Engineering Body Elected New Industry Fellows
The Royal Academy of Engineering has appointed 75 new fellows to lead international technology and research efforts.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in People
The Royal Academy of Engineering has elected 75 new members to its Fellowship for 2026, including bioprocess engineer Professor Sue Harrison. These appointments recognize key figures in engineering who are driving innovation across global resource management and research sectors.
Why it matters
These appointments highlight the shifting focus of engineering leadership toward interdisciplinary research models that integrate microbiology with traditional chemical engineering. This trend emphasizes the rising importance of bioprocess expertise in addressing critical resource management challenges.
The Royal Academy of Engineering elected 75 new fellows in 2026, representing the latest intake of experts from across the global technology and engineering sectors.
The players
The Royal Academy of Engineering
A national academy that promotes the engineering profession and provides independent advice to government.
Professor Sue Harrison
A bioprocess engineer and current Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation at the University of Queensland.
The details
The fellowship process highlights individuals who have demonstrated leadership in applying engineering principles to complex resource challenges. Professor Sue Harrison, one of the 2026 inductees, is noted for her work integrating microbiology with chemical engineering, a move that enables more efficient industrial processing. Her career includes establishing the Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research and the Future Water institute, bridging academic innovation with tangible resource solutions.
Timeline
2026 marks the year the Royal Academy of Engineering elected 75 new fellows.
Market Landscape
The appointment of fellows follows the strategic framework established by the Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research in prioritizing resource-focused engineering solutions. This election reflects the growing influence of such specialized research institutions on global engineering standards.
Operators in chemical and environmental sectors should monitor the research output of new fellows to identify emerging efficiencies in bioprocessing. Integrating these cross-disciplinary academic methods into corporate research and development can provide a competitive edge in resource management.
The takeaway
The election of leaders like Professor Harrison signals that technical expertise in bioprocess engineering is becoming a primary driver for industrial innovation. Leaders should track future fellowship announcements to identify which engineering sub-disciplines are gaining prominence within the industry.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership and research developments, see our section on People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Raeng.
