SYNOPSIS

Jon Hilton will shares some of the key milestones he reached on the road to becoming President. He highlights his sources of inspiration and the reasons behind his career choices, as well as shares insights he learnt along the way. He recalls how his life has been touched by great engineers and entrepreneurs and puts a spotlight on mentoring. He states his desire for more engineers to get involved in mentoring, including through IMechE’s Independent Mentor Service (IMS), both as mentors and mentees. He also encourages every engineer to have a mentor and at least one mentee. Highlighting the role of entrepreneurs and reminding professional engineers of how well-placed they are to take up this crucial role, is also a key element of the address. Jon reflects on his 15 successful years working in the motorsport industry and says that for him this was an opportunity to play with someone else’s multimillion-pound Meccano set.


SPEAKER BIODATA

Jon Hilton joined the Institution as a young member in 1982 when he started his engineering career with Rolls-Royce military engines group at Leavesden. Completing the Rolls-Royce undergraduate training scheme and graduating from the Hatfield Polytechnic, Jon took a first appointment in helicopter engine design.

His passion for engines led him to Formula One and in 1991 he moved to Cosworth where he rose up the ranks from Engine Designer to Chief Engineer of the F1 programme by the end of 1997. In 1998 Jon moved to the TWR Arrows team as Chief Engineer of the F1 Engines group and here he built up a team of skilled engineers to design and develop F1 engines for TWR.

In early 2003 Jon moved, along with the whole of his F1 engines team, to Renault F1 where he formed the UK based engine division for the team. As Technical Director Engine Division Jon was intimately involved with a very successful period for the team winning both driver’s and constructor’s Formula One World Championships in 2005 and 2006.

In January 2007 Jon, along with former Renault F1 colleague Doug Cross, formed a new engineering company called Flybrid Automotive to develop high-speed flywheel based hybrid systems for automobile application. As Managing Director Jon ran the company providing direction for all activities and with prime responsibility for commercial aspects of the business until January 2014, when Torotrak PLC acquired the company. Jon now has a Non Executive role as Deputy Chairman of the parent company.

Jon has held a number of official posts at IMechE including Chairman of the Midland Region, Chairman of the Automobile Division and Chairman of the Formula Student organising committee. He is currently President-Elect serving on Trustee Board and Honorary Treasurer of the Institution.