Professor Dame Ann Dowling is set to become the first female president of The Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) later this year.
Dame Ann is a world authority on combustion and acoustics with a CV that boasts many accomplishments and accolades.
She is head of the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge and chairman of the University Gas Turbine Partnership with Rolls-Royce. She has a CBE for services to Mechanical Engineering, a DBE for services to science and has a UK Resource Centre award for her ‘Inspiration and Leadership in Academia and Research’.
“I am honoured to be nominated for election as President of the UK’s national academy of engineering at a crucial time when it is generally acknowledged that many more engineers will be required to help the country benefit from the knowledge economy of the future,” says Dame Ann.
Amongst her various roles she is also chair of the council at Cranfield-based UK Aerodynamics, a joint venture between Government and industry to develop the UK’s strategy for aerodynamic technology research.
Dame Ann particularly specialises in research into low emission combustion for aero and industrial gas turbines and low noise vehicles. As part of this in 2006 she led the Cambridge MIT Silent Aircraft project, which published its radical new design concept SAX-40 with the aim of raising aircraft industry aspirations.
Upon election by the RAE Council at its September 2014 AGM, Dame Ann will become the Academy’s first female President and serve a term of five years.
