The 14th Annual Roberts Lecture

The Magic and Mystery of Innovation By Sir George Buckley

Watch the recordingHistory shows innovation is the single greatest accelerant to economic growth and shareholder value. All the world’s great growth companies are innovative ones. However, innovation is often seen as risky and done only by the world’s great intellectuals. This is not necessarily accurate.

In reality, innovation is all around us, and much of it was invented by average people going about their normal business and observing their needs and ideas. George spoke on how innovation occurs in real companies and describe his extensive experience in this area as an inventor and a leader of other inventors. 

About the speaker

Sir George W Buckley was Chairman, President and CEO of 3M Company from 2005 to 2012. Prior to 3M, since June 2000, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Brunswick Corp, having previously served as President of Mercury Marine Group, Brunswick’s largest division.

Before joining Brunswick in 1997, he was President of the US Electric Motors Division and the Automotive and Precision Motors Division at Emerson Electric Co in St Louis, Missouri. He also served as Chief Technology Officer of Emerson’s worldwide group of motor, electronic drives and appliance-related businesses.

Sir George is Chairman of Smiths Group plc, Chairman of Stanley Black & Decker Inc and Chairman of eGym GmbH. In addition, he is a Member of the Board of Directors of Hitachi and he also sits on the Advisory Board for Schillings.

Sir George is an engineer by training and holds a PhD in electrical engineering along with five honorary Doctorates and approximately 20 patents. He completed joint studies at the Universities of Southampton and Huddersfield in the United Kingdom, where he was awarded a PhD in Engineering and holds a BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and an Hon DSc in Engineering from the University of Huddersfield. He also holds an Hon DSc from the University of Southampton, an Hon DUniv from Sheffield Hallam University and an Hon DLitt from St Thomas University. Lastly, an honorary DEng from the University of Sheffield.

In October 2020, Sir George was appointed Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield.

About the Roberts Lecture
At the time of his retirement, as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, Professor Sir Gareth Roberts established a fund to provide for the organisation of an annual public lecture.  This lecture was named The Roberts Lecture.