IMechE appoints James Partington as Director of Engineering Policy and Impact

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers has appointed James Partington as Director of Engineering Policy and Impact. James will take up his new role in late October.

James is currently Deputy Director in the International Science and Innovation Directorate at Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

In this role, which he has held since May 2019, he is responsible for developing the UK Government’s domestic and international science policy, including having direct ownership of policy on nuclear fusion and responsibility for Euratom Research & Training Science Programme negotiations with the EU.

IMechE Chief Executive Dr Alice Bunn OBE said:

“We are delighted that James is joining us as Director of Engineering Policy and Impact, a newly created role which will be vital in promoting engineering and the achievements of our members. James’ experience working for the UK Government will help us deliver our new impact strategy to ensure our members’ engineering expertise is heard as widely as possible in Government and the broader community.”

James Partington said:

“Engineering plays such a huge role in solving the many global challenges we face, and I am excited by this opportunity to lead policy making at IMechE. I am looking forward to working with IMechE colleagues and members to highlight the importance of engineering and how the work of engineers has huge benefits for society.”

Prior to his current position, James has held a variety of roles in Government, working across a range of strategy, policy and delivery issues.  In his previous role James led the joint BEIS – HM Treasury Business Productivity Review on the firm-level actions businesses can take to improve performance, which resulted in the Help to Grow programmes

He has had sat on the governing councils of organisations such as CERN and the European Spallation Source, and worked to create the market for ultra-low emission vehicles within the Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

Before Government, James read Earth Sciences at university, focussing on geochemistry and palaeoceanography.