Maitland Lecture
Our very popular biennial event
The Maitland Lecture was established to celebrate the Institution’s Golden Jubilee in 1958. The lecture is intended to “review some aspects of contemporary affairs by a person of distinction” with the subject of the lecture not necessarily relating to engineering and being entirely at the lecturer’s discretion.
The Maitland Lecture is given biennially to commemorate the work of Major Reginald Maitland who was instrumental in shaping the Institution of Structural Engineers into the highly professional organisation it is today. After a distinguished military career, he was engaged in reconstruction work in France after the First World War and returned to London as a director of a contracting firm. Maitland became a member of the Institution in 1925, and served as its Secretary for more than 30 years, from 1930 to 1961.
Early in his tenure as Secretary, Maitland was instrumental in the application for and granting of the Institution's Royal Charter. In due course and under his guidance, the membership trebled in size. He guided the Institution through a period of increasing influence, gaining respect for the Institution from Government, public authorities, employers and the engineering profession itself. Maitland laid the groundwork for the high esteem in which our membership qualifying examination is held today throughout the world. The Maitland Lecture was inaugurated in the Institution's Golden Jubilee year to celebrate and commemorate Major Maitland's service and leadership.
2012 lecture:
Challenges of the world economy by Lord Digby Jones
The Institution of Structural Engineers is delighted to announce that business leader 
Lord Digby Jones will be giving an insightful talk on his current assessment of prospects for the UK economy and how UK industry and manufacturing must continue to evolve in the face of globalisation. This is an excellent opportunity to network with local business professionals, in addition to gaining valuable acumen from one of the country’s most formidable business minds.
Lord Digby Jones is a world renowned business leader. His outspoken view of industry and its role in society has received critical acclaim, captivating audiences with a refreshing outlook on business.
Lord Jones’ business experience spans several decades in several industries which has culminated in great demand for his knowledge; he’s currently an active crossbencher in the House of Lords, as well as Chairman of the International Business Advisory Board at British Airways, Chairman of Triumph Motorcycles Limited, Chairman of Grove Industries, Senior Advisor to HSBC and is Corporate Ambassador for Jaguar Cars and JCB among others.
Date: 26 June 2012
Time: 12:00 registration, 12:30 lunch, 13:30 lecture
Venue: Hyatt Regency Birmingham, B1 2JZ
Price (including hot fork buffet): £37.50 each or £350 for a table of ten
Contact: events@istructe.org