CIBSE honours the outstanding contributions of its members at Presidents Awards
CIBSE members’ outstanding contributions and dedication to CIBSE and the wilder building services industry were recognised with medals at the 2024 President’s Awards Dinner in October.
The Dinner, held at The Savoy London, highlighted the essential role CIBSE members play in supporting the Institution’s mission to promote building services engineering, invest in education and research and support our community of building environment professionals.
Eight Gold medals, six Silver medals, and eight Bronze medals were presented to CIBSE members in acknowledgement of the contribution they have made through long and loyal service, helping raise the profession’s profile.
Fiona Cousins, CIBSE President said: ‘On behalf of CIBSE, I would like to thank all the CIBSE Medal winners. Their dedication, commitment and support for CIBSE, and the wider building services community, together with their expertise and knowledge have, without doubt, strengthened our industry and raised standards. Every one of them will have a lasting impact on our industry and the individuals they have worked with.’
Gold medals
Gold medals are the highest award bestowed by CIBSE and are awarded for exceptional service to a leading and highly respected figure who has made a significant advancement in the discipline of building services engineering.
Gold medals were awarded to: Colin Ashford, John Aston. Patrick Bellew, Steve Hennessy, Florence Lam, Stuart MacPherson (who was awarded the Gold medal in 2023 but presented at this year’s Dinner), Geoffrey Prudence and PL Yuen.
Colin Ashford has been an active member of CIBSE since 1982, first as a committee member of the London Region, until it split into four, then he joined the Home Counties South East committee, where he held various positions including Chair. He has served on CIBSE Council for a total of 37 years. He is a regular judge of the CIBSE Building Performance Awards and has been on the Technology Committee since 2012. He has contributed over 800 presentations to the regions on energy efficiency, and was a contributing author to CIBSE Applications Manual 15: Biomass heating, and TM57 Integrated school design. He has set an example to all members through his teaching, research and dedication to CIBSE.
John Aston began his career in lighting in 1979 with Energy Conversion Systems, being appointed business development manager in 1996, and then Green Marketing Manager in 2007 for Philips Lighting UK, with a remit to engage with industry bodies and government. He promoted sustainable lighting at conferences and delivered training on the subject. After retirement he continued to be heavily involved in industry, including being Society of Light and Lighting (SLL) President 2014-15, and Chair of the SLL Membership committee, where he led the Society in the professional recognition for lighting designers. John has always had an interest in training and education and was a mentor to many, as well as Chair of the CIBSE CPD Panel.
Patrick Bellew’s career in building services engineering and environmental design spans more than four decades, four continents and countless high-profile projects and collaborations. He studied at University of Bath, before joining Buro Happold in 1981. Atelier Ten was born in 1990, and under Patrick’s leadership the company worked to persuade clients of the benefits of integrating systems, pioneering and challenging conventional approaches, with passive design being an integral part of the process. Patrick has committed throughout to sharing knowledge and empowering the next generation of designers and engineers to work towards a sustainable future. He has lectured widely, and was the first MEP engineer to hold a visiting professorship at Yale University School of Architecture. Equally important has been his support, guidance and mentoring of young engineers and designers.
Steve Hennessy joined CIBSE as a student member in 1982, moving to Australia a few years after completing his studies, where he then joined the ANZ New South Wales committee. He became Chapter Chair in 1994, playing a large part in building up the quality of the Chapter events and members. He was ANZ Chair from 2003-2005 and again from 2013-14, and continues to serve on both the NSW Chapter committee and the ANZ Regional committee. He is passionate about sustainability and has played a large part in promoting the adoption of NABERS in ANZ, and the training of assessors. He is involved with the planning and evaluation of training and seminar programmes provided my CIBSE and other organisations.
Florence Lam (pictured top l-r Helen Loomes immediate SLL Past President, Fiona Cousins CIBSE President, Florence Lam, and Ruth Carter CIBSE CEO) started her career at Arup while studying engineering at Cambridge University. She won the SLL Young Lighter of the Year award. Her vision for specialised lighting design led her to cofound a dedicated lighting design team at Arup. As Global Lighting Design Leader she set the standards for lighting excellence and directed crucial research and development. Over her career she has received numerous accolades, including being named the Lighting Designers of the Year at the UK Lighting Design Awards in 2013, the first woman to receive this award. Beyond her individual achievements, Florence is deeply committed to mentorship and knowledge sharing, her dedication to inspiring others and fostering innovation in lighting design is evident in all she does.
