Imarest's 107th Annual Dinner

Being held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, the Annual Dinner will see hundreds of guests from all over the world gather to hear Principal Guest, Paul Lester CBE, Chief Executive of VT Group plc, and the inaugural speech by Rear Admiral Nigel Guild CB PhD DEng FREng, IMarEST's newly appointed 108th President (from Thursday 11th March 2010).

"The Dinner marks the first opportunity for our new President to speak to Institute members and the marine industry at large, and address the IMarEST's sphere of influence," explains Dr Marcus Jones, Chief Executive of IMarEST. "In his speech he will be focusing on the Institute's role in developing engineering and on the 'Year of the Seafarer'.

"Members, non-members and their guests travel from all over the world to be with us on what is always a highly memorable evening. We look forward to a truly inspiring gathering in mid-March."

About the 108th President
Nigel Guild retired from the Royal Navy in 2009 after 42 years' service. A Weapon Engineer Officer, he served at sea in HM Ships HERMES, EURYALUS and, following promotion to Commander in 1984, HMS BEAVER and on the staff of Flag Officer Sea Training.

Shore appointments in the Procurement Executive, up to Project Director for Combat Systems, led to a key role in the team implementing Smart Acquisition.

Promoted Rear Admiral in January 2000 he was an Executive Director of the Defence Procurement Agency and Controller of the Navy.

Admiral Guild's final appointment was as Senior Responsible Owner for Carrier Strike, in the Ministry of Defence from 2003 to 2009, during which time he was also Chief Naval Engineer Officer and the first Chairman of the Defence Nuclear Safety Board.

A Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, IMarEST, IET and IMA, he is vice chairman of the Engineering Council UK and is currently President-elect of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.

His wife Felicity is Visiting Professor of composite materials at Imperial College. Their home is in South Devon. They have two adult sons.

Online booking for the Annual Dinner will open shortly at the IMarEST website. Tables and individual places can be booked through the IMarEST Events Department.