From Richardson Road to international recognition: Mechanical Engineering alumnus honoured by Australia’s national academy
We sat down with Class of 1985 graduate Professor Graham Wren OBE after he was announced as a Foreign Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), to hear how his time on campus shaped his journey.
30 September 2026
‘Newcastle gave me everything’: Graham Wren on the university experience behind his success
We’re proud to announce that Newcastle University graduate Professor Graham Wren OBE FREng FRSE (BSc Mechanical Engineering, 1985) has been elected a Foreign Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), one of the highest honours in Australian science and engineering.
For Graham, however, the achievement stems from a journey that began much closer to home, when Newcastle University took a chance on a non-traditional student from Cumbria and helped launch a remarkable career spanning engineering, forensic science, education and innovation.
Since graduating in 1985, Graham has served as a senior civil servant, led major international technology companies, advised the UK Government and international organisations, and helped secure more than £1.3 billion in industrial research investment through pioneering research centres. Along the way, Graham has been awarded an OBE, elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and become one of the UK's most influential champions of industry-university collaboration.
We caught up with Graham ahead of his trip ‘Down Under’ to officially receive the accolade to find out more about his student days and subsequent career.
Hi Graham! You first arrived on campus in your early 20s, having started your career in the steelworks as an apprentice. Can you tell us more about your unconventional path to university?
I joined Workington Steelworks as an apprentice when I was 16 and became the first person in my family to continue in education beyond that age. After studying at night school while working full-time, I was fortunate enough to gain a place at Newcastle University.
I wasn't a traditional applicant. I wasn't coming straight from school with A-levels, and I often say Newcastle gave me a chance when other places might not have. I've always felt a huge debt of gratitude because, honestly, without that opportunity, my life would have been very different.
Growing up in Cumbria, the expectation was that you'd work on a farm, in industry or in tourism. Becoming a qualified engineer opened up opportunities I never imagined.
What do you remember about first arriving on campus and settling into student life?
I was in my early twenties and already married, so I was very different from many students arriving straight from school. Coming from rural Cumbria, Newcastle felt enormous. The city was exciting and full of distractions (mainly the nightlife!), but engineering kept us busy.
One of the most important people I met was a tutor called Dr Sandy Anderson. He was incredibly honest about the challenge ahead. Mechanical engineering wasn't easy: long hours, constant coursework and exams throughout the year. But he also gave me confidence that I could succeed.
The University put a lot of thought into helping students like me settle in. Instead of traditional halls, I was housed in a flat at Richardson Road with a group of slightly older students. We became a support network for one another, and that made a huge difference. Most weekends revolved around studying, though we'd usually head out together for a beer on the Bigg Market or on the Quayside on a Saturday evening for a well-earned break!
I loved the character of Newcastle and the people. The banter, the places, the atmosphere, all of it. I still have fond memories of the old Men’s Bar on campus and visits to the Crown Posada, which remains one of my favourite pubs. Whenever I return to Newcastle, I try to visit and I’m pleased to say it’s not changed much in those years – only a slightly newer record player in the corner!
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How do you think your time on campus shaped your journey after graduating?
When I arrived, I genuinely wasn't sure I belonged at university. Sandy helped me realise that success wasn't about being the cleverest person in the room. It was about working hard, learning continuously and being brave enough to take opportunities.
That lesson followed me throughout my career. I moved from steel into nuclear engineering, then into forensic science, aviation toxicology, government and industry leadership roles. In every new field I encountered people who wondered why I was there, but Newcastle had taught me that transferable skills matter.
The University also taught me the importance of teamwork. Looking back, every achievement I've had has come from people helping me and from working with great teams. That mindset has shaped everything I've done since.
Speaking of achievements, what does being elected an ATSE Foreign Fellow mean to you?
It's incredibly humbling. There have only been a handful of British recipients, so when you receive an honour like this, you don't think about yourself. You think about all the people who helped you along the way.
Over the last few years, I've been fortunate to work closely with colleagues in Australia on some fascinating challenges. Through my work with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), I've helped support the development of nuclear education and skills programmes, and I've worked with partners in both countries to strengthen collaboration around research, workforce development and innovation.
More recently, I've been involved in establishing the UK-Australia Advanced Skills Alliance, which aims to create new opportunities for students, researchers and industries in both nations to work together. No organisation, university or country has all the answers. The biggest challenges we face, whether that's energy, skills, security or healthcare, are solved when people combine their strengths.
That's really the lesson that runs through my whole career, and it started at Newcastle. The University gave me an opportunity, surrounded me with people who believed in me, and taught me the value of collaboration. Everything that has happened since has grown from those foundations.
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