Andrew Karney
Encyclopedia
Andrew Karney, FIET, FRSA is a British
electrical engineer, businessman and company director. He is chairman of the board for the international NGO, Tiri.
. He started his career working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency - UNRWA in Lebanon
and Gaza
in 1964 and 1965. He was honoured by the United Nations Secretary-General
, U Thant
in 1969.
Karney worked as a development engineer at Standard Telephones and Cables
on a team headed by British
engineer, Tommy Flowers
, who designed Colossus
, the world's first programmable electronic computer
, used to break German wartime codes. He played an important role in the development of the world's first fully electronic
digital telephone exchange
, which was developed as an Anglo French collaboration and was installed in Moorgate
in the City of London
in 1967. He also worked as a senior scientist
at the central research laboratories of the UK General Electric Company on the development codecs for high speed (140Mbps) digital transmission systems which were used to test the transmission cababilities of helix wave guides (and later of optical fibres) and electronic
telephone exchanges. During this time he filed a number of international patents which were used by developers of the first digital telephone switching equipment in the UK, the US, Canada, France, Sweden and Japan.
In 1973 he joined Logica, an international systems company. He was project director of the Europe
an project based in Paris
to bring the Internet
to Europe from 1975 to 1976. INRIA in France, Euratom in Italy, the National Physical Laboratory (United Kingdom), ETH Zurich
(Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich) and the Organisation Européenne pour la Recherche Nucléaire, commonly known as CERN
, actively participated in the project and it was there that the World Wide Web
was initiated by Tim Berners-Lee
in 1989. In 1984, Karney became a main board director responsible for the telecommunications and media sectors as well as operations in Italy
and Asia
. During this time he was responsible for the development of the Customer Service System
for British Telecommunications (the largest IT project in Europe at the time) and the development of early Text Messaging (SMS) for mobiles. Also in this year, together with others, he founded Cable London plc - one of the first Cable TV operations in the UK, which was subsequently became part of Virgin Media
.
On leaving Logica Karney became a director of NASDAQ
quoted Integrated Micro Products, later acquired by SUN Microsystems
, chairman of Language Line Ltd, a language resources company founded by Lord Michael Young (politician), an independent director of the Guardian Media Group
. Baronsmead VCT3 and a number of high technology companies. In 2005 he was appointed chairman of the trustees of the international NGO Tiri, which seeks practical solutions to making integrity work in governments, civil society and business. In 2009 he joined Medical Aid for Palestinians
as a trustee which works for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees.
He is a chartered engineer, fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology
, a Freeman of the City of London
, a fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce and a member of Chatham House
. He is also an expert on the Middle East
.
, his grandfather was Bishop Arthur Karney, the first bishop of Johannesburg
. His mother was Celia Karney (nee Richardson) granddaughter of John Wigham Richardson
a Victorian
shipbuilder and founder of Swan Hunter
and Wigham Richardson
shipbuilders on Tyneside
. Karney is married to the former prima ballerina Beryl Goldwyn
and they have one son Peter Karney born in 1972.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
electrical engineer, businessman and company director. He is chairman of the board for the international NGO, Tiri.
Career
Karney studied engineering at Trinity College, CambridgeTrinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. He started his career working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency - UNRWA in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Gaza
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
in 1964 and 1965. He was honoured by the United Nations Secretary-General
United Nations Secretary-General
The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat of the United Nations, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. The Secretary-General also acts as the de facto spokesperson and leader of the United Nations....
, U Thant
U Thant
U Thant was a Burmese diplomat and the third Secretary-General of the United Nations, from 1961 to 1971. He was chosen for the post when his predecessor, Dag Hammarskjöld, died in September 1961....
in 1969.
Karney worked as a development engineer at Standard Telephones and Cables
Standard Telephones and Cables
Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd was a British telephone, telegraph, radio, telecommunications and related equipment R&D manufacturer. During its history STC invented and developed several groundbreaking new technologies including PCM and optical fibres.The company began life in London as...
on a team headed by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
engineer, Tommy Flowers
Tommy Flowers
Thomas "Tommy" Harold Flowers, MBE was an English engineer. During World War II, Flowers designed Colossus, the world's first programmable electronic computer, to help solve encrypted German messages.-Early life:...
, who designed Colossus
Colossus computer
Not to be confused with the fictional computer of the same name in the movie Colossus: The Forbin Project.Colossus was the world's first electronic, digital, programmable computer. Colossus and its successors were used by British codebreakers to help read encrypted German messages during World War II...
, the world's first programmable electronic computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
, used to break German wartime codes. He played an important role in the development of the world's first fully electronic
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
digital telephone exchange
Telephone exchange
In the field of telecommunications, a telephone exchange or telephone switch is a system of electronic components that connects telephone calls...
