"What initially felt like an unexpected detour has now become my calling, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of learners and their futures."
What led you to work for PETA?
I have over two decades of experience in the electrical industry, beginning in 1999. I started my career with local electrical companies in and around the Portsmouth area, serving contracts that were both local and national, one of my first experiences was working at Spalding power station, before moving on to working in other commercial and industrial locations in and around the London area. My journey then took me overseas, where I supported military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan by testing and maintaining electrical systems on U.S. military air bases.
In 2012, I transitioned into education, taking my first teaching role in Abu Dhabi where I taught engineering and mathematics. From there, I moved to Saudi Arabia, where I contributed to the development of curricula and taught electrical engineering at the National Industrial Training Institute (NITI), who provide engineering training for learners sent from Saudi Aramco (the largest producer of oil and gas in the world) and other major oil and gas providers.
After returning to the UK, I established myself as an electrical contractor before the additional challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of my business. I then spent time in Fiji working as a full-time volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, an NGO dedicated to providing housing and disaster response solutions.
In late 2024, I returned to the UK and was thrilled to be approached by a recruiter for my current role at PETA. I am incredibly excited to be part of an organisation with such a strong legacy of providing industry-leading engineering training on the south coast of England.
What is your role at PETA and what drives you to do what you do?
I am currently working as an Electrical Engineering Instructor at PETA's Industrial Training Centre in Havant, where I have the privilege of teaching and guiding the next generation of electrical engineers. Interestingly, teaching was never my original career plan. My journey into education began unexpectedly after I relocated to Abu Dhabi. When I first arrived, I took on a supporting role in an educational setting, however, shortly after my arrival the role evolved into a full teaching position, which was a bit of a shock at first. I had no prior experience in the classroom, so stepping into that responsibility felt like a huge leap.
Despite the initial challenges, I quickly embraced the opportunity and began to adapt to the demands of teaching. Over time, I discovered a deep passion for educating others. The experience of helping learners grasp complex concepts and witnessing their 'light bulb moments,' those moments of realisation and understanding, was incredibly rewarding. It became clear to me that teaching was not just a job, but something I found truly addictive. Being able to share my knowledge and real-world experiences with learners, and to see them grow both intellectually and personally, has brought me a sense of fulfilment that I had never anticipated.
This passion for teaching continued to grow as I gained more experience, and it has now become a central focus of my career. What initially felt like an unexpected detour has now become my calling, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of learners and their futures.
What knowledge and experience do you draw upon for your role?
I bring a wealth of practical experience in electrical engineering, with strong problem-solving skills developed through diagnosing and troubleshooting real-world electrical issues, while effectively applying theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios.
My expertise spans a deep understanding of industry-specific systems, electrical standards, and regulations, as well as the hands-on experience of installing, maintaining, and testing electrical systems across diverse environments. I have a solid foundation in electrical safety practices, risk assessment, and safety regulations, always ensuring a safe working environment.
With a background in project management, I've led an array of diverse projects from design through to commissioning and maintenance, focusing on resource management and team collaboration. Additionally, I have ensured compliance with both national and international standards, directly applying this knowledge to educate learners about industry best practices.
My commitment to lifelong learning ensures I stay current with the latest engineering changes, techniques, tools, and software, while my leadership experience in managing teams in high pressure environments allows me to maintain a productive and effective learning environment.
How do you approach your role on a day-to-day basis? What skills are required?
I approach my role with a focus on both practical application and learner engagement. I begin by ensuring that the content I deliver is both relevant to current industry standards and applicable to real-world scenarios, using my experience to draw connections between theory and practice. This helps learners not only grasp key concepts but also understand how they are used in industry.
I take a structured approach to lesson planning, ensuring that each session is clear, well-paced, and tailored to the needs of the learners. I use a combination of hands-on activities, problem-solving exercises, and real-world examples to keep the learners engaged and encourage active learning. Additionally, I remain flexible, adapting to the pace and needs of the learners to make sure everyone is supported in their learning journey.
Skills essential to my role include strong communication and interpersonal skills to explain complex concepts in an accessible way, alongside problem-solving abilities to troubleshoot and guide learners through practical exercises. A solid understanding of electrical systems, industry standards, and safety protocols allow me to instil confidence in learners and prepare them for real-world challenges. Leadership skills are also key, as I work to motivate and guide learners, utilising a collaborative and inclusive learning environment. Lastly, time management is crucial for balancing lesson delivery, hands-on activities, and individual learner support.
What is your teaching style?
I would describe my teaching style as pragmatic, engaging, and learner-centred, with a strong emphasis on bridging the gap between theory and practice.
As previously stated, I draw heavily on real-world experience, using practical examples and hands-on activities to make complex concepts more accessible and relatable to learners, this encourages problem-solving and promotes active learning by guiding learners through trouble shooting exercises and technical challenges. I find this approach helps them see the direct application of what they're learning and prepare them for the challenges they may face in industry.
I have a structured yet flexible teaching style, where I carefully plan lessons to ensure clarity and progression, but remain adaptable to meet the needs of individual learners. I also utilise leadership and communication skills as key components of my teaching, to ensure a collaborative and supportive learning environment.
I focus on motivating learners to engage fully, encouraging them to ask questions and actively participate in their learning. I utilise a variety of instructional, assessment and evaluation tools as well as collaborative and interactive tools and the occasional gamification, that replicate the scenarios that learners will experience outside the classroom or workshop. At the same time, I ensure that safety and industry standards are a consistent focus, making sure that the learners not only learn how to perform tasks, but also understand the importance of maintaining high standards and following best practices.
What are you passionate about outside of work?
Outside of work, I have a deep passion for travel, as it allows me to explore new places, experience diverse cultures, and indulge in different cuisines. Each journey brings with it the opportunity to broaden my horizons or simply appreciate the beauty of unfamiliar landscapes. I believe this curiosity about the world helps me connect with people from all walks of life.
In addition to travel, I have a love for growing food, this not only provides me with fresh produce, but also gives me a sense of accomplishment and connection to the earth. I find it a way to slow down and appreciate the simple things; these activities I find balance and enrich my life.
What are your personal values, and what is important to you?
My personal values are grounded in honesty, integrity and kindness. I believe in being open and truthful in all my interactions. Integrity is equally important to me; I try to hold myself to high ethical standards, always striving to do what's right, even when it's difficult, inconvenient or I get it wrong.
I also value humility, recognising that there's always more to learn and that every person has something valuable to offer. I believe this mindset helps me remain grounded and open to new ideas.
Inclusivity is a core value in my life, as I believe in maintaining environments where everyone feels accepted and respected, regardless of differences. I strive to create spaces where diversity is celebrated, and all voices are heard.
Learning is another key aspect of my values; I am committed to continuous growth, both personally and professionally. I believe that each day presents an opportunity to expand my knowledge and improve as an individual.
At the heart of everything is my deep appreciation for family and friendships. These relationships provide me with support, love, and a sense of belonging. They remind me of the importance of connection, compassion, and mutual care. These values guide my decisions, relationships, and how I approach the world every day.