Nuclear fusion, robotic vision and hydrogen pioneers become Royal Academy fellows

Pioneers of nuclear fusion, robotic vision and hydrogen power are amongst 72 engineers, academics and leaders who have been named new fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Elected yesterday (20 September) at the academy’s annual general meeting, the group includes 60 fellows, seven international fellows and five honorary fellows.

Each of the new fellows has “made exceptional contributions to their own sector, pioneering new innovations, leading progress in business or academia, providing high level advice to government, or promoting wider understanding of engineering and technology,” an academy announcement said.

The government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, who became a household name thanks to his key role in formulating and promoting the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, was made an honorary fellow.

Experts from other well-known organisations also joined the fellowship, including Antony Green, hydrogen director for National Grid, Stuart Crooks, managing director of Hinkley Point C, and Dr Grazia Vittadini, chief technology and strategy officer at Rolls-Royce.

Other new fellows include:

• Chris Waldon, chief engineer and deputy director of Step (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), the UK’s project to create a prototype power plant capable of generating net electricity from fusion
• Professor Christopher Hancock, CTO and founder of Creo Medical, creator of a new electrosurgical platform and a family of gastrointestinal and pulmonary miniature flexible devices that have been used to treat colon and pancreatic tumours
• Professor Elena Rodriguez-Falcon, former president of the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) and current deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, described by the academy as “the most innovative leader of engineering education reform in the UK”
• Professor Sebastian Geiger, who has pioneered innovative technologies for sustainable energy production from geological reservoirs located deep underground
• Professor Steve Dixon, notable for his pioneering research into techniques for non-destructive testing and ultrasonics, and particularly for application of electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) to industry
• Professor Suzanne Farid, whose pioneering research has helped biotech companies make smarter decisions about process development and manufacturing
• Professor Danail Stoyanov, international research leader on surgical AI and robotics, who has pioneered development and translation of vision algorithms for robot control
• Professor Susan Gourvenec, internationally recognised as an expert in offshore geotechnical engineering across academia and industry
• Professor Epaminondas Mastorakos, one of the world’s foremost experts in flames ‘at the limit’, creating knowledge that has enabled gas turbines for aviation jet engines to operate stably and safely at high altitude, while reducing the damaging emissions they produce.

Academy president Sir Jim McDonald said: “I am delighted to welcome such an array of enormously talented people to the fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering. From industry and enterprise to education and government – both national and international – these are some of our most pioneering and distinguished engineers and technologists.

“In an uncertain world, one thing is certain – engineering skills, vision and leadership will play a crucial part in addressing the escalating domestic and global challenges that we face today. The combined connectivity, professionalism, experience and wisdom of the new fellows who join us today will greatly enrich the expertise and support we can provide to the government and to society in general.”

The academy said the new fellows reflect its ongoing efforts to drive more nominations of outstanding engineers from underrepresented groups ahead of its 50th anniversary in 2026.

The new fellows will be formally admitted at a special ceremony in London on 8 November.

Visit the academy’s website to view the full list of new fellows.

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