Independent engineering credentials
Ian Webster FIEAust CPEng, Ampcontrol Group Engineering Manager, explains that the credentialing agreement enables Ampcontrol engineers to be assessed independently and externally, ensuring that the company’s engineering competence is recognised across the globe. “It also provides a beacon for bright young engineers who are starting their careers, knowing that they can develop professionally and be recognised by Engineers Australia through the agreement,” says Rod Henderson, Ampcontrol’s Managing Director and CEO. Former Engineers Australia CEO Dr Bronwyn Evans HonFIEAust CPEng says Chartership is something all engineers should aim for. “Chartered status should be an aspiration for all engineers, as it is independent recognition of the highest international standards of engineering competency,” she says. [caption id="attachment_13907" align="alignleft" width="300"]Alexander Smith CPEng, R&D Engineer at ResTech[/caption]
Developing Talent
Many of Ampcontrol’s credentialed engineers have grown within the business, starting as graduates or even undergraduate interns. After gaining diverse experience in design, research and development, project engineering and production engineering, they find their niche within the company. This was the pathway for Alexander Smith CPEng, who joined the company in 2011 as part of its graduate program. Now a Research and Development Engineer at ResTech, a joint venture between Ampcontrol and the University of Newcastle, Smith was encouraged to take up the credentialing opportunity last year during a conversation with his manager. “I’d wanted to become a Chartered engineer for quite a while and I’d kept some pretty fastidious notes about my professional development and the projects I’d worked on, so I had most of the paperwork ready to go,” he says. Chartered status is an acknowledgement that an engineer is seen as being highly skilled, professional and ethical by their peers, Smith says. “That’s a good feeling,” he adds. “One of the advantages of the bulk credentialing was being able to talk to other engineers at work who were also going through the process and bounce ideas off each other.”
Fast-track your engineering career
Along with global recognition of skills and professionalism, the Chartered credential can help to fast-track career progression and provides leadership development opportunities via peer assessment against industry recognised standards.
"Having the words 'Chartered Engineer' next to my name indicates that I am committed to professional development." Bahar Chaichi CPEng