Careers Angel Profile: Ian Ker
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| Name | Ian Ker |
|---|---|
| Email Address | ian_ker@hotmail.com |
| Industries/Sectors | Engineering |
| Employer | CATALYST (Consulting in Applied Transport, Access and Land use sYSTems) |
| Position | Principal |
| Experience | 15-20 years (approx.) |
| Degree | Economics & Politics (graduated in 1968) |
| Other Qualifications | None - too busy doing real work! |
| Internships | |
| Information | I have been very fortunate having almost fallen into transport planning and research at a time when there was a substantial expansion of demand and opportunity. The wheel has turned full circle and there is again an increasing demand for qualified transport professionals, not only in Australia where I have lived and worked for the past 35 years, but worldwide. Once you have some experience behind you in this field, there are opportunities that are available in all parts of the world, including both developed and developing countries With a modicum of good fortune, the results of one's endeavours are highly visible, which can be extremely satisfying personally and professionally, although you'll probably never make an absolute fortune out of it. |
| Things I Wish I'd Known | It is important to think about how transferrable any experience one gains can be. This is a form of personal risk management, as there are no guarantees of continuity these days - no 'jobs for life'. I have been fortunate in being able to remain in the same industry for all my working life, although in lots of different places and with quite a few different organisations. However, if opportunities had dried up in transport, the experience I had gained (in research, policy development and planning) would have stood me in good stead in a number of other industries. In simple terms, try to make your career multi-dimensional. Also, never underestimate the importance of professional networking. I am a conference junkie (I write several conference papers a year on top of the reports I write for clients) and an internet junkie - both keep me in touch with developments in the profession and with professional colleagues, as well as having the benefit of keeping my name known around the traps - so if I ever need information or am looking for other opportunities for work or for professional development, I have a head start. If you don't feel comfortable putting yourself forward in this way, as I didn't when I was younger, it is worth persevering - even to the extent that I did of deliberately putting yourself in the position of having to say something 'worthwhile' - as it is amazing how easy it becomes after a while. The only trouble is that transport people tend to talk shop an awful lot and my wife and family sometimes wonder whether I ever switch off from work - even on holidays, I'm always wanting to try out the local transport system. Perhaps my family would want to put that on THEIR list of things they wished I had known! |