Alan Rudge is an electrical engineer who has had a significant impact on the design and construction of reflector antennas. As the founding Chairman and subsequent President of the ERA Foundation, he remains a leading figure in the engineering community. He is a vocal supporter of British industry, having served on more than 20 company boards, most recently as Deputy Chairman of Experian.

His research on radio antennas, of particular importance in the field of space communication, established him early on in his career as an expert in their properties and applications. Alan’s editorship of the seminal Antenna Handbook made the work a key international reference for those working in the field.

Following his tenure as Deputy Chief Executive of BT, Alan was appointed Chairman of the Board of Management of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. A former adviser to government on issues of science and technology and Chairman of the EPSRC and the Engineering Council, he received a knighthood in 2000 for his services to engineering research and industry.