Each year, a few particularly generous graduates go above and beyond in their volunteering activity to guide, advise and inspire students, and support the University. These Alumni Awards recognise their valued contribution.
For over 10 years, the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering (now the School of Chemical Materials & Biological Engineering) has benefited from the expertise of Owen Whitfield, a retired chemical engineer who enjoyed a successful 35-year career at BP in numerous roles. Owen has volunteered many hours of his own time to support our students across all year groups. He has shared his experience of managing large projects and new product development, provided real-world context to our modules, and actively supported employability activities such as career sessions and interview panels. Beyond formal contributions, he has informally mentored both students and staff who are pursuing chartership, helping them build confidence and providing career guidance.
The profession of Chemical Engineering provided me with a rewarding career, so giving back is something I’m passionate about. It has been a privilege to share my knowledge of industry with the students at Sheffield. I hope that by sharing some insights I might inspire them and help them on their way as they continue their journey to become our engineers of the future and deliver Net Zero.”
Owen Whitfiled
Dr Eleni Routoula, who leads employability activity in the School of CMBE and nominated Owen for the award, said: “Owen has been a highly valued and consistently engaged contributor to the School for many years, even before I started in this role, four years ago. He readily participates in activities and helps develop new ones, always maintaining professionalism and offering valuable real-world perspectives on taught concepts. His transition into the academic environment and his ability to build strong relationships, drawing on his extensive industrial background, have been particularly impressive.
“The repeated requests for his return, from academics in the School, highlight his significant impact, particularly in illustrating the practical application of engineering principles for students. His industry experience provides real-world examples across various chemical engineering topics. Furthermore, Owen's mentorship has really improved students' interview and presentation skills. He generously shares his network and industry insights, directly supporting students' job applications and graduate outcomes. Owen exemplifies strong industrial engagement within our modules, aligning perfectly with the University's work-related learning objectives.”