Dr Michael Cook of Buro Happold has been elected as chairman of TRADA, the first non-timber industry member to take the chair in the organisation’s 76-year history.
After graduating from Cambridge in 1977, Dr Cook worked with Ted Happold and Frei Otto at Arup on lightweight shell and membrane structures, undertaking research and development of air-supported structures. He joined Buro Happold in 1982, progressing to partner in 1995 and is now responsible for the development of building engineering within Buro Happold worldwide.
He also chairs the Education Panel of the Institution of Structural Engineers, is Adjunct Professor of Creative Design at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College, and an external examiner at the Architectural Association, London.
At the AGM members also paid tribute to outgoing chairman Simon Fineman, who remains on the board, and to directors John Perry, a past chairman as his father before him, and Mark Silverman, who are standing down after 14 and 7 years’ service respectively.
