Top Table Guests
Host – Graeme Fletcher
President IES
After completing his studies at Southampton Institute of Higher Education and an engineering cadetship with BP Shipping Ltd in the 1980’s, Graeme spent the next 20 years on various ship types trading worldwide. This culminated in service as Chief Engineer on Irish Sea Ro-Ro ferries and attainment of an Open University Honours Degree. Since coming ashore he has been responsible for safety and technical operations both ashore and afloat during a period of great advancement and technical development at Western Ferries (Clyde) Limited and has overseen the design and build of the current fleet of vessels and supporting infrastructure. He Chairs the Ro-Ro Subgroup of the MCA’s Domestic Passenger Ship Steering Group and represents IES on the Lloyd’s Register Technical Committee. Graeme has a passion for all things mechanical and connected with the water. He fully supports all efforts to promote the teaching of STEM subjects and the application of sound engineering principles in all walks of life. He respects and appreciates good engineering design coupled with art and aesthetics. In his spare time, he is an enthusiastic Masters rower and Coach for Castle Semple Rowing Club, Lochwinnoch.
Gerasimos Theotokatos
Chair - Scottish Branch IMarEST
Professor Gerasimos Theotokatos (PhD, FIMarEST) is the Chair of Marine Systems, Directir of the Maritime Transport Research Unit (MTRU) and the Maritime Safety Research Centre (MSRC) at the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering (NAOME) at the University of Strathclyde (UoS). He specialises in autonomous and intelligent systems, digital twins, prognostics and health-aware systems, cyber-physical systems, AI/ML tools’ applications in maritime engineering and technology. He has a track record of international and national research collaborations and multi-disciplinary project of various scales and complexities. He has published 100+ journal articles and 150+ conference papers. He served for three terms as Chair of the Scottish branch of the Institution of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST), whereas he is currently member of the IMarEST Scottish branch, mentoring the University of Strathclyde IMarEST student section.
Thanasis Antyras
Scotland Branch, Institution of Structural Engineers
Ellen Halkon
Scottish Chair - Institution of Civil Engineers
Ellen Halkon is a Chartered Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and current Chair of the ICE in Scotland. She is an experienced bridge engineer working as an Associate Director with WSP . She is an accomplished project manager with a particular focus on multidisciplinary projects and is currently leading the M8 Woodside Viaducts permanent intervention works project for WSP on behalf of Transport Scotland.
Douglas Hutchison
Education Director Glasgow
Douglas’s educational career started as a secondary RE teacher after which he moved onto working as an additional support needs teacher before re-training as an educational psychologist. He was Principal Educational Psychologist for South Ayrshire before joining HM Inspectorate of education where he worked for 5 years. After the inspectorate he returned to South Ayrshire as Head of Education and in January 2022 he was appointed as Executive Director of Education for Glasgow City Council. In his spare time he cycles and plays Bass Trombone with Kilmarnock Concert Brass but not at the same time.
Mick O'Connor
Deacon of The Incorporation of Hammermen of Glasgow.
Professor Mick O’Connor PhD is a Chartered Engineer, Chartered Director, and entrepreneur with a career spanning aerospace, defence, energy, shipbuilding, financial services, and the emerging space economy.
He began his working life as an apprentice welder at Scott Lithgow shipyards, where his early promise was recognised in 1986 with the Prince Philip Prize from the Incorporation of Hammermen of Glasgow for the best engineering student in the West of Scotland. From those roots in heavy industry, he progressed through leadership roles across oil, shipbuilding, utilities and aerospace, delivering major transformations in complex, safety-critical environments.
Mick is founder of HAELO, co-founder of Fire Arrow and Commercial Director of Gibson Robotics, spanning RegTech, Spaceport development, and Counter-UAS innovation. He is also an Honorary Professor and Entrepreneur in Residence at Glasgow Caledonian University, where he champions technology entrepreneurship and STEM outreach.
From shipyard apprentice to professor and entrepreneur, his career reflects a lifelong commitment to engineering excellence, innovation, and leadership.
Chris McNair
Acting Chairman RINA Scottish Branch – RINA Council
Chris is a trained Naval Architect, Graduating from University of Strathclyde in 2014, and joined the Babcock International Group Graduate Development Programme at Rosyth. After rotating around Naval Architecture Design in Defence and Commercial markets, Shipbuilding placements on Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, Project management and Business Development, he joined the Rosyth Naval Architecture team in 2016.
Chris then spent a number of years on the Aircraft Carrier Programme, Type 31 Functional Design programme and supporting regular site operations. He then moved on to the Polish Arrowhead 140 Programme in 2022, providing support to shipbuilding strategy and operations.
Chris became RINA Scottish Branch Chair in May 2024, after a number of years volunteering with the branch. Starting as a Student Committee member in 2011-2013, he rejoined in 2019 and became really involved in the branch’s digital programme later driving the development into the Hybrid events the branch uses today. He is also a Council member of the Institution where he is helping to develop new strategies around Career Development, improving guidance and increasing value to members.
Dr Chinwendu Rita Nnabalu
IET Scotland South West Network
Dr Chinwendu Rita Nnabalu is a disciplined engineer and researcher with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from University of Glasgow (UOG), College of Science and Engineering (COSE), James Watt School of Engineering, Systems Power and Energy Division. She graduated from her Doctoral programme at UOG in 2022 and previously, she gained an MSc in Offshore and Ocean Technology with Subsea Engineering from Cranfield University (in 2017), and a BEng in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Madonna University (in 2010). Dr Rita was sponsored by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund to study her postgraduate degrees. While studying her PhD, she worked with University of Glasgow COSE and her duties where in the area of Research and Teaching, to mentor students for Modules such as Integrated Systems Design Projects and Engineering Creativity. Dr Rita gained her Membership with the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) in 2022. She is working independently as a researcher to optimise equipment designs in the area of Systems, Power and Energy. Presently, she volunteers with the IET as the Chair for the Scotland South West Local Network and her interests are emission reduction and net zero energy in response to the need for climate action.
Natasha Pell
Scotland South West IMechE
Natasha Pell is a mechanical engineer specialising in advanced systems and design, and a proud member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. She was named Young Engineer of the Year by Scottish Engineering in 2023 and went on to be awarded the UK Undergraduate of the Year in 2025. Natasha graduated with First Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering and now works at BAE Systems, contributing to some of the UK’s most advanced defence and aerospace projects.
Dr Malcolm Robb
IES Vice President
Dr Malcolm Robb, a Charted Mechanical Engineer, is a Lead Technologist, in the Future Business and Technology Department, responsible for Research and Technology Projects at BAE Systems Naval Ships. He has worked at Naval Ships for the past 28 years in a variety of roles in Concept Design and Research and Technology.