Dr Robert (Robin) Cameron Paul CBE, an alumnus of the Department of Chemical Engineering and a great friend of the Department throughout his career, died in 2008.

A man of great energy and considerable intellect, he became Deputy Chairman of ICI Mond Division before leaving to be Chief Executive of Albright and Wilson and guiding it through a successful stock market flotation in the mid '90s.

He took on many other responsibilities within the chemical industry including President of the Institution of Chemical Engineers and of the Chemical Industries Association.

He was an early figure in the UK chemical industry to recognise the need for action to tackle the impact of carbon emissions on global warming and became a steadfast advocate for change within the industry.

He was a founding member of the Government's Advisory Committee on Business in the Environment from 1991-93 and took an active interest in the early years of the Prince of Wales' Business and the Environment Programme.

He was awarded a CBE in 1996 for services to business and the environment. Dr Paul was appointed to the Board of Courtauld plc as a non-executive director in 1994.

He was a senior elder of St Columba's (Church of Scotland) in London and assisted with its music, publications and pastoral work.

He was an excellent pianist, as well as being an enthusiastic cyclist, photographer and botanist. Dr Paul's environmental interests showed themselves in his early adoption of an energy-efficient vehicle and in his support for nuclear energy as an important form of power generation.

He maintained close links with the Department since he graduated and was heavily involved in fundraising efforts for a new building. He brought energy and drive to the project and encouraged the involvement of alumni, as well as industrial partners.
 

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