Stuart McPherson – As well as running a successful consultancy providing specialist design services and advice on engineering services in buildings, he has also dedicated much of his working career to the services of CIBSE, servicing in diverse roles including Chair and Honorary Secretary of the Scotland Region Committee, Honorary Treasurer on the CIBSE Board, and CIBSE President 2020-21. His time as President coincided with COVID-19 pandemic, and he played a major role in helping CIBSE work effectively through this period, maintaining services and mitigating the financial impact. He continues to support CIBSE and its members as a Trustee of the CIBSE Pension Fund. He was visiting Professor to Heriot-Watt University and was appointed to the Scottish Government Building Control Advisory committee for energy related matters.
Geoffrey Prudence was Chair of the CIBSE FM Group for 21 years, and has given 50 years of active services to the building services industry and CIBSE, helping CIBSE be recognised as a leader in the FM sector. Geoff is known as the face of FM and served on CIBSE Council, and founded the CIBSE Fellow’s Network. He was lead author on CIBSE Guide M, and founded the cross-industry BIM4FM body. He continues to develop the industry with his lecturing, coaching and mentoring.
PL Yuen started working in the Hong Kong Government’s department for public hospitals construction operation and maintenance before joining the Hospital Authority in the 1990s. He is currently the senior manager of the Hospital Authority overseeing the design, construction and operation of public hospital building services. Under his stewardship the hospitals adopted a number of innovative measures to save energy and lower carbon emissions. He has served on CIBSE Hong Kong Region committee for many years, including as Chair, and has served on the CIBSE Board, including as CIBSE Vice President. He is currently Chairman of the Seoul Accord and of the UK Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management (IHEEM).
Silver medals
Silver medals were awarded to: David Cheshire, Steven Hunt, Patrick Lehane, Saverio Pasetto, Ewen Rose and Jarrod Tandy.
David Cheshire has made a significant contribution to raising public awareness and understanding of critical sustainability issues. He has helped generate and lead important CIBSE publications including Guide L Sustainability, TM56 and TM54.
Steven Hunt has contributed over 20 years to the Merseyside and North Wales Region committee, serving as Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary. He sits on the accreditation panel, interview panel and is Chair of Judges for the Undergraduate awards.
Patrick Lehane, has served on the CIBSE Ireland committee since the late 1970s, acting as Secretary, Vice Chair and Treasurer. More recently he has mentored new chairs and other roles within CIBSE and other organisations in Ireland.
Saviero Pasetto was Chair of the Society of Façade Engineering, advocating for the recognition of the importance of façade engineering in the construction industry. His efforts have strengthened SFE’s relationship within the broader CIBSE network.
Ewen Rose’s passion for building services engineering began in 1990 as a reporter for H&V News. He is a prominent advocate for the industry and established the CIBSE ASHRAE Graduate of the Year Award to highlight young engineers’ talent.
Jarrod Tandy has been involved with the CIBSE East Midlands committee for over 22 years, in various roles including Treasurer and Chair. He is well known for his dedication to CIBSE.
Bronze medals
Bronze medals were awarded to: Jocelyn Brownlie, Katie Clemence Jackson, Peter Cotter, Michael Curran, Mona Duff, Neil Duffy, Gita Maruthayanar, Philip Oliver.
Other awards presented on the night include:
2024 Ken Dale Travel Bursary: awarded to William Holley (see this article for more details: Holley wins travel bursary to study low carbon heat – CIBSE Journal)
Barker Silver Medal: Paper Title: Demand response with heat pumps: Practical implementation of three different control options.
Authors: Jenny Crawley, Clifford Elwell, Adria Martin-Vilaseca, Michelle Shipworth, Jez Wingfield, Zachary Gill.
Carter Bronze Medal: Paper Title: Comparative analysis of the whole life carbon of three construction methods of a UK-based supermarket.
Authors: Ali Bahadori-Jahromi, Agha Hasan, Anastasia Mylona, Augustine Blay-Armah, Golnaz Mohebbi, Mark Barthorpe.
Dufton Silver Medal: Paper Title: Measurement and rapid assessment of indoor air quality at mass gathering events to assess ventilation performance and reduce aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Authors: Filipa Adzic, Malcolm Cook, Murat Mustafa, Elizabeth Abigail Hathway, Liora Malki-Epshtein, Ben M Roberts, Christopher Iddon.
Napier Shaw Bronze Medal: Paper Title: An overheating criterion for bedrooms in temperate climates: Derivation and application.
Authors: Kevin J Lomas, Matthew Li