FIDIC chief executive Dr Nelson Ogunshakin has been elected as a new Fellow by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

The Academy has elected 69 leading figures in the field of engineering and technology to its Fellowship. The group consists of 60 Fellows, four International Fellows and five Honorary Fellows, with each individual having made exceptional contributions to their sectors in their own way, as innovation leaders, inspiring role models, or through remarkable achievements in business or academia.

This year’s new Fellows are the first to reflect the Academy’s Fellowship Fit for the Future initiative announced in July 2020, to drive more nominations of outstanding engineers from underrepresented groups ahead of its 50th anniversary in 2026. This initiative will see the Academy strive for increased representation from women, disabled and LGBTQ+ engineers, those from minority ethnic backgrounds, non-traditional education pathways and emerging industries and those who have achieved excellence at an earlier career stage than normal.

Commenting on his election to the Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Dr Nelson Ogunshakin said: “I am delighted and honoured to be elected as a Fellow and it is particularly pleasing to see that this year’s new Fellows are the most diverse group elected in the history of the Academy.

“We know that the engineering profession has long suffered from a diversity shortfall and it is good to see that the Academy is committed to changing that. It is well known that diverse organisations tend to be more agile and more innovative and it is crucial that our industry and its representative bodies reflect the society we seek to serve in addressing the shared challenges of the future. I look forward to playing my part in that and I am delighted to be named as a Fellow of such a respected institution.”

Newly elected FIDIC president Anthony Barry said: “Nelson has done so much in his career and widely promoted the consulting engineering profession. His expertise, knowledge, energy and leadership are all outstanding and it is wonderful to see him being recognised in this way.”