A defining factor in his life and career

Being a volunteer can be a transformative experience, both personally and professionally, which has certainly been the case for renewable energy professional and IET volunteer Dr Cameron Bee.

Cam is a chartered engineer with a master’s degree and PhD in engineering from the University of Warwick. His career has spanned roles in construction, engineering, quality assurance and the fire service. He moved into a role in renewable energy in May 2023 and has decided that this is where he intends to stay. “Renewables is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the UK, with a huge range of technical and commercial challenges to overcome,” he said.

In June 2024 he became a project manager in clean energy advisory at Wood, a global engineering company in the energy and materials markets. He leads technical advisory and construction scopes in renewable energy, specialising in offshore wind.

Applying for his CEng status, Cam was impressed by the mentor who guided him through his application – so much so that he was inspired to follow in their footsteps. “After having such a positive experience, it was only fair to give something back and support other people.”

He applied to become an IET volunteer in January 2024 and started mentoring in early spring 2024. Cam finds it interesting and rewarding to support candidates at various stages of their career and professional registration journey. “A key skill is being able to support people with their own personal requirements. Often engineers have a huge level of skill and experience but need a little guidance to portray their achievements in an impactful way. Sometimes a third-person perspective can make all the difference. I really enjoy helping candidates with this aspect of their application.”

He’s worked with five mentees so far and said the IET has excelled in pairing mentees with suitable mentors. “My first mentee is very close to submitting their CEng application. Working together to refine their application has been a 10-month process and I am very excited for them to achieve chartered status – they really do deserve it.”

Cam is keen to expand his volunteering responsibilities and activities, and to support the IET further, so in September 2024 he applied to become a professional registration adviser (PRA).

After completing his own professional registration journey, Cam wanted to build on his understanding of the routes to professional registration. He was also sure that he’d be able to provide sound advice to candidates on the things that matter most to them, like how to prepare a formal application, what to expect at the interview and what to do if their application is unsuccessful. Cam says: “Being a PRA complements and supports my mentoring role because I’m broadening my experience of the professional registration process.”

On average, Cam devotes one day a month to IET volunteering. “Sometimes finding the time to go through a candidate’s CEng application, especially to the level of detail it deserves, can be challenging,” he said. “But I never feel any pressure from the IET to do more. From the start, I have found the team to be very accommodating.”

The IET’s flexible approach makes volunteering very compatible with Cam’s busy lifestyle. “My volunteering experiences have been a defining factor in my life and career. My advice is to make the most of opportunities and take time to get to know other members. After all, the IET has opened its doors to more than 156,000 members across the world.”

To find out more about volunteering with us, please email volunteering@theiet.org