PEMIC Awards 2011

Posted by R Nugent & Professor D Edwards on 24 November 2011

Report by Our National Chairman Robert Nugent

The Annual PEMIC awards took place at Birmingham City University on the 16th. Gerry Bingham had arranged for National Officers and Branch Representatives to attend. I met National Treasurer Gerry Hill and Life President Frank Fiveash along with Peterborough & District Branch Representative Mary Lancaster at Gerry’s house for a light lunch prepared by Carole Hill, then we all travelled to Birmingham for the evening awards ceremony. The foyer was jam-packed with delegates while we waited for the event to start. We were soon seated and National Vice Chairman Professor David Edwards started the ball rolling by announcing the recipients, including Neville Rowell, long time Branch Secretary, of the Silver Medals followed by the prestigious Gold Medals, among the awardees were Chris Miller our National Registrar, and Vic Spilliard, from our Staffs & Midlands Branch. Once again, a different meal, but the good company of fellow CMPE members. The comedians were working hard, hampered by a ‘hardly-up-to-it’ sound system. My thanks to Gerry Bingham for co-ordinating this event and to PEMIC for all the hard work involved.

Our National Vice Chairman Professor David Edwards Report:

OPERC’s annual Plant and Equipment Management and Innovation Conference 2011 (PEMIC-2011) proved to be the largest event the professional association had held in its entire history spanning almost 12 years. Over 300 delegates attended throughout the day and evenings activities which were headed by a keynote speech from Lord Dibgy Jones as well as many leading industrialists from within plant and machinery sector. One delegate described the event as being “a triumph!” whilst another described Lord Digby Jones’ speech in particular as being “Inspirational.”

However, the evening’s activities also included the International Awards for Excellence (IAE). These prestigious IAE awards celebrate the outstanding contributions made by professionals throughout the plant and equipment community. Areas of professional or scientific endeavour include: safety, production performance, professionalism, education and training, engineering design or technological advancement. Additional awards are also made to leading academics who have consistently demonstrated sustained leadership and research output at an international standing.

It was a great pleasure to award gold to Mr Chris Miller, CMPE and Mr Vic Spillard CMPE for their outstanding contributions to industry over the years. It was also my privilege and honour to also award Silver to Mr Neville Rowell for his many contributions and support to the Staffs and Midlands branch. Three most respected professionals within the industry and staunch CMPE members too and I was delighted to see that CMPE National Officers and fellow branch members were out in force to support their colleagues.

Professor David J. Edwards

Head of Research and Director of CBIE

Birmingham City University