Operating throughout the UK and worldwide, the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) exists to promote, support, regulate, and professionalise operations engineering and the people who work in it. The Society recently held its 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 21 July, during which it welcomed new SOE president Shaun Stephenson.
A member of the IRTE (the Institute of Road Transport Engineers – a Professional Sector of SOE) for the past 30 years, Shaun Stephenson EngTech FSOE FIRTE has held various high-profile voluntary positions with both IRTE and SOE, including honorary treasurer of the SOE Trustee Board.
"It is a real honour to be elected as president of the Society," he explains. "The next period for SOE is an exciting one, and I'm looking forward to working with our staff and members to grow SOE across all sectors."
The Trustee Board is responsible for The Society's strategy, policy, finance, regional structure, membership and professional standards, and marketing and communications, and Shaun will hold the post of SOE president until the Society's AGM in 2017.
He explains further: "SOE is a truly great organisation and we can look forward to the next period with optimism, excitement and the energy - not only for our membership, but also for colleagues in industry, government, and fellow organisations".
Shaun originally trained as a technician with vehicle manufacturers ERF, after which he worked with BOC Transhield and Marks & Spencer, where he developed his knowledge of retail distribution, and later with Hoyer and Esso where he managed a significant distribution and engineering team. Here he also developed his knowledge of running workshops and commercial tenders and financial modelling. His experience also includes running the workshop infrastructure for Ryder System, Inc. as head of operations. In 2003, while a national fleet manager with Arla Foods, he was runner up in the Fleet Engineer of the Year Awards.
In his current role as fleet director for Bidvest Logistics, Shaun oversees the national distribution fleets of a number of constituent companies.
Based in Hertfordshire, Shaun enjoys the National Trust and has spent time as a parish councillor.