YES Ball - Third Level Education Liaison

On Friday night I was pleased to accept the invitation of Justine Butler Chairperson of the Young Engineers Society (YES) to their Annual Ball at the Morrison Hotel.

It was a 'masked ball' affair with both John Butler the other guest and myself together with our partners exempt from the masking formalities. (John is the HR Director in Engineers Ireland). All of the young engineers donned their masks though led by Justine whose mask was painted on!

Julie Goggins Third Level Liaison Engineers Ireland,
P J Rudden President Engineers Ireland,
Justine Butler Chairperson YES and Richard Burke UCD Student Engineer

The YES Ball was a spectacular success with double the attendance of last year. There were two reasons for this - firstly more companies were represented than last year and secondly there were a substantial number of engineering students present from UCD, DIT, DCU and as far away as DKIT.

The students added greatly to the fun and glamour of the night. Their presence in force was a tribute to our two new Third Level Liaison officers in Engineers Ireland - Julie Goggins and Richard Wilson - whose outreach into the colleges has obviously been extremely successful over the past year. I have no doubt that this engagement with the Third Level Education Sector will continue to grow in the years ahead. I say this as both Julie and Richard continue to 'weave their spell' on the students who appear to have enormous respect for both of them and after Friday night I can see why.

William Meara President of the DIT Engineering Society, Julie Farrelly DIT Eng Soc, Richard Wilson Third Level Liaison Engineers Ireland and James O'Meara Project Engineer Dromone Engineering and Innovative Student of the Year 2010 (DIT)

Many thanks to the companies who took tables and sent their young engineers to enjoy the night - ESBI, Clifton Scannell, DPS, Arup, Cedco and RPS. Thanks also to the many students who see a bright professional future with Engineers Ireland.

In my speech I assured the gathering that Engineers Ireland will continue to work all of our creative skills to generate employment for our graduates whether in manufacturing, infrastructure or exporting our services.

We take the importance of the Young Engineers Society very seriously in Engineers Ireland as we see in YES the young engineers who are the leaders of our future.

This year for the first time we have co-opted the Chairperson of YES Justine Butler to both our Council and to our Executive Board to give a voice to the young engineers at the highest levels of the profession. Justine through her contributions has already shown that she is up to the challenge of helping to chart the roadway for the future with Engineers Ireland.

I was delighted to learn also that at least three of the young engineers who attended on Friday night are in our new Advertising Campaign for Engineers Ireland ('This is My Land This is Your Land') so look out for them when they appear in a staring role on TV  next month - Elva Bannon, Jamie O'Meara and Katie O'Neill!

I wish the Young Engineers Society every success and growth in quality and numbers in the years ahead. They are truly the future of Engineers Ireland.