News Highlights

Keith Wallace elected President of The Watt Club

Keith Wallace was elected 121st President of The Watt Club at its Annual Meeting on 19 January.

The Watt Club is the University's alumni association, the oldest of its kind in the UK with all alumni automatically becoming members upon graduation.

The original aim was to ‘sup together on the anniversary of the birth of James Watt…and also to promote the interests of the School, by raising a fund each year to provide prizes’ This year’s Annual Meeting was the first in over 30 years to actually meet on James Watt’s birthday and The Watt Club continues to support The Watt Club Medal, The Watt Club Prize and, from 2012, The Watt Club Postgraduate Medal.

Nowadays, there are branches of The Watt Club all over the world, from Singapore and Hong Kong to London and Edinburgh. Alumni meet regularly for business and social networking, CPD events and to engage with their old University.

Following his election, Keith said, "There is lots to look forward to with a new five year plan being looked at, the development of Dubai and Malaysia and looking to harness the passion, knowledge and experience of the alumni to further the University."

Keith graduated in 1985 with a degree in civil engineering, and is a Chartered Engineer and a Chartered Director. He is Global Business Lines Leader Railways for URS, the 50,000 strong US based engineering corporation, having worked on the planning and design of some of the world largest railway projects. Keith also serves as one of two Watt Club members on the Court of the University.

The Watt Club Annual Meeting also saw Elspeth King re-elected as Vice-President. Elspeth completed her MBA in 1992 and has been involved in alumni activities in both London and Edinburgh, as well as a member of The Watt Club Council since 2006.

Keith succeeds Gregor Colville who served two terms as President. The University thanks Gregor for his exemplary effort and dedication to both The Watt Club and the University since 2009 and wishes him well for the future.

(www.hw.ac.uk/about/reputation/whos-who/gregor-colville.htm)


The University looks forward to working with Keith and Elspeth over the next two years and wishes them both well in their roles.