President’s rallying call as he looks to the future

In an inaugural Presidential Address given in London in late November, IHEEM’s new President, the Department of Health’s director, NHS Estates and Facilities Policy Division, Peter Sellars, set out his key objectives. Speaking to around 80 IHEEM Members and Fellows from across the healthcare estate management and healthcare engineering profession, including senior personnel from suppliers to the sector, and representatives from the architectural and construction supply chain, he also looked ahead to the Institute’s ‘future direction’ over the next 5-10 years.

The evening event at the IET in London’s’ Savoy Place – the building re-opened in late 2015 following £30 m refurbishment – was attended by a broad spectrum of healthcare engineering and healthcare estates and associated professionals, many of whom had journeyed a considerable distance to hear the new IHEEM President speak. The evening’s sponsors were Trend Controls, Waldmann Lighting, Salix Finance, and Static Systems. 

Following Peter Sellars’ personal vision on IHEEM’s short-to-medium term direction and strategy, and a lively subsequent 20-minute ‘Q&A’ session, attendees also saw presented the Northcroft Silver Medal, which goes every year to the author of the technical paper published in HEJ considered to have contributed most to the advancement of hospital engineering. Two winners of the 2016 Lucas Scholarship Award – given annually to up to two new members who have taken an active interest in the Institute, or established members who have played a significant part in its activities at branch or national level – also received their awards.