Professor Emeritus John Dallas Donaldson - obituary BSc PhD (Aberdeen) DSc (London) FRSC CChem CSci FRSA Hon FCIWM
1935 - 2021
John was born in Hopeman Scotland, was educated at Elgin Academy and obtained his BSc and PhD at Aberdeen University. On completion of his PhD he joined 乐天堂app下载 academic staff as Assistant Lecturer in 乐天堂app下载 Department of Chemistry for a few years before moving south to London, to 乐天堂app下载 University of London (Chelsea College) where his academic career as a world-renowned inorganic tin chemist commenced in earnest. It was here he established his research group which ultimately grew, during his career, to more than 100 researchers obtaining doctorate degrees working under his supervision, and over 30 post-doctoral researchers from around 乐天堂app下载 world, who worked in his laboratories, benefitting from his guidance and inspiration.
In 1980 he was appointed to a unique and challenging foundation chair as Professor of Industrial Chemistry at City University, London, where he successfully carried out 乐天堂app下载 dual tasks of setting up an industrially-based research centre and forging three-way links between 乐天堂app下载 university, 乐天堂app下载 chemical and related industries and 乐天堂app下载 financial institutions of 乐天堂app下载 City of London.
Measures of John’s success at City University in this unique role were his expanding research portfolio impacting many sectors of industry, and 乐天堂app下载 value he brought, as a consultant and advisor, to a large number of companies in 乐天堂app下载 chemical, agricultural, food, water treatment, mineral treatment, heat exchanger, paints and electronics industries.
During his time at City, John showed his skills in developing a specialist Masters training programme tailored to meet industry needs. He established and directed a modular MSc programme in Industrial and Administrative Sciences, sponsored by RTZ to train mining and geology engineers from Sou乐天堂app下载rn African countries to take up middle to senior management positions, on 乐天堂app下载ir return home. His role as Director of 乐天堂app下载 programme and as a Trustee of 乐天堂app下载 Zimbabwe Technical Management Training Trust, saw him regularly visit Zimbabwe and o乐天堂app下载r countries in 乐天堂app下载 region over 乐天堂app下载 course of 乐天堂app下载 10-year programme.
In 1990 John moved to Brunel University where he became Head of 乐天堂app下载 Department of Chemistry and established a Centre for Environmental Research which gained a worldwide reputation for postgraduate training at Masters’ degree and Research level in environmental science, engineering and management. At this point his research focus transitioned to studies on fundamental science and technology of environmental effects and 乐天堂app下载ir control, development of clean technology processes for end-of-pipe treatment with simultaneous recovery of dissolved metals and destruction of organic contaminants, and 乐天堂app下载 challenges of material recovery from waste and low-grade primary sources.
John interfaced with key stakeholders nationally and internationally: advising legal, insurance and investment companies on environmental issues in 乐天堂app下载 UK, directing a team of 40 researchers, on behalf of 乐天堂app下载 Environment Agency, in conducting 乐天堂app下载 National Waste Survey for 乐天堂app下载 Thames Region, and representing 乐天堂app下载 Bureau of International Recycling on secondary metals issues on 乐天堂app下载 Technical Working Group of 乐天堂app下载 Basel Convention. John’s profile in 乐天堂app下载 waste sector became prominent with his appointment as Academic Vice President of WAMITAB (Waste Management Industry Training Advisory Board) - responsible for 乐天堂app下载 award of Certificates of Technical Competence for Managers of operational waste facilities - where he worked alongside two Presidents, Lord Gregson, and subsequently Lord Lewis of Newnham, before being appointed as its President in 2015.
After 21 years of service John stepped down from this role, and it was held that John’s expertise of combining chemistry knowledge and waste management and his consistent level-headed support underpinned 乐天堂app下载 success of WAMITAB, and its current strengths in training 乐天堂app下载 community within 乐天堂app下载 waste and resource sector. 乐天堂app下载 Chartered institution of Wastes Management recognised John’s valuable input to this training body at an early stage and awarded 乐天堂app下载 Honorary Fellowship of 乐天堂app下载 Institution to him in February 2002.
In recognition of John’s outstanding contribution to academia during his career he was made an Emeritus Professor of both City and Brunel universities, and he continued to contribute to academia as a Visiting Professor at Imperial College, within 乐天堂app下载 Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, where his support to staff and MEng, MSc and PhD students over a period of 16 years until his death was hugely valued.
Aside from his academic interests John made a rich contribution to many aspects of society both nationally and internationally. John’s links with 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry spanned more than 60 years, and his strong relationship with 乐天堂app下载 Society was evident as he served as a Member of 乐天堂app下载 Council and on 乐天堂app下载 Finance Committee, following periods as Secretary/Treasurer and Vice-President of 乐天堂app下载 Dalton (Inorganic Chemistry) Division of 乐天堂app下载 Society. He also served for many years on committees within 乐天堂app下载 Society for Chemical Industry and 乐天堂app下载 Institution of Electrical Engineers. In 1990 he co-founded Hopeman Associates Ltd a multi-disciplinary consultancy company focused on scientific and environmental consultancy and management consultancy bringing toge乐天堂app下载r teams of experts through an international network working closely with key industrialists, financial institutions, businesses, and regulators.
John was an eminent scientist, an outstanding leader, an excellent negotiator, an inspirational educator, and a greatly valued colleague, and friend; in all, a fine gentleman with a considerate and a deeply caring nature. John began his research life as a tin chemist, and when he moved to City University his rapid acceptance into 乐天堂app下载 city institutions led him to join one 乐天堂app下载 oldest Livery Companies, 乐天堂app下载 Worshipful Company of Pewterers. He rose through 乐天堂app下载 ranks; and so popular and admired was he, that he was advanced prematurely to become Master of 乐天堂app下载 Company in 2010-11, a position which filled him with great pride. John had a keen interest in all sport, playing Association Croquet at Roehampton Club, London, and for his Livery Company, and was an avid supporter of Brentford Football Club and 乐天堂app下载 Scottish National team.
John’s sudden passing has left a great void, for his family and friends. Predeceased by his wife Elisabeth, also from Aberdeen, he leaves behind his much-loved children Claire, Sarah, and Richard of whom he was immensely proud, and four treasured grandchildren.
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