profiles
We are delighted to introduce some of our WiMAC members, through a series of profiles, as they take us through their journey within measurement, automation and control, what inspires them and any useful advice they can offer.
NAME: TURAN DASPAN
ROLE & COMPANY: LEAD INSTRUMENT & CONTROL ENGINEER, APOLLO ENGINEERING
What originally sparked your interest in engineering?
My fascination with maths and numeracy, instilled by my dad’s passion for mathematics, laid the foundation for my interest in engineering. Growing up, I found myself drawn to STEM subjects, particularly mathematics and physics. What captivated me even more was the historical application of these principles in science and engineering, shaping key innovations that changed the course of human history.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
What I find most rewarding in my role is witnessing how individuals interpret and implement engineering principles in both overt and subtle ways within their daily lives. I also enjoy the tangible aspect of engineering design - from conceptualisation on paper or software to bringing it to fruition and conducting thorough testing before its final installation and commissioning. Furthermore, my current position affords me the opportunity to continually explore and assimilate new engineering concepts while using transferable skills across diverse industries such as oil and gas, renewables, and decarbonisation, aligning with the ongoing energy transition.
What skills and/or knowledge do you bring to your current role?
In my current role, I use a blend of analytical and adaptability skills built through years of professional and personal experiences. I live and work in a culture different from where I was raised, and this has helped me to learn to review, seek understanding and learn courage in challenging situations.
Beyond my technical engineering knowledge, I bring to the table unique alternate perspective on engineering, interpersonal dynamics, and leadership - enriching our collaborative capabilities.
What advice would you give to someone starting their career, based on your own experiences and lessons learned along the way?
There is a lot to say about this…
At the start of your career, if you are unsure about what you want to do, at least know what you do not want to do; then be willing to work smart and learn; keep learning through your career. Learn the skill and invest in valuable relationships – mentors, peers, sponsors, mentees, etc.
At some point, you may need to charter new paths for yourself; take the challenge with the security of a minimal level of competence in the area and valuable relationships.
SHEILA SMITH
NAME: SHEILA SMITH
ROLE & COMPANY: HEAD of DEPARTMENT, DEPARTMENT of APPLIED SCIENCES, GLASGOW CALEDONIAN UNIVERSITY
What originally sparked your interest in engineering?
I come from a farming background and growing up I often helped to tinker with farm implements when they broke down. This was a common occurrence! This originally sparked my interest in agriculture, however, I could not see a future in that field, pardon the pun, but being curious to know how things worked, as well as a love of mathematics, led me to an undergraduate degree in Applied Physics. Both subject areas are the underpinning of all Engineering disciplines. From my UG degree I then embarked on a PhD, part of which was the development of a new instrument for the simultaneous measurement of fluorescence lifetimes. I have therefore been involved in instrumentation, in one form or another, throughout my career.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I enjoy two things about my role, the first is interaction with students and being part of their learning journey and secondly interesting research projects which will bring benefit to industry and add to scientific knowledge.
What skills and/or knowledge do you bring to your current role?
My current role is now more management focused although I still give lectures and am involved in research. I certainly bring many years of research and lecturing in chemical sensor development and associated instrumentation to ensure that graduates of the future are well prepared for the world of work. Skills I need at present are more people focussed and being able to interact with others to influence both senior management and advise students and early career researchers are key to the role I presently have.
What advice would you give to someone starting their career, based on your own experiences and lessons learned along the way?
I would advise people starting out to ensure that they enter a sector of the industry that they are passionate about. It is also good to be flexible and open to change and new opportunities. Equally, continuing to learn throughout your career is extremely important and vital as engineering will always be changing as new technologies come to the fore.
CLAIRE JONES, WiMAC Chair
NAME: CLAIRE JONES
ROLE & COMPANY: APPLICATION CONSULTANT – FLOW, ENDRESS + HAUSER UK
What originally sparked your interest in engineering?
I originally started out in an order entry role at Endress+Hauser and working closely with the engineers helped me gain a great insight into the industry which I had never had exposure to before. I am inherently quite inquisitive so for me it sparked my interest to learn what they were doing day to day!
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I enjoy speaking to different people from all areas of the industry and with my role this happens every day. I gain so much knowledge from my experienced colleagues and customers around the world, and I love networking with them and forming great working relationships.
What skills and/or knowledge do you bring to your current role?
I love a good challenge, which can prove useful in an application consultant role! There are often complex questions and queries coming through that require a bit of puzzle solving and in-depth technical discussions. The previous knowledge I gained through order entry and going through our graduate scheme has also helped as I have developed skills outside of my technical training which I still use daily.
What advice would you give to someone starting their career, based on your own experiences and lessons learned along the way?
My first piece of advice would be don’t let anything hold you back if you have a career goal. But even if you don’t know what you want to do right now, that is also okay. Sometimes the best things find you, which is what happened to me. My next advice would be to align yourself with those who will support you and push you outside of your comfort zone. For me, having two incredibly supportive mentors within Endress+Hauser was invaluable to me. They still support me to this day and give me that confidence boost that we all need sometimes.