CIBSE has welcomed David Cooper as its President for 2026-27, following his inauguration at the organisation’s annual general meeting held at its London headquarters.
Cooper succeeds Vince Arnold, bringing more than four decades of experience in the lift and escalator industry. He is credited with “exceptional” technical expertise, leadership and a strong commitment to the engineering profession.
Throughout his distinguished career, he has built a reputation as an engineer, educator, author and advocate for safety, making a significant contribution to both the industry and CIBSE.
A longstanding and highly respected member of the institution, Cooper has played a pivotal role in the development of multiple editions of CIBSE Guide D: Transportation Systems in Buildings, one of the industry’s most influential technical publications.
His contributions to engineering and professional practice have been recognised through the award of a CIBSE Silver Medal and an MBE.
Alongside his new role as 2026-2027 CIBSE President, Cooper continues to hold a wide range of positions across industry, academia and charitable organisations. He has been a Professor at the University of Northampton, where he was involved with the MSc in Lift Engineering programme, and is currently serving as a Visiting Professor at the University of East London.
He also sits on the executive committee and membership panel of the Society of Vertical Transportation, chairs The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management Lift Panel for Authorising Engineers, serves as Middle Warden of the Worshipful Company of Engineers, and chairs both The Rumford Club and the Trustee Boards of the Lift Industry Charity and the Lift Symposium Educational Trust.
His extensive involvement across standards, education and professional bodies includes membership of the British Standards committees for lifts, escalators and cableways, and participation in Safety Assessment Federation technical committees.
In his Presidential Address, Cooper outlined his theme for the year, Future-proofing through resilience, highlighting the critical role engineers play in creating buildings and infrastructure that remain resilient, efficient and adaptable for generations to come.
Addressing members and guests at the AGM, Cooper emphasised that engineering must extend beyond addressing immediate challenges and focus on anticipating future needs. His message was clear: “Future-proofing isn’t optional, it’s essential.”
“It is a tremendous honour to serve as President of CIBSE for 2026-2027,” Cooper said. “Throughout my career I have been passionate about advancing engineering excellence, sharing knowledge and supporting the next generation of professionals. As our industry continues to evolve, we must ensure that the buildings and systems we design today remain resilient, adaptable and fit for the future. I look forward to working with CIBSE members across the world to help drive that ambition forward.”
Main image: David Cooper, 2026-27 President, CIBSE
Read next: Wirepas secures EIB backing for large-scale IoT networks
Are you a building professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
