Directors

Martin Powell: Chief Executive

An honours graduate in Earth Sciences, Martin developed his career in the quarrying extractive industry, initially with Australian corporation Pioneer Concrete where he worked in a number of roles over a 10 year period.

On joining Redland, one of the UK’s leading building materials producers, his subsequent roles were involved with business acquisitions, mergers and restructuring until Redland was acquired by Lafarge, a French multinational heavy materials group.

There he joined a world-wide business performance team supporting knowledge transfer and best practice across Lafarge’s international concrete businesses.

After a seven year period as Chief Executive of the UK’s Concrete Society, he joined The Institution of Structural Engineers as Chief Executive in 2009.
 

Darren Byrne: Deputy Chief Executive, Membership and Education Services Director

Darren joined the Institution in November 1999, following almost five years with the Institution of Civil Engineers.

During his extensive involvement with professional engineering institutions Darren has gained experience in all aspects of the professional membership qualifying process, from academic qualifications through to initial professional development (IPD) and finally the professional review. 

He was appointed Director of Membership and Education in February 2008, and Deputy Chief Executive in January 2017.

During this time Darren has overseen the operation of the Membership and Education Directorate, from careers and accreditation activities to the Professional Review and CPD.

Darren has supported the Chief Executive in the development of membership and education policies and specifically the introduction of new, more accessible and inclusive, routes to membership

Darren, with his team, continues to develop resources and initiatives to better support members, throughout the world, in developing competence.

Silvia Pilotto: Digital, Data & Technology Director

Silvia is an experienced digital strategist committed to putting digital transformation at the heart of the Institution’s corporate strategy.

She is passionate about the appliance of technology to improve people’s lives and the good of the environment, believing in its transformative power to make a difference daily. 

Silvia has fifteen years’ experience working as a senior digital strategist in the not-for profit sector, after previous roles at World Animal Protection (where she lead a global team based in 15 countries) and at Barnardo’s (whose website ranked among the eight most successful in the community-humanitarian industry during her tenure).

Originally from Italy, Silvia has lived and worked for many years in Ireland and Portugal before settling in the UK with her husband, Paul.