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Type
Lecture

Launch of ICE’s State of the Nation 2025

Event organised by ICE

Date
30 January 2025
Time
19:00 - 19:45 GMT
Location
Institution of Civil Engineers
One Great George Street
Westminster
London, SW1P 3AA
United Kingdom
Add to Calendar 30-01-2025 19:00 30-01-2025 19:45 false Europe/London Launch of ICE’s State of the Nation 2025 https://ice.org.uk/events/upcoming-events/launch-of-ice-state-of-the-nation-2025 Institution of Civil Engineers, London

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Overview

Join us for this hybrid launch of the ICE’s State of the Nation 2025 report.

State of the Nation has been the institution’s flagship report since 2002. Based on extensive research and member engagement, this annual assessment of the industry aims to stimulate debate and highlight actions that the ICE believes its members could take to improve infrastructure throughout the UK.

The ICE’s President, Professor Jim Hall, will chair a panel discussion featuring representatives of civil engineering projects demonstrating highly sustainable, affordable and resilient approaches. The audience will have the chance to ask the panellists questions before the evening ends with a networking reception.

In-person places are limited, so please register soon to avoid missing out.

Venue

Institution of Civil Engineers
One Great George Street
Westminster
London
SW1P 3AA

Programme

18:30 - 19:00

Arrivals and networking

[Registration starts at 18:30 for anyone attending in person. For those joining online, we recommend that you log into the platform at 18:45 to test the connection.]

19:00 - 19:05

Welcome by Prof Jim Hall, ICE president

19:05 - 19:25

Panellists remarks

  • Martin Land, Liverpool City Region
  • Dr Hazel McDonald, Transport Scotland
  • Samuel Underwood, Southern Water
  • David Porter, ICE 
19:25 - 19:45

Q&A session

19:45 - 21:00

Networking reception

21:00

Event close

Speakers

Prof Jim Hall

Prof Jim Hall

Institution of Civil Engineers

President 2024-25

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Prof Jim Hall

The ICE’s 160th President, Jim Hall is professor of climate and environmental risks at the University of Oxford. He is internationally recognised for his research on risk analysis in water resource systems, flooding and coastal engineering, infrastructure systems and climate change adaptation.  

Hall is a member of the prime minister’s Council for Science and Technology and a commissioner on the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC). He also served on the adaptation committee of the independent Climate Change Committee from 2009 to 2019.  

Hall led the development of the national infrastructure systems model the NIC used in producing its first National Infrastructure Assessment. He invented the Data & Analytics Facility for National Infrastructure in 2017 and remains chair of its strategy board.  

Among his many accolades, Hall was awarded the ICE’s George Stephenson Medal in 2001 and the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water in 2018. He also contributed to the Fourth Assessment Report of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. 

Dr Hazel McDonald FICE

Dr Hazel McDonald FICE

Transport Scotland

chief bridge engineer (head structures)

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Dr Hazel McDonald FICE

With a PhD focusing on temperature effects in concrete box girder bridges, Hazel McDonald has been immersed in the management, upkeep and renewal of highway infrastructure for more than three decades. She worked in design, inspection and assessment roles at Mott MacDonald, Cumbria County Council and Capita Symonds before joining Transport Scotland 20 years ago.  

In her current position at the agency, McDonald leads a team of 16 people managing the inspection, maintenance and improvement of Scottish trunk road structures. She also chairs the UK Bridges Board.

David Porter

David Porter

Institution of Civil Engineers

senior vice president

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David Porter

David Porter is current ICE Senior Vice President. Porter is a trustee of the ICE and, until recently, held the learning society portfolio.

Porter is currently the director of engineering with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), which is the roads authority for Northern Ireland. He’s the chief highways engineer.

He is also the head of the civil engineering profession with the Northern Ireland civil service.

He’s responsible for the development of the department’s professional and technical staff, engineering policies and standards, and health and safety. He also leads on procurement and the internal consultancy.

Previously, Porter was the chief executive of the Rivers Agency, the flood defence and drainage authority for Northern Ireland. He also held the posts of director of development and director of operations with the agency.

Porter is a past chair of the Northern Ireland region of the ICE. He’s been on the ICE Council three times: two terms as the Northern Ireland representative, and one as a general member.

He has also served on numerous committees and panels:

  • He was a member of the Presidential Commission on the ICE Governance (the Orr Review).
  • He chaired the member-led review of NOMCO, the Audit Committee, and the Qualifications Panel.
  • He has been on the Committee of Management of the ICE Benevolent Fund.

Amongst various distinctions, Porter is a Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineering, was awarded the Poskitt Medal by the ICE Northern Ireland Region in 2017, and the Engineers Ireland President’s Award in 2018.