University News Last updated 28 July 2016
The head of a major Birmingham-based engineering firm has been handed a top university honour.
Mark Selway, Chief Executive at IMI which has its headquarters in Birmingham Business Park, received an Honorary Doctorate from Birmingham City University recognising his contribution to the field of engineering.
Australia born Selway was presented with the accolade during a ceremony held at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on Thursday 28 July alongside graduates from the University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment.
Selway was educated at the Southern Australia Institute of Technology and much of his early career was spent in the automotive components sector.
In 2001 he was made CEO at the Weir Group PLC, a UK heavy engineering business and was widely recognised for his pioneering emphasis on ‘lean thinking’ principles.
Selway offered some words of advice to the Birmingham City University graduands during an acceptance speech for his Honorary Doctorate:
“Many of you are entering the employment market at a time when the UK is changing and businesses are facing some very serious management challenges. You must remain confident in your future. Our society needs your talents and today’s businesses need a new generation of leaders.
“Your hard work and the achievements being recognised today, provide you with the educational platform to underpin your ambitions.”
Selway became Chief Executive at IMI in 2014 after a brief spell back in Australia and is responsible for 12,000 employees.