David Porter, Director of Engineering and Transformation at the Department for infrastructure (DfI) for Northern Ireland, was formally appointed as the 161st President of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) on 4th November 2025. David is a Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of Engineers Ireland.
This is a significant personal achievement for David as he becomes only the third President from Northern Ireland in the Institution’s 207-year history.
ICE is the world’s oldest professional engineering institution, with a global membership of nearly 100,000. The Institution plays a vital role in shaping infrastructure policy and professional standards across the globe.
At his inaugural address You, Me and the ICE, David Porter and TV presenter and journalist, Steph McGovern, spoke about the key to communicating with non-technical audiences, the importance of the ‘informed’ client, and David encouraged engineers and those involved in infrastructure to find their place in ICE.
David has a long-standing relationship with ICE. He is a past Chair of the Northern Ireland Region and has served three terms on the ICE Council—twice as the Northern Ireland representative and once as a general member. His contributions include:
- Member of the Presidential Commission on ICE Governance (Orr Review)
- Chair of the member-led review of NOMCO, the Audit Committee, and the Qualifications Panel
- Member of the Committee of Management of the ICE Benevolent Fund
Academy President Sean Finlay and the Academy Executive, who met in person on 13th November 2025, warmly congratulated David and his family on this singular honour. David is an active member of the Academy NI Region and was a contributor to the Academy publication Infrastructure 2025-2040 in March 2025.
Academy news bulletin 4 Novembere 2025- David Porter FIAE appointed as ICE President