ICE Members and leaders Breakfast Briefing with ICE President David Porter

Join a distinguished group of ICE Fellows, members and industry leaders for an exclusive morning breakfast briefing with ICE President David Porter at the British Consulate-General Sydney.

Light breakfast refreshments will be served throughout the morning, providing a welcoming environment for networking and discussion before and after the briefing.

The ICE President will reflect on his career in civil engineering, sharing key experiences, lessons learned and the role the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has played throughout his professional journey.

He will also discuss the importance of attracting, developing and supporting the next generation of engineers, and explore how ICE members can contribute to building a strong and resilient profession for the future.

The event will provide attendees with the opportunity to engage directly with the President and speak with one of the profession's leading voices, engage in discussion with fellow engineering leaders, and expand their professional networks in the unique setting of the British Consulate-General Sydney.

Time: 7:30am – 9:00am

Venue: British Consulate-General Sydney, Level 16, Gateway Building, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney

Attendance is limited and registration is essential.

David Porter is the 161st President of the Institution of Civil Engineers for the 2025–2026 presidential term. A Chartered Civil Engineer and Fellow of both the ICE and Engineers Ireland, David brings more than three decades of leadership experience across infrastructure, highways, flood risk management, and public sector engineering.

David currently serves as Director of Engineering with Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure, where he is the Chief Highways Engineer and Head of the Civil Engineering Profession within the Northern Ireland Civil Service. His responsibilities include engineering policy and standards, procurement leadership, technical governance, health and safety, and the development of professional engineering capability across the department.

Prior to this role, David was Chief Executive of the Rivers Agency, Northern Ireland’s flood defence and drainage authority, where he also held senior operational and development leadership positions. Throughout his career, he has championed resilient infrastructure, informed decision-making, and effective communication between engineers, governments, and the communities they serve.

A long-standing contributor to the ICE, David has served as Chair of the ICE Northern Ireland Region, ICE Council member, Audit Committee Chair, Qualifications Panel Chair, and member of numerous institutional committees and governance reviews. He is also a former member of the ICE Benevolent Fund Committee of Management.

David has received several professional honours, including the ICE Northern Ireland Poskitt Medal and the Engineers Ireland President’s Award. During his presidency, he has focused on improving how engineers communicate with the public, strengthening professional competence, addressing infrastructure resilience challenges, and supporting the next generation of engineering leaders.