b'28 Member News March 2023Community spotlightMeet the Chairof IET ScotlandProfessor David FlynnFRSA FHEA PhD MSc BEng (Hons) MIET MIEEEThe IET has supported me throughout my engineering journeyMy journey to becomingdensity switch mode powerbe a hero, be an engineer an engineer supplies in 2006 with Raytheon, dont worry no costumes co-creating an energy networkinvolved!a presentation series My inspiration to become anmonitoring solution that wouldI designed to draw parallels engineer came from my fatheraccelerate more open access forwith the imagination we apply who was a linesman for anthe adoption of EVs, distributedto superheroes and what energy Distribution Networkrenewable generation and saveengineering and technology has, Operator. I would hear first-handbillions in network management,can and will achieve in the future. the stories of how challengingto winning the 2020 Knowledge and vital it was to maintainExchange Champion Awardenergy networks and whenfrom Interface. given the opportunity to visitAs the Chair of IET those heroic and epic feats ofToday I am a Professor of CyberScotland, my priority engineeringsuch as largePhysical Systems at the University hydropower plants to sprawlingof Glasgow and in my role, I haveover the two years of transmission towersit instilledseveral responsibilities, broadlymy tenure is to ensure in me the importance andin the categories of teaching,that our IET vision and excitement of engineering, butresearch, management, andmission of Engineering a also its duty of service to society.leadership. I love the contrast of working in the urban andBetter World is recognised At 16 I considered leaving schoolenergised west end of Glasgowwithin the devolved for an apprenticeship, butand then relaxing at home inScottish Government thankfully I was unsuccessful.the Kinross countryside!I discovered through openand throughout the days that a future pathway viaBeing part of the IETcommunities represented university would be a good fitcommunity within our local networks.for me. I was fortunate to win some prizes during my studiesI first joined the IET in 1998 and and graduated with first classover the years have been active honours. I was curious to testwithin the IET community.I would absolutely recommend myself at the next level and learnThe support and benefits ofothers to get involved with the more about research, so throughbeing a member have evolvedIET, this can provide some very a funded MSc scholarshipalong with my career, fromrewarding opportunities for and industrial sponsorship viaprofessional best practice tovolunteers to see a real impact Raytheon, my masters led ontonetworking opportunities, andfrom their time. Its not a do all my PhD studies.vital financial support and aor nothing commitmentthe platform during my research, IET recognises the demands During my career, I have hadvia the Leslie H Paddle Prize. on members time, and you can many individual moments that Ialways start small and increase take great pride in, from creatingI have been involved withthe levels of support, as and the worlds highest powerschool STEM initiatives includingwhen you can. Find your community: theiet.org/technical'