Prof. Geoffrey Kirk RDI

Geoffrey Kirk first got involved in engineering when he joined Rolls-Royce at their Derby branch in 1968. He stayed with the company for 30 years and became its Chief Civil Aerospace Design Engineer, before leaving to pursue a career in design education.
 
Internationally recognized as a designer, Kirk’s work was developed to give Rolls-Royce and the UK a leading position in powering the world's largest civil aircraft. This was thanks to his outstanding knowledge, experience, and understanding of gas turbine, aero-engine and component design, as well engine performance and aircraft installation.
 
During Kirk’s long career at Rolls-Royce, major achievements included his conceptual design for the Trent 500, the sole power plant used in the Airbus A340-500/600 aircraft, and the Trent 900 for the Airbus A380, as well as leading the team responsible for designing the original version of the Trent 1000. Through the application of innovative design and technology, Kirk also helped to continually reduce fuel consumption, noise and harmful emissions across the companies range of aero-engines.
 
Having left Rolls-Royce, Kirk embarked on a career in design education in which he assisted UK educational institutions in fostering that same excellence of advanced engineering design and skills he had previously pioneered.
 
Through his role as visiting Professor at Queen Mary, University of London and the University of Nottingham, Geoffrey Kirk became renowned for his ability to instill in his students his unwavering enthusiasm for design and engineering. As a member of the Design Council, he has also provided great support for a number of their educational initiatives, including the annual Designers into Schools week where designers from industry work directly with young people on new design projects.
 
Kirks list of honours includes Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) as well as Royal Designer for Industry (RDI).

Prof. Geoffrey Kirk RDI

Rolls-Royce Engineering Fellow - Design

Sir Misha Black Medal

2006