Derek Ian Elder

A Civil Engineer who took a winding road from designing and building to promoting the profession.

I completed an Apprenticeship, took part-time qualifications by day-release and night-school, gained a BSc degree in Civil Engineering then became a Chartered Engineer in 1984.

On that journey and beyond, I moved from working on roads, drainage, industrial structures, derelict and contaminated land rehabilitation and urban renewal into policy and strategy and, ultimately, into being an advocate for the Engineering profession.

I am now a part-time consultant and commentator on Engineering issues, using various social media as the means of communicating the value and importance of the profession to the built and natural environment.

I am also an active participant in three professional Engineering institutions in the UK and a STEM Ambassador, communicating the value of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics careers to school students.