Lyndsay Carmichael Accompanies ICE President on his Visit to NI
12 December 2013
ICE Chairman’s Apprentice for 2013, Doran’s Bridge team member Lyndsay Carmichael, was honoured to have been invited to accompany ICE President Geoff French during the course of his day-long visit to Northern Ireland on Thursday 5 December 2013.
The visit was a full day of activities and meetings culminating in the ICE Annual Dinner in the Europa Hotel on Thursday evening. The morning commenced with a Breakfast Debate in the Waterfront which was chaired by a panel including the Alliance Party’s Naomi Long, ICE President Geoff French and the Minister for Transport, MLA Danny Kennedy. The main topics of debate at the breakfast included climate change, pressures on infrastructure and the prospects for current and future engineering graduates.
Next on the agenda was the Industry Leaders’ Debate attended by key stakeholders and industry leaders which also took place in the Waterfront. The main topics under discussion were university fees and the effect they will have on the engineering graduate market, the role of contractors in employing graduates, Chartership and possible alternatives to degree qualifications within the industry, such as apprenticeships.
The morning was rounded off with the Graduate & Students Lunch which took place in The Mac. Speakers at the lunch included past G&S Committee Chair and current ICE Council representative Laura Graham, who addressed the attendees on the structure of ICE and how graduates and students can get involved. Geoff French then presented on the resources currently available within the industry, the flow of infrastructure investments from developed nations to developing economies and encouraging ICE members to view themselves as part of a global community.
Last but not least on the agenda was the Annual Dinner in the Grand Ballroom at the Europa Hotel hosted by ICE NI Chairman Kevin McShane. As is the case every year, representatives from Doran Consulting attended and we were proud that Lyndsay was a guest of honour at the ‘top table’ for this event. The evening saw a programme of keynote speeches given by ICE President Geoff French, ICE NI Chairman and dinner host Kevin McShane and Graduate & Student Committee Chair Wendy Armstrong. Lyndsay had the honour of saying Grace before dinner and the evening was rounded off with a set by comedian Gene Fitzpatrick.
Lyndsay says of the visit that she “can’t thank the ICE enough for inviting me and allowing me to have such a unique and invaluable experience that gave me not only the opportunity to meet the President and other key figures in the ICE, but also made me aware of all the support that is available to students and graduates from the ICE and all the ways in which you can get involved”.