Steve Burgin was Vice President for GE Power in Europe, previous Chair of Staffordshire University’s Board of Governors and now a Pro Chancellor of Staffordshire University.
He has worked in engineering for over 40 years, starting as a student apprentice with GEC in 1975, alongside studying for an Electrical Engineering degree from Staffordshire University. He has worked in the energy industry, primarily with electricity generation, transmission and distribution, for most of his career. He rose through a wide range of disciplines and management roles before becoming Commercial Director of GEC Alstom T&D Distribution Switchgear in 1993.
Steve moved to ABB Headquarters in Zurich as Business Unit Manager, responsible for electricity grid projects and renewable energy worldwide. In 2001, he returned to Alstom to lead the global project management business for electricity distribution, based in Paris. Following the acquisition by Areva S.A, the French nuclear energy company, in 2004, Steve became Regional Vice President NW Europe.
He re-joined Alstom as Country President in 2008, where he was responsible for the company’s energy and transport activities in the UK. In 2015, Steve played a leading role in the acquisition of Alstom’s energy business by GE Power. Based in London, he managed GE’s major clients across Europe, covering thermal power, renewable energy, energy management, electricity connections and lifetime services.
Born in Stoke-on-Trent, Steve has maintained a home with his family in Staffordshire throughout his career and was invited to join Staffordshire University’s Board of Governors in 2006. From 2009, he served two terms as Chair of the Board and retired from the post in 2015 to become a Pro Chancellor. He is also a Non-Executive Director of the University Hospitals Trust of North Midlands and, in 2016, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by The Sentinel newspaper.
The Award of Honorary Doctor of the University is bestowed upon Steve in recognition of his commitment and contribution to the University whilst serving as a member and recent Chair of the Board of Governors. It also recognises his notable career achievements in engineering.