IN THE HOT SEAT
I am disappointed that the Skillfridge competition doesn’t receive wider industry support, but even more disappointed that out of the many colleges and training providers so few enter their students for the Student/Trainee categories of industry Awards. This is a missed opportunity for all involved.
What do you think is the biggest challenge ahead for the industry?
As the global demand for cooling increases it is inevitable that this will draw attention to the energy demand these creates. We cannot expect this to be business as usual and must find methods of cooling that require far lower energy consumption.
We also have to attract and retain talent into the industry. This is not a new problem and thankfully there are a number of excellent initiatives in this area, but it is clear that we still have a lot to do when it comes to attracting women into the industry.
All the statistics show that they are under- represented in our industry and engineering generally. If we continually fail to appeal to the whole gene pool we are immediately limiting our potential.
But perhaps the biggest challenge is again
not a new one, and that is one of industry image and awareness of its role in supporting modern society.
Is legislation doing enough of the right things to improve and drive our industry into the future? To be successful, any legislation has to be a balance of carrot and stick. It aims to encourage the behaviour that we as society wish to have as a minimum standard. It is difficult to say whether it is doing enough
as there are always different opinions as to the best route forward or the rate of change required/ realistically achievable.
But if one considers the changes that we have seen in the past few years moving from CFCs, to HCFCs, to HFC, to natural refrigerants it is difficult to deny that change is happening and that we are moving to towards a different future. Only time will tell if we should have done something different or quicker.
How can we encourage new people into the industry?
Show them what a rich and varied career they can have. As engineers, we tend to put emphasis
on the technical aspects of the job, which can be appealing it is true. But the career opportunities are as endless as the global applications for cooling, ranging from space travel to food preservation, to hospitals and savings lives through pharmaceuticals and energy production. Refrigeration is an international passport that has taken me all over the world. Few industries can match our global reach.
What advice would you give to any youngsters about entering into engineering as a career? Reach out and make contact. With social media being what it is today, it is possible to contact people with a wealth of experience and knowledge. Learn as much as you can from as many people as possible.
Sport/Team/Player?
I still find time to jog regularly, and trail cycling, and the odd country walk when I find the time. I always enjoy writing and watching international films.
I’m not sure how the two of them go together, but if I ever write a script for a blockbuster then those pieces of that jigsaw will come together nicely!
DAPUK
www.acr-news.com
September 2017 35
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