Dr Jim Birch FICME has worked in castings sector industries and associations since leaving school, these include BNF, ZADCA and the Engineering Council.

Jim is a Chartered Engineer and has been a Fellow of the Institution of Cast Metals Engineers for nearly thirty years – serving on its Processes Sub-committee, its Quality Sub-committee and its Education and Training Committee. For a number of years he was also a member of the Diecasting Society National Council. He has been a trustee of the Foundry Training Trust since 2015.