CIBSE NEWS | KEVIN KELLY A YEAR OF INNOVATION AND SHEER HARD WORK As CIBSE President Kevin Kelly nears the end of his 12-month term in office, he reflects on CIBSEs achievements and the positive response to the challenges of Covid-19 M Electrication of buildings is a key area of net zero where CIBSE is taking the lead y presidential year started with the Covid-19 pandemic still casting a nasty shadow over the world, and my presidential address was delivered at a virtual AGM in an environment of continued uncertainty. Nearly all of us lost loved ones, friends, neighbours and colleagues to Covid-19. And yet what unbelievable resilience we have shown. This was certainly led by the medical research community, leading by example in every way. In CIBSE some of our own work to produce leading-edge research, ventilation guidance for safer use of buildings and in quickly supporting our CIBSE community shone through for me. CIBSE also worked very closely with the CIBSE President Kevin Kelly is approaching the end of his 12-month term in ofce Royal Academy of Engineering to produce guidance for the UK Chief Scientic Advisor on Infection-Resilient Environments, work which caught the headlines in July 2021 and showed the key role of our profession in delivering safe and healthy environments, not just during a pandemic but in everyday life too. Crucial guidance This work demonstrated CIBSEs ability to provide high-quality guidance at a fast pace, delivering signicant benets to society, which is our ultimate objective as a professional body. As CIBSE President, I have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm, innovation, creativity and sheer hard work exhibited by all our volunteers, members and staff in adapting to the constraints imposed by the pandemic. On the nance side, CIBSE started 2021 with a projected small decit and we were able to turn this around to a signicant surplus. This remarkable performance was in no small part because of the outstanding work of CIBSEs staff, directorate and our new CEO, Ruth Carter, who took up her role in May 2021. We must also not forget the hard work and commitment of our very many volunteers. Voluntary work always factors very strongly in our performance. Regions, groups, Societies and committees across CIBSE have worked incredibly hard for all members, reducing their own local budgetary requirements and maintaining 16 April 2022 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Apr 22 pp16-18 Kevin Kelly v2.indd 16 25/03/2022 15:03