I am a Chartered Engineer who has 33 years postgraduate experience spanning the full life cycle of automation and information system projects in the process industries.
My career started with Siemens as a Technician Electronic and Electrical Apprentice. During my apprenticeship, as well as gaining other valuable practical skills and experience, I obtained an ONC and HNC (with Distinctions) in Electronic Engineering. Afterwards, I was sponsored by Siemens to complete a degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Salford: where I obtained a BSc (First Class Hons) as well as a postgraduate Diploma in Engineering (Dipl Eng).
Following the completion of my degree, I continued to work for Siemens for a further 5 years in the Automation Engineering Group, progressing from an Assistant Applications Engineer through to an Engineering Team Manager. During this 5-year period I was seconded for 18 months to Siemens in Germany: including three months full time German language training, and 15 months in Erlangen (HQ) working on a Power Station Project.
I relocated to Fareham, Hampshire, in 1992 and joined EPC Consultants John Brown Engineers & Constructors Ltd, where I worked for 7 years in the Systems Control Group and held positions as a Senior Engineer, Principal Engineer, Technical Consultant and Operations Manager.
At the beginning of 1999, I moved to Fluor and formed the Process Automation Group (PAG) as part of the European Manufacturing and Life Sciences Business. PAG grew to 25 professional engineers in a 3-year period. My role in PAG was both as Business Manager and Technical Director with full P&L responsibility. I also took on additional responsibility for the management of the Regulatory Compliance, Commissioning and Compliance (RCCV) Group for a 3-year period.
Following 10 successful years with Fluor, I moved to PM Group in November 2008, and formed and managed the Automation and Information System business. I was also the Principal Automation Consultant in the Global Technology Team.
In January 2012 I formed an automation and information systems consultancy business: Knott Automation Projects Ltd, providing high quality services to clients (automation system manufacturers, system integrators, end users and main EPC consultants) at competitive rates.