, which was developed as an Anglo French collaboration and was installed in Moorgate
Moorgate
Moorgate was a postern in the London Wall originally built by the Romans. It was turned into a gate in the 15th century. Though the gate was demolished in 1762, the name survives as a major street in the City of London...
in the City of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1967. He also worked as a senior scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
at the central research laboratories of the UK General Electric Company on the development codecs for high speed (140Mbps) digital transmission systems which were used to test the transmission cababilities of helix wave guides (and later of optical fibres) and electronic
Electronics
Electronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
telephone exchanges. During this time he filed a number of international patents which were used by developers of the first digital telephone switching equipment in the UK, the US, Canada, France, Sweden and Japan.
In 1973 he joined Logica, an international systems company. He was project director of the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an project based in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to bring the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
to Europe from 1975 to 1976. INRIA in France, Euratom in Italy, the National Physical Laboratory (United Kingdom), ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
(Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich) and the Organisation Européenne pour la Recherche Nucléaire, commonly known as CERN
CERN
The European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN , is an international organization whose purpose is to operate the world's largest particle physics laboratory, which is situated in the northwest suburbs of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border...
, actively participated in the project and it was there that the World Wide Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
was initiated by Tim Berners-Lee
Tim Berners-Lee
Sir Timothy John "Tim" Berners-Lee, , also known as "TimBL", is a British computer scientist, MIT professor and the inventor of the World Wide Web...
in 1989. In 1984, Karney became a main board director responsible for the telecommunications and media sectors as well as operations in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. During this time he was responsible for the development of the Customer Service System
Customer Service System
BT's Customer Service System is the core operational support system for BT, bringing in 70% of income for the company...
for British Telecommunications (the largest IT project in Europe at the time) and the development of early Text Messaging (SMS) for mobiles. Also in this year, together with others, he founded Cable London plc - one of the first Cable TV operations in the UK, which was subsequently became part of Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
.
On leaving Logica Karney became a director of NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
quoted Integrated Micro Products, later acquired by SUN Microsystems
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
, chairman of Language Line Ltd, a language resources company founded by Lord Michael Young (politician), an independent director of the Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group plc is a company of the United Kingdom owning various mass media operations including The Guardian and The Observer. The Group is owned by the Scott Trust. It was founded as the Manchester Guardian Ltd in 1907 when C. P. Scott bought the Manchester Guardian from the estate of...
. Baronsmead VCT3 and a number of high technology companies. In 2005 he was appointed chairman of the trustees of the international NGO Tiri, which seeks practical solutions to making integrity work in governments, civil society and business. In 2009 he joined Medical Aid for Palestinians
Medical Aid for Palestinians
Medical Aid for Palestinians is a British charity that offers medical services in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Lebanon and, advocates for the universal right to health.-Aim and history:...
as a trustee which works for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees.
He is a chartered engineer, fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology
Institution of Engineering and Technology
The Institution of Engineering and Technology is a British professional body for those working in engineering and technology in the United Kingdom and worldwide. It was formed in 2006 from two separate institutions: the Institution of Electrical Engineers , dating back to 1871, and the...
, a Freeman of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, a fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce and a member of Chatham House
Chatham House
Chatham House, formally known as The Royal Institute of International Affairs, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in London whose mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs. It is regarded as one of the world's leading...
. He is also an expert on the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Personal life
Karney is one of six children. His father was Gilbert Henry Peter Karney vicar of Embleton, NorthumberlandEmbleton, Northumberland
Embleton village in the English county of Northumberland is about half-a-mile from the bay that carries its name. The sandy beach is backed by dunes where a variety of flowers bloom: bluebells, cowslips, burnet roses and, to give it its common name, bloody cranesbill, amongst others. Dunstanburgh...
, his grandfather was Bishop Arthur Karney, the first bishop of Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
. His mother was Celia Karney (nee Richardson) granddaughter of John Wigham Richardson
John Wigham Richardson
John Wigham Richardson was one of the great figures of British industrial life, and a leading shipbuilder on Tyneside during the late 19th and early 20th century.-Career:...
a Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
shipbuilder and founder of Swan Hunter
Swan Hunter
Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which...
and Wigham Richardson
Wigham Richardson
The Wigham Richardson shipbuilding company was named after its founder, John Wigham Richardson , the son of Edward Richardson, a tanner from Newcastle upon Tyne, and Jane Wigham from Edinburgh.-History:...
shipbuilders on Tyneside
Tyneside
Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...
. Karney is married to the former prima ballerina Beryl Goldwyn
Beryl Goldwyn
Beryl Goldwyn - now Beryl Karney - is an English ballet dancer.Born near London, she started dancing at the age of three. She attended the Royal Ballet School and performed with the Royal Ballet in The Sleeping Princess , with Dame Margot Fonteyn, when the Royal Opera House reopened after the...
and they have one son Peter Karney born in 1972.