Today we shine the spotlight on Cameron Bee. We recently interviewed Cameron to learn about his experiences on volunteering at the IET. Here’s what he had to say…

Volunteering is “a defining factor” in Cam’s life and career

Being a volunteer can be a transformative experience, both personally and professionally. This has certainly been the case for renewable energy professional and IET volunteer Dr Cameron (‘Cam’) Bee, whose journey we share below.

Cam started volunteering in 2009 at a local engineering society involved in restoring vintage commercial vehicles and rebuilding a preserved railway. Throughout his time at the society, he has benefited from a range of informal mentors who have helped steer his career direction.

He is now a Chartered Engineer with a Master’s degree and PhD in Engineering from the University of Warwick. He also completed further study and research on the energy industry at the University of Oxford.

Rich and varied career

Cam’s 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. His work also includes some onshore wind, solar and battery storage developments.

A key skill in his current role is the ability to support non-technical stakeholders involved in renewable energy projects. Cam particularly enjoys assisting on projects where challenging issues have arisen.

Motivational mentor

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

He applied to become an IET volunteer in January 2024: “My onboarding experience as an IET volunteer was a good one – the IET has clear structures and support in place.”

Cam started mentoring in early spring 2024 and finds it very interesting to support candidates at various stages of their career and professional registration journey. Fulfilling this important role well requires excellent communication skills – particularly the art of listening.

He said: “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.

“This could be because English isn’t their first language or because they don’t appreciate how to portray the best representation of their experience. Sometimes a third-person perspective can make all the difference. I really enjoy helping candidates with this aspect of their application.

“I’ve worked with five mentees so far. It’s been really interesting to meet people who are in similar industries to my own, but in very different roles. The IET excels at 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.”

Advising candidates

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 Advisor (PRA).

The PRA role involves advising individuals who are seeking professional registration on the Engineering Council’s Register of Engineers and Technicians through the IET. After completing his own professional registration journey, Cam wanted to build on his understanding of the requirements and 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, whether they are ready to apply, what to expect at the interview and what to do if their application is unsuccessful. 

Busy, busy, busy…

Cam said: “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 in terms of the different levels of support that volunteers are able to provide – and that’s very important.

“I benefited from the commitment my mentor gave to guide me through my CEng journey, drawing from experience gained during his long and successful career.”

The IET’s flexible approach makes volunteering very compatible with Cam’s busy lifestyle and demanding job. He said: “I am still growing in my professional career but can work around my other commitments. I aim to support the IET further in a technical capacity.”

Top tips

Cam offers the following advice to early-career engineers and technicians.

“A key attribute at CEng level is the ability to make good engineering decisions and judgements, rather than merely following a process or having a narrow skillset. It’s important to gain a broad experience and a balanced view, so make the most of opportunities, including different roles in different countries and different organisations.”

Cam is a firm believer that people reap what they sow, both at work and in their personal life. He said: “Remember that nothing will be handed to you on a plate. You will need a strong personal drive to keep learning, improving, developing and achieving your goals.”

And finally, when it comes to volunteering, what is Cam’s top tip?

“My volunteering experiences have been a defining factor in my life and career,” he said. “So my advice is to make the most of opportunities and take time to get to know other members – the IET opens a door to more than 156,000 members in 148 countries.”