The drive for visibility was supported by a broader rebranding
effort, which is currently underway. A modernised brand, set to
be unveiled soon, will reflect The OR Society’s forward-looking
ethos. Additionally, a new website has been launched, designed to
streamline access to information, publications, and events. “Our
aim was not just to refresh our image but to create platforms that
engage current and future members,” Gilbert explained.
Innovation, Inclusion, and Making Global Connections
In his role at BT as Data & AI Director, Gilbert is no stranger to
innovation, and his presidency focused on introducing changes to
position The OR Society for the future.
A key goal was to build a more diverse and inclusive community,
connecting with operational research groups globally, particularly
in Africa. “We need to attract talent from a wider range of
backgrounds to remain relevant and innovative,” he emphasised.
“Operational research must reflect the diversity of the world we live
in. By strengthening ties with operational research groups in places
like Africa, we can foster new ideas and collaborations that benefit
the global and UK communities.”
Under his leadership, The OR Society saw membership growth,
reflecting its influence. “Our community has grown - not just
through publications, but by creating opportunities for members
to come together to learn, share, and engage,” he said. “It’s about
ensuring The OR Society stays valuable for future operational
researchers.”
One notable change Gilbert introduced was having a multispeaker
format in the last year’s annual Blackett Lecture, instead
of a single keynote speaker. The lineup featured Roger Forder, a
Fellow of the Operational Research Society, Paul Clarke, former
Chief Technology Officer at Ocado and Professor Alison Etheridge.
They discussed topics ranging from OR’s roots to the future of
technology and the new Academy for Mathematical Sciences. “By
having diverse viewpoints, we provided our audience with a more
comprehensive exploration of the field,” he explained.
This year’s Blackett Lecture on 5th December will also have
multiple speakers including Dr. Anna Nagurney, an OR expert
and the Eugene M. Isenberg Chair in Integrative Studies at the
University of Massachusetts Amherst, as well panel guests
including Lucie-Marie Hagues MBE, CEO. Capital One bank.
Celebrating a Milestone Year
One of the most significant highlights of Gilbert’s presidency was
the 75th anniversary celebrations, which included a special event
at the House of Lords to thank the volunteers who are vital to the
Society’s work.
Additionally, the OR65 annual conference at the University of
Bath was particularly notable for its emphasis on practical OR
applications, offering more streams on real-world problem-solving
than ever before.
This year’s OR66 held at Bangor University in September
continued in this vein. The conference featured 23 parallel
streams across three days, including panel discussions focused
on how operational research techniques are being applied
in diverse sectors. The conference also included a panel on
“Knowledge Exchange Between Academia, Industry, and
Government,” with Gilbert participating as a panellist.
The OR Society’s focus on education continued, with its highquality
publications, webinars and training programmes, as well
as outreach efforts, including Pro Bono OR and OR in Education.
“Our duty is to share our knowledge to support decision-making in
a world increasingly dominated by AI,” Gilbert said.
To further education in OR, a very recent and very significant
achievement was the Society’s recognition by Ofqual as an
End Point Assessment Organisation for the Level 7 Operational Research Specialist Apprenticeship, marking a new chapter for
education within the Society.
Looking Forward: Amplifying Operational Research
As Gilbert’s presidency comes to an end, he feels both pride in
the Society’s progress and a sense of responsibility to continue
advocating for the field.
“There’s more work to be done to attract future generations of OR
professionals,” he said.
Speaking to delegates at the OR66 gala dinner, he stressed
the importance of ongoing education and the need to promote
operational research. “To amplify the field of operational research,
people really need to understand how OR supports big brands
like gov.uk, the NHS, Ocado, and Amazon,” he said. “Only through
continued education and promotion can we keep OR at the
forefront of decision-making and inspire the next generation of
operational researchers.”
As he hands over the presidency to Professor Sanja Petrovic,
Gilbert reflects on his time at the helm with gratitude and
optimism. He concluded, “The OR Society is in a strong position,
but the journey doesn’t end here. We must continue to evolve,
engage, and inspire.”