Set a target and work out how to get there. You won’t always reach your target – you may instead end up deciding you want something else more, but the simple act of having a plan makes choices easier to make and help you plan. This is especially true with studying – know why you want to study what you’re studying, and what you plan to do with it once you’ve learnt it! Also, remember that doing your job well usually isn’t enough to be recognised. You also have to be seen to be doing a good job – remember to invest a little time in being visible.

My SPE membership has led to more than just industry connections, it has given me great friendships as well. The technical meetings allow me to stay on top of recent industry developments, and it’s great to be able to help promote STEM subjects in schools through the SCG Committee.

Going back to university in my 20’s and re-training as an engineer. Graduating right before the downturn means that it’s not paid off for me yet, but the opportunities ahead of me are much brighter thanks to taking that leap and getting my engineering degree.

I wanted to be an architect, but I’m not sure I really understood what one of them was. I wanted to be able to know how things were designed and built, and how they came to be – and somehow my twin threads of study in engineering and history have since enabled me to do.

Meeting up with friends for an evening of board games, good food, and good drink.

I’d love to return to working offshore, ideally in a process improvement role. I had a fantastic time working at BP before redundancy, and I miss working in the industry.

Other than visiting my family in Houston, TX, I’d love to go back to Lake Como in Italy – it’s a beautiful place.

I’ve been reading a lot of isekai light novels recently, but I’ve just ordered Wilding: The return of nature to a British Farm by Isabella Tree and plan to pick up The High Window by Raymond Chandler after that, for more hardboiled crime adventures in 1940’s Los Angeles.

I’d be Richard Castle from the TV show Castle – he is excellent at reading people, understanding human nature, and spends his days working at a job he loves.

I want to restore an old castle and surround it with rewilded land. I know my target – I just need to work out how to get there.