation

Prof Conor McCarthy: Prof McCarthy will be speaking on the implications of Industry 4.0, which will modify the profile of the workforce, ultimately changing the competitiveness of companies and regions, and the challenges and opportunities that brings for our engineering sector. Dr Emma Silke: Dr Silke will discuss innovation in electro-mobility and the cutting-edge approach to the roll-out of charging infrastructure business solutions in the UK – Europe’s fastest-growing EV market. She will also discuss global developments and the possibilities for Ireland in this space. John Cormican: He will be speaking about innovation in their product development. The title of this case study will be: JLR ACES (Autonomous, Connected, Electrified, Shared Mobility). John Moran: Moran has extensive experience of planning, policy – particularly fiscal policy – and its implementation and has strong views on the progressive and holistic development of regions. As a member of Limerick Economic Forum, he will bring a regional insight, together with a global outlook as founder of RHH International. Additionally, delegates will benefit from the national perspective he has from his previous roles as secretary general, Department of Finance, and head of wholesale banks, Central Bank of Ireland.

Networking events

In addition to the conference, a number of additional networking events have been organised to welcome delegates to the midwest region, including a golf outing in Castletroy Golf Club, a welcome reception with special guest John Burke and also an evening gala ball featuring entertainment by Johnny B & the Boogie Men. Delegate packages are currently available from €169.

Sponsorship

Many thanks to our sponsors, Roadbridge, Modular Automation, Arup, Carey’s Building and Civil Engineering, Kilsaran, Murphy Surveys, Limerick Institute of Technology, Punch Consulting and L&M Keating for their support. We look forward to seeing you in Limerick! Tickets for the conference are available from €169. See www.engineersirelandconference.ie Commenting ahead on the conference, Caroline Spillane, director general of Engineers Ireland said: “Our speakers from different sectors of the engineering industry and other fields will deliver presentations on the subject-matter of sustainable infrastructural development, innovation in engineering, expert-led international best practice models and securing a vibrant graduate engineering talent pipeline.” To find out more about the conference, including a detailed line-up, delegate rates and agenda, visit: www.engineersirelandconference.ie