Meet Tommy Sailing, one of CIBSE ANZ’s experienced facilitators of Electrical Services Engineering training that launched this year. Tommy is one of 15 subject matter experts who has helped develop the content of this course. He has just completed delivery of an online version of this course and is looking forward to taking this 3-day training on the road for in-person sessions in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
Tommy shares some of his experiences over the course of his career, his thoughts on training and his top-tips for budding building services engineers.
“New energy and the distributed energy grid is our fastest changing, and the most challenging area that building services engineers have a surprisingly strong sphere of influence over. We’re turning buildings into power stations and power repositories – even by simply adding electric vehicles to the mix.”
Tell us a little about yourself?
Tommy: My career in building services engineering commenced while I was still at University. I completed my industrial training in electrical services at a multi-disciplinary consultancy. There, I grew to be enamoured by the thought processes and the efforts required by everybody to turn buildings from cold blocks of concrete to places people love to live, work and play in. Whilst developing my knowledge in electrical services engineering, it was important to recognise that culture was all about coordination, so I gained a high level of appreciation for all services.
Today, I am now the group manager for ICT (Information Communications Technology) & Smart Buildings at JHA Consulting Engineers, a leading building services consultancy in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. My transition from electrical engineering to ICT was natural – I had always been passionate about integrating building systems, and leveraging technology across all disciplines to make buildings more healthy, more comfortable and more practical.
The team I’m leading is currently working on integrating technologies in some of Australia’s landmark projects, including the new Western Sydney Airport, a 40-storey commercial tower in Sydney CBD, and several hospitals across NSW’s record investment in healthcare.
What have you enjoyed about your role in delivering and CIBSE Training?
Tommy: If you ask any building services engineer in Australia – myself included – what their greatest challenge was starting out, it would most likely be the disconnect between real-world engineering and what they learned in Uni or TAFE. It was incredibly rewarding to me to contribute to a course that provides a true curriculum for electrical services engineers that will provide people with instant skills that can be applied in the real world.
What challenges have you encountered as a trainer?
Tommy: A lot of the fundamental course material was certainly not fresh in my head, as I hadn’t done a lot of the work “by hand” myself for several years – especially when we entrust computer programs to complete electrical designs. It goes to show the criticality of keeping your own skills sharpened as a senior consultant, especially when you have the responsibility of reviewing and signing off on your peers’ work. There is no excuse for falling behind in professional development.
What topics within the Electrical Services Engineering training are you most passionate about?
Tommy: My personal favourite topic is Advanced Systems, which covers smart buildings, integrated communications networks, wireless systems and integration. It comes towards the end of the course as it brings it all together – we discuss why and how technology can be applied to modern buildings to meet energy efficiency requirements, connect-up mechanical and hydraulics systems, and introduce the ever-closing gap between the construction and ICT industries.
What aspect of electrical services engineering is changing the fastest?
Tommy: New energy and the distributed energy grid is our fastest changing, and most challenging area that building services engineers have a surprisingly strong sphere of influence over. We’re turning buildings into power stations and power repositories – even by simply adding electric vehicles to the mix. All of this development is turning the traditional power generation paradigm onto its head, and our junior engineers need to be equipped with the skill set and knowledge base of both the traditional and modern methods of power handling and construction.
Why do you think that it’s important that building services professionals keep up with their professional development?
Tommy: We’ve just mentioned that the changing face of the energy grid is a challenge for everyone – this is the perfect example of why building services engineers must keep their knowledge up to date. Methodologies change faster than even Codes and Standards can keep up with, and to deliver buildings that challenge industry expectations, building services professionals must simply keep their skills fresh.
As engineers, we need to be trusted advisors across the industry, which is why most Australian states and territories are introducing mandatory registration for engineers. The requirements of registration quite rightly require engineers to continue professional development to ensure that not only their personal knowledge is kept up to date, but that of the junior engineers we are mentoring is kept up to date also.
“the changing face of the energy grid is a challenge for everyone – this is the perfect example of why building services engineers must keep their knowledge up to date. Methodologies change faster than even Codes and Standards can keep up with, and to deliver buildings that challenge industry expectations, building services professionals must simply keep their skills fresh.”
If you could go back to your younger self when you started working in building services, what advice would you give yourself?
Tommy: Spend more time on site, with contractors and with manufacturers. Engineering designs on paper mean very little without reviewing the real-world results. It is only through practise and seeing your early designs come to life – problems, issues, variations and all – that we all become better industry professionals.
Lastly, what would you tell someone who is just about to start or consider working in building services?
Tommy: A, B, C – Always Be Coordinating! Never be afraid to learn as much as possible about all other building disciplines and trades other than your own.
Click here to discover more about CIBSE ANZ Electrical Services Engineering training