James Kirby
Chairman, Communications & Membership Committee

James Kirby is Director of the SEC, which is the Systems and Software Engineering Centre within QinetiQ. The SEC is an emerging Centre of Excellence in systems and software, working with Government, industry, commerce and academia to record, enhance and promote best practice. Over 300 staff provide services in three streams: Systems Consultancy, Integrated Solutions and e-Business Solutions.

 James is a graduate of Oxford University and also holds a M.Eng. from Liverpool University and a Henley Management College MBA. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and is a Board Member of INCOSE UK.

 James has spent nearly all his working life in industry. Initially James was a technologist with Plessey Telecommunications working on microprocessor based systems. He moved to Smiths Industries Aerospace at Cheltenham, where he became their youngest director, having held positions in software engineering, systems engineering, international project management, engineering management, manufacturing and general management. During this time he  developed major business with Boeing, Seattle.

 James joined QinetiQ to grow and diversify the SEC, seeking to combine industrial and public sector best practice, as QinetiQ transitions through Public Private Partnership and beyond.

 Outside of work his interests include family activities, sailing and real ales.