Johnny Rich, who has been the EPC’s Chief Executive since 2016, is to step down at the end of July 2026 in order to take up a new leading role in the higher education sector.
In a message to the EPC membership, Johnny expressed his mixed feelings about leaving an organisation that he described as “both an important voice for one of the most important areas of academia and an invaluable support for its membership”.
During his tenure, the EPC has changed significantly. The level of activity, such as events, toolkits and campaigns, has increased severalfold. The Engineering Academics Network – the community of individual EPC members – has been established, bringing in greater engagement at all levels of academia, new communities of practice and new ways of connecting.
EPC Online has been created as a personalised website and interactive digital hub for many of the EPC’s activities, with unique features such as the EPC’s highly acclaimed toolkits and Data Explorer. With greater activity, the team and turnover have both expanded rapidly, but through external funding for many initiatives, subscription rates for members have actually decreased in real terms since 2016, reflecting the need for the whole higher education sector to do more with less.
In terms of policy impact, the EPC’s influence is now a substantial voice in the higher education sector, the engineering sector, and in the government and devolved authorities. It is a rare coup when a policy change can be ascribed to a single intervention, although there have been some (such as protecting funding for foundation years in engineering). More often the impact is seen through shifting the dial – the improved willingness to draw the EPC into the discussion and increased references in public debates to the EPC, to its research or merely to issues we’ve raised.
Johnny paid tribute to the EPC staff, saying, “It really has been such a joy to work with such dedicated colleagues. Anything the EPC has achieved over my time as Chief Executive has really been down to them, to their commitment, good sense and skill. We’re a small team, but they are all always willing to do whatever is needed, usually before I’ve even noticed it needs doing. The EPC has consistently punched above its weight and it’s because our team is a powerhouse of enthusiastic geniuses.”
He added, “It is the individual EPC members who really make the EPC what it is. So many busy academics volunteer their time and expertise for the greater good of the community of colleagues, for engineering academia and for the wider benefits that engineering contributes to the world.”
“So many of those members – some who have served on committees or working groups, some who’ve attended events and some who merely engaged through emails and the website – have become friends as well as colleagues. They have always made me feel part of the tribe, despite being neither en engineer nor an academic.”
“My new role will be announced in the coming weeks and I am excited to undertake a new challenge. That said, there is so much more potential for the EPC to continue to be ambitious both for and about engineering education. After ten years at the helm, I’m sure it’s time for someone else to step in for the next part of the journey. I am so proud that the organisation I will be leaving is more active, vibrant and impactful than ever.”
Johnny will remain in post until after the upcoming Annual Congress at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow from 17th to 19th June and the Annual General Meeting on 14th July before which he will deliver a review f the last ten years of the EPC at a farewell webinar. He expressed his hope that they would both the Congress and AGM would attract record numbers so he can goodbyes and thanks to as many members and friends as possible.
The process to recruit a successor will be announced in June. From 1st August, Policy & Research Director Stella Fowler will act as Interim Chief Executive until a new appointee is confirmed.
