A jolly good Fellow.

The Vice Chancellor of Northumbria University has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Professor Kel Fidler (CORR SPELL) is one of a select group of people to be invited to accept the position on the body, which represents the UK's top engineers.

Prof Fidler, who was appointed chairman of the industry's regulatory body, the Engineering Council UK, in May, said: "I believe that our key priorities at Northumbria University are in perfect harmony with those of the Academy. "These include encouraging, supporting and facilitating links between academia and industry, using engineering excellence to inspire, support and challenge tomorrow's engineering leaders, and utilising the leadership and expertise of Fellows to guide informed thinking."

Lord Broers, president of the Royal Academy said: "Gathering the very best people together from industry and academia will help us to give the best possible advice to Government and, equally importantly, to inspire young people to see the importance of engineering in today's world and to consider it as a career."