b'Member News March 2021 19Digital futures: the switch to a virtual platformThe E&T Innovation AwardsThe E&T Innovation Awards is the ultimate celebration ofThe IET Presidents Addressinnovation and highlights the amazing work being done byAs we kicked off our 150th anniversary year back in people like you, our members, who are engineering a betterOctober 2020, Professor Danielle George MBE CEng world through innovative technologies and creative initiatives. FIET took us on an inspirational journey at her IET Presidents Address. From celebrating some of the most inspiring difference makers of the past to looking at the influencers of the future, for the first time ever, we took the Presidents Address around the world in the form of an online broadcast.Broadcast as live from theAlong with her co-host, Kelvin Lecture Theatre atElise Tan-Roberts, Danielle IET London: Savoy Place onanswered viewers 8 October 2020, Daniellesquestions using the Presidents Address hashashtag #AskProfDan amassed over 37,000 live andand the live chat function E&T Innovation Awards hosts Maddie Moate and Greg Foot filming at IET London: Savoy Place on-demand views from 65on YouTube, where the countries! An innovative andAddress was being On Thursday, 19 Novemberwhich only allows for a capacityinspiring event, it was alsolivestreamed. Not only 2020, the awards ceremony wasof c.300 guests to attend in- designed to be as interactivedid Danielles Address streamed virtually for the firstperson. By streaming the Awards,as possible, to connectshowcase the switch from time ever. With over 2,000 viewsit not only allowed for a moreDanielle and the differencephysical to virtual, it also from multiple countries across theinclusive event, allowing viewersmakers to our global onlinesymbolised a transition world, viewers tuned in to watchfrom around the world to watchaudience of members andfrom traditional to modern; the celebration of hard work andlive and on-demand for free, butnon-members alike.from old to new.outstanding innovation acrossalso a more interactive one.engineering and technology. As part of our 150th anniversary Hosted by Maddie Moate andcelebrations, we launched a Twitter Greg Foot, the virtual ceremonypoll over on @EandTmagazine, was livestreamed from IET London:asking people to cast their votes Savoy Place on our website withfor Greatest Innovation from the the help of the IET.tv team. Beforelast 150 years. the pivot to a virtual delivery,The winning innovation was the Innovation Awards were toannounced live during the be held at the Tower of London,ceremony.Heres what our viewers had to say: IET President Professor Danielle George MBE CEng FIET on stagedelivering her Presidents AddressIve attended and heard many IEE and IET Presidential Address in my 60+ years of membership, but this was probably the most inspirational.This format works wellGreat to reach to get a few voices to aout this way IET President Professor Danielle George MBE CEng FIET on stage infar wider audience thanto such a widethe empty Kelvin Lecture Theatre at IET London: Savoy Placewe can do face-to-face. global audience.How do you think the virtual landscape will shape the events of the future?Let us know your thoughts at Check out theiet.org/events and theiet.org/live membernews@theiet.orgfor all our upcoming events.'