b'Member News March 2023 15Professional developmentUnderstanding the power of listeningIET Fellow Ian Naylor CEng FIET is a skilled negotiator who understands the power of listening. A man on a mission to improve safety, he has used his steely determination and persuasive abilities to improve electrical engineering standards around the world.In 1981, Ian left school with few qualifications.Safety standardsHe started out on a coal-mining electricianPersonal safety campaignapprenticeship for British Coal, helping toDetermined to make a difference,Ian has campaigned relentlessly maintain and install underground electricalin 2000 Ian joined the Electricityto stop the use of oil-insulated plant and equipment. Hungry to learn more,Association (now the Energy Networksmedium voltage switchgear in in 1990 he resigned from the colliery to startAssociation). This marked the start ofindustry. This is because when an a four-year degree in Electrical and Electronichis safety standards journey: I travelledoil-filled switchgear tank ruptures, Engineering at the University of Huddersfield.around the world on various standardsthe results can be catastrophic, committees for HV [high voltage]with burning oil and gas clouds Professional career equipment, which taught me a lot aboutcausing fatalities and serious how to influence people and keep thingsinjuries, significant damage to The degree kick-started Iansmoving in the right direction. It alsobuildings and plant nearby, and professional career and ignited hisraised my profile in the industry. huge financial losses.passion for safety standards. In 1994 he joined a medium-voltageIan is now Principal Consultant atI want companies that are using switchgear manufacturer in Leeds,Threepwood Consulting Ltd. He works withoil switchgear to replace it with a where he became heavily involvedlarge engineering companies around thenew, safer alternative. Its a massive in development.globe, so is ideally placed to keep a closepersonal campaign for me. I dont beat He gained a solid understanding ofeye on safety and standards issues arising inabout the bush; I tell manufacturers how switchgear is built and tested.the electrical industry. Hes still very involvedand users what I think: dont touch it Observing equipment failure duringin modifying engineering documents andwith a barge pole!destructive testing had a big impactrevising industry specifications.on him.Six years later he became SwitchgearFellow statusAsset Manager at Yorkshire ElectricityIan is immensely proud to have become an IET Fellow in 2021.Group. This change of role gave him important new insights. I was poacherAs a Fellow, he is continuing to coachmeet the clients needs, but Ill never turned gamekeeper, he said. Buyingengineers to take on new challengesbend any rules in doing so. If I feel the the switchgear equipment made meoutside their comfort zone: If a projectclient is taking undue risks, Ill tell them. recognise the lack of understanding inis in a completely new area, Im alwaysShortcuts are simply not an option the industry about destructive testingwilling to study and gain the expertise towhere safety is concerned. and how powerful it is. take it on. I encourage other engineers to do the same. Ian hopes his IET Fellow status will add more weight to his relentless Ian will also continue to emphasiseefforts to replace all oil-insulated the vital importance of professionalmedium voltage switchgear with a integrity: I always go the extra mile tonew, safer alternative. Discover what IET Fellowship could mean for you by visiting theiet.org/discoverfellowship'