It gives me great pleasure as the newly appointed Chair of the Editorial Advisory Panel to welcome you the June edition of Municipal Engineer. I would like to thank former chair Richard Pearson for his contribution over a number of years in improving the quality of the journal. I would also like to welcome our new members to the editorial advisory panel and acknowledge the work of our ongoing members. The journal can only be effective and successful with the input of these people.
At the time of writing this editorial the UK, like many other countries across the world, is in lockdown with hundreds of people that are tragically dying on a daily basis as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The way we live out lives in the future will fundamentally change as result of this pandemic with long term social and economic impacts. It is a time when people really recognise and appreciate the importance and resilience of municipal infrastructure and services. Throughout the lockdown people have relied on our essential public and utility services being available and continuing to operate. Despite all the negative impacts there are opportunities particularly in support of meeting our carbon reduction targets. If we can consolidate the universal homeworking that is taking place in many businesses this can deliver longer term benefits through reducing the need for travel.
My whole career has been in municipal engineering working all sides of industry, in the public sector in local and central government, and in the private sector working both in contracting and consultancy. I have always been passionate in recognising the importance of municipal engineering in relation to how it delivers projects and services that are essential and improve people's everyday lives. I have been involved in delivering a range of municipal services but most of my career has been in local transport related services and in 2005 I was nominated as ICE Municipal Engineer of the year in the UK. I am very honoured in taking on this new role as Chair of the Editorial advisory Panel and will use my knowledge and experience to help raise the visibility, relevance and quality of the journal.
