Policy and media

Press release

Engineering recognition for Olympic Delivery Authority Chairman

17 November 2011

Engineering recognition for Olympic Delivery Authority Chairman John Armitt, Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, has received two prestigious awards from Europe’s biggest engineers’ body.

At an awards ceremony held in central London, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) awarded him an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his long and dedicated service to the advancement of science, engineering and technology.

Mr Armitt was also the first person to receive the Sarah Guppy Medal for Achievement in the Built Environment sector.

John Armitt said: “These awards are an honour that I am delighted to accept. They recognise the tremendous work done by the whole of the ODA team and its supply chain who have worked tirelessly to achieve a result which reflects so well on the UK engineering capability.”

Dr Mike Short, IET President, said “IET Honorary Fellowships are awarded to senior, distinguished engineers and John is a very worthy recipient. He has demonstrated leadership of the highest order, controlling and reducing costs, applying best environmental practice and working effectively with Governments at the highest level.”

“His leadership of the Olympic Delivery Authority is of paramount importance to the success of the London 2012 Games. As a direct result of his hard work and dedication it will be clear to the world the importance of professional engineers and technicians in creating world-class Olympic venues and environments.”

Mr Armitt is Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, the statutory corporation responsible for ensuring delivery of venues, infrastructure and legacy for the London 2012 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. He is well-known and respected in the engineering community and is equally recognised by the general public as pre-eminent in the profession.

Media enquiries to:

Robert Beahan
Media Relations Manager

Tel: +44 (0)1438 767336
Mob: +44 (0)7595 400912
Email: rbeahan@theiet.org

Notes to editors:

For more information on Honorary Fellowships, visit: http://www.theiet.org/membership/types/hon-fiet/
The Sarah Guppy Medal for Achievement in the Built Environment sector is named after the inventor who contributed to the design of Britain's infrastructure who developed several domestic products. In 1811 she patented the first of her inventions, a method of making safe piling for bridges. Thomas Telford asked her for permission to use her patented design for suspension bridge foundations, and she granted it to him free of charge. As a friend of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and his family she became involved in the Great Western Railway, writing to the directors with ideas and giving her support. In 2010, Sarah had a blue plaque erected in her honour in Bristol.
John Armitt received his awards at the IET’s Ambition and Achievement awards ceremony. More information: http://conferences.theiet.org/achievement/index.cfm
In order to celebrate the important contributions of engineers and technicians towards the 2012 Olympics, the IET and our partners are organising a range of initiatives during 2011 and 2012. For more information, visit: http://www.theiet.org/policy/media/olympics/index.cfm
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), the IET, ICT Knowledge Transfer Network (ICT KTN) and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) worked together to facilitate an IET special interest publication: http://www.theiet.org/sectors/information-communications/ict-2012.cfm
Interview opportunities are available with IET spokespersons
The IET is Europe’s largest professional body of engineers with over 150,000 members in 127 countries
For more information, visit www.theiet.org
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John Armitt: biography

After graduating in Civil Engineering from the Portsmouth College of Technology in 1966, Mr Armitt took his first job with John Laing Construction. He spent 27 years with John Laing plc, on various projects including the Sizewell B nuclear power station, rising to become the Chairman of Laing's International and Civil Engineering Divisions.

In 1993 he was appointed Chief Executive of Union Railways, the company responsible for development of the Channel Tunnel rail link. From 1997 to 2001 he was Chief Executive of Costain Group and in 2001 he became Chief Executive of Railtrack, and from 2002 to 2007 its successor, Network Rail.

John is also Chairman of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and was awarded the CBE in 1996 for his contribution to the rail industry.