CUEA is an organisation for all Cambridge University members, past and present, who are affiliated with Engineering. 


The object of the Association, as set out in 1928, shall be the advancement of the welfare and interests of the University of Cambridge. Under these overall objects the Association seeks to bring the experience and capabilities of Alumni to contribute to the education and development of today’s students and researchers; and to encourage Alumni to continue their development and maintain their professional effectiveness through contact with other Alumni and the ongoing work of the University Engineering Department. We are also a recognised alumni group of the University of Cambridge.

Governance and Constitution

The Association has four Trustees and then a governing body of up to 16 Executive Committee Members, including 4 Officers. The current members of the committee are listed below, along with the Administrative Assistants of the Association.

You can view CUEA's current constitution here.

Officers

Brian Phillipson (President)

The Association elected Brian as President in 2018. Under Brian's stewardship, the Association has undergone a full review to set a path to an engaging and esteemed CUEA.


Brian matriculated in 1971, and subsequently had a distinguished career in Aerospace and Defence, mainly with BAE Systems.  For several years he worked in Munich, Germany, as the CEO then COO of the Eurofighter company, leading the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft programme. 

Colm Durkan (Vice President)

Professor Durkan is the founder and head of the Nanoengineering Science group at the Nanoscience centre of the University of Cambridge.


His research is focused on understanding the fundamentals of the link between form (size & shape) and function in Nanomaterials, with an emphasis on advanced modes of lithography, microscopy and surface analysis, as applied to both highly applied everyday problems as well as working on the underpinning science. He also has a keen interest in the fabrication of novel devices and device architectures.

Anne Waldock (Treasurer)

Rich Roebuck (Secretary)

Committee Members

Rachel Attwood

When Rachel graduated in 2019, she became a full time Site Engineer at Graham Construction. Whilst she enjoyed seeing projects come to life; working with a diverse group of people from site operatives to project managers and clients; and managing quality, environmental and commercial aspects of site work, she knew that long-term she wanted to move into a role more closely related to design. 


After two years of full-time site experience, she moved department to take up a Design Coordinator role, working on Highways Upgrades in the South-East. She is working towards her Chartership with the Institution of Civil Engineers.


Rachel joined the CUEA committee in 2022 because she wanted to get more involved in developing the links between the alumni network and student body, as well as expanding her own network with Cambridge Engineering alumni in London and the South East. She is also a dedicated volunteer with Girlguiding UK.

Chris O’Connor CEng FIMechE

Chris is the group CEO and Non-Exec with experience in the scientific instrument design and manufacturing industry. Earlier Director experience with Dyson in operational and commercial roles and as CEO for motor yacht manufacturer Sealine International. 


Active within the IMechE and a visiting lecturer and industrial strategy board member at the CUED Institute for Manufacturing.

  

Chris joined the CUEA to help encourage our next generation of Cambridge Engineers to take up rewarding careers in engineering and manufacturing.

Dimitri Goulandris 

Dimitri Goulandris set up and runs The Cycladic Group, an investor in, and creator of businesses. Founded in 2002 to invest capital on behalf of his family and other investors, Cycladic has invested in over 60 businesses across the world, and founded eight in Europe, the US, India, Africa and Latin America. Cycladic works closely with its investee partners to help them develop and then achieve ambitious goals.  


He has been a member of the Young Presidents Organisation since 2002 and is actively involved in Forum and events in the Gold Greater London chapter.

 

In addition to working with and growing smaller companies, Dimitri is passionate about children’s mental health and learning differences and spends significant time focusing on this area both on a for-profit as well as a charitable basis.

 

He is married to Christina Seilern, a well-known architect and has three children, Gaia, 18; Yianni 16 and Mia 10.


Dimitri joined the CUEA in 2020 because he wanted to help create better links between current and past students of Engineering at Cambridge University.

Aurelia Hibbert

Aurelia first joined CUEA in 2018, working as the Operation Assistant after graduating from CUED. While at CUED she also took a year out to run the Cambridge University Eco Racing Team.


She moved to Australia in 2019 to pursue a career in the energy industry, working at Aurecon in the Future Energy Team. From there, she moved back to the UK, taking a research contract at CUED to help develop the Green Construction Board's Low Carbon Concrete Routemap.


Moving back into energy, she now works at Mott MacDonald as a Senior Energy and Decarbonisation Consultant, helping large energy consumers and networks to address their opportunities and risks in the energy transition.

Ryan Lin

Francisco Gomez

Francisco is a final year Engineering PhD student at the University of Cambridge, under the supervision of Dr Veronica Martinez, and sponsored by Rolls-Royce Aerospace. His research focuses on understanding the organisational value of technology, and he has presented his research at multiple international conferences and to more than 100 managers and executives. He is also an academic supervisor in Industrial Engineering for third and fourth year undergraduate students, and the current president of the Cambridge University Automobile Club.

Prior to his PhD, he received a 1st class degree in Mechanical Engineering, was Director of Engineering at a technology startup, worked as an Ultrasonic Non-Destructive Testing Engineer at TWI, and worked for two Summers at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory.

He is now Research Application Manager at The Alan Turing Institute in London, the UK National Centre for Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI. As a RAM, he has an overview of the research output by the Institute and ensures that it is being adopted by Government, Academia, and Industry.


Henry Reynolds

Matt Haslett

Matt graduated in 2008 (Mechanical Engineering at Churchill College) and is a mechanical and structural integrity engineer working at TWI, a research and technology organisation operating in the area of welding and joining. He specialises in mechanical testing and structural integrity assessment, delivering project work for clients and teaching on various training courses. He has previous work experience in the armed forces (Royal Navy) and for the MOD, and also holds a MBA from De Montfort University (Leicester). Matt joined the CUEA committee in 2012 and continues to hold a passion for education outreach and supporting the next generation of engineers. 

Tom Ridgman

Tom graduated from Southampton University in 1973 and started his career as a diesel engine development engineer. This led to a range of management posts in the automotive industry. In 1995 he made a career switch and joined CUED Manufacturing and Management Division to run a post-graduate course to make new

graduates more effective in their initial careers. He has developed the course to the MPhil in Industrial Systems, Manufacture and Management and contributed to the founding and growth of the Institute for Manufacturing and IfM Engage. He formally retired in 2018 but has remained engaged with the IfM on a range of activities.

John Durrell

Sam Massey

Ron Mobed

Ed Broadhead

David Adamson