The annual Sir Bernard Crossland Annual Lecture, 'Climate Change and the Engineer', with Guest Speaker, Sir Warren East, President of The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), will take place at 5.30pm on Tuesday 18 February in The Great Hall, Lanyon Building, University Rd, Belfast BT7 1NN as part of the NI Science Festival.

Now in its 23rd year, Business Engagement at Queen’s and Engineers Ireland host this prestigious lecture series, in association with The Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Pre-lecture refreshments will be served.

About the Lecture

The developed world has been aware of the societal threats posed by climate change for several decades. Significant time and money have been spent discussing the issue—debating who should pay for what, the link between human activity and climate change, and even whether climate change is real. Meanwhile, scientists, technologists, and engineers have been developing solutions.

Yet, 10 years on from the landmark COP agreement in Paris, it’s clear that we are still falling well short of our targets and ambitions. Despite this, procrastination persists. Warren will explore the key barriers from an engineer's perspective and present an optimistic approach to tackling this once-in-10-generations challenge facing humankind.

About Sir Warren East

Sir Warren East CBE is a distinguished engineer and business leader, renowned for his transformative impact on the technology and engineering sectors.

A graduate of Oxford University in Engineering Science and holder of an MBA from Cranfield University, Warren began his career at Texas Instruments before joining ARM Holdings in 1994. As CEO of ARM from 2001 to 2013, he oversaw its growth into the world’s leading semiconductor IP licensing company, with ARM technologies embedded in billions of devices worldwide.

In 2015, Warren became CEO of Rolls-Royce Holdings, where he led modernisation efforts, enhanced operational efficiency, and advanced the company’s journey towards sustainability. Under his leadership, Rolls-Royce achieved notable milestones, including the world speed record for electric flight and pioneering hydrogen combustion technology for aviation. His tenure also saw the company navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and deliver record cash flows in 2019. He retired in 2022.

Beyond his executive roles, Warren serves as President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Chair of NATS Holdings Ltd., a non-executive director at ASML and Tokamak Energy, and an advisor on clean hydrogen initiatives. He is also an Executive in Residence at Oxford’s Saïd Business School.

Recognised for his contributions to engineering and innovation, Warren is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (FIET), the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng), and the Royal Society (FRS). He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2014.

Through his leadership, innovation, and vision, Warren has consistently driven advancements in technology, fostered collaboration, and championed sustainability, inspiring engineers, academics, and industry leaders alike.

About the Sir Bernard Crossland Lecture Series

Sir Bernard Crossland, was one of the UK's most eminent engineers. He was appointed to the chair of mechanical engineering at Queen's University Belfast in 1959 by Sir Eric Ashby (later Lord Ashby), a reforming vice-chancellor who, like Crossland, was a passionate believer in the importance of technological education for society. Both shared the view that engineers were often more widely informed than students of the humanities.

He was one of the four expert technical assessors for the investigation into the fire at King's Cross underground station in 1987, which had caused the deaths of 31 people. The resulting Fennell Report recommended a thorough overhaul of fire detection and prevention measures, and an extension of the ban on smoking in sub-surface areas to all parts of the underground system. Sir Bernard assumed the posts as head of department (1959-82), dean (1964-67), and pro-vice-chancellor (1978-82) in Queen’s University Belfast. In 1982 he resigned the headship of the department and took up a research chair. Two years later he retired. Retirement for Crossland meant a quarter of a century of engineering research, industrial consultancies and dedicated public service. He was a member of numerous committees and councils supporting economic development and education in Northern Ireland.

Crossland had become a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1942. Forty-four years later, he was elected president. He had a pivotal role in the establishment of the Irish Academy of Engineering, and his awards included the James Watt international gold medal (of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers) and the Kelvin gold medal (of the Institution of Civil Engineers). He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1979 and knighted in 1990. In February 2010, he received the Royal Academy of Engineering Sustained Achievement award.

Sir Bernard Crossland died 17 January 2011.