The Durban University of Technology congratulates Professor Innocent Davidson of the Department of Electrical Power Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, on being elected a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology in London, England.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology is one of the world’s largest engineering institutions with 168000 members in 150 countries. It is also multidisciplinary – to reflect the increasingly diverse nature of engineering in the 21st century. The IET’s primary objective is to engineer a better world by inspiring, informing and influencing its members, engineers and technicians, and all those who are touched by, or touch, the work of engineers.

Professor Davidson was ascribed IET’s Fellowship, due to his creativity and personal responsibility for significant technological innovation and achievement in engineering. His election to a Fellow affirms his superior responsibility, leadership and contributions to the field of electrical engineering.

Professor Davidson’s work speaks for itself. He has served as the Research Director at the Eskom Power Plant Engineering Institute, HVDC Specialisation Centre, which is an initiative of Eskom. As Lead Researcher and Principal Investigator, he led a high-performance research team made up of 30 postgraduate students drawn from diverse countries including South Africa. He is a Senior Member, Institute of Electrical; Electronic Engineers (IEEE), USA; Fellow, South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (FSAIEE); Chartered Engineer (C Eng) UK, a registered Professional Engineer (P Eng), Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA); and a member of the Western Canada Group of Charted Engineers (WCGCE), to name but a few.

Speaking about the Fellowship, Professor Davidson said it was a life-long designation based on continued delivery of exceptional value to the profession. “Professional recognition as a leader in your field or discipline places upon anyone a higher sense of duty,” he said.

Professor Davidson reiterated that his election to Fellow obligated him to take on more mentoring of young engineers at all levels in the institution and continued participation in IET activities at all levels, including serving the Council from time to time when called upon.

Congratulating Professor Donaldson, DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu said a university can only be about the pursuit of excellence.
“We are very proud of Professor Davidson’s achievements. He has brought great honour to DUT. I want to congratulate him on this prestigious election to be a Fellow of the IET, an accolade that only a few will ever achieve,” said Professor Mthembu.