BINDT welcomes its new President and President Elect
07/02/2023
In January 2023, the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) welcomed its new President, Professor Ian Cooper of TWI Ltd, and President Elect, Mr Jason Taylor of SGS, to their roles as they begin their terms of office for the next two years.
Professor Ian Cooper CEng FInstNDT MWeldI is a Chartered Engineer and Technology Fellow with over 30 years of experience in NDT. When joining TWI Ltd in 2005 at the Advanced NDT Centre in Port Talbot, Ian specialised in NDT of composites. More recently, his work has concentrated on advanced NDT methods and automated robotic inspection systems. Ian leads the highly successful IntACOM programme, developing rapid automated inspection systems for complex geometries, and is the NDE Group Technology Strategy Manager. In 2016, he and his co-authors were awarded the John Grimwade Medal for a paper on this work and he was made an Honorary Professor of Practice at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David. In 2019, Ian received the Anne Birt Award for technology innovation and strategy. With effect from 1 January 2023, Ian is President and a Fellow of BINDT and is active and influential on several other committees that guide the development, application, training and certification of NDT.
Ian commented: “I begin my term as President with some trepidation, knowing that I have to fill the very large shoes vacated by Past President Iain Baillie. Iain finishes his tenure with the Institute in a very sound financial state. I would like to thank and congratulate him, CEO David Gilbert and the Institute staff, plus the willing army of volunteers that serve on Council and the various committees, on a fine job of steering the Institute through the challenges that have beset us over the last couple of years. During my tenure, I want to focus on the delivery of a strategy agreed upon with Council and the CEO that includes refreshing the website and PCN brand and upgrading the Institute’s IT and lighting systems. In addition, I want to look at ways of providing greater benefit to members and I would welcome members’ thoughts on how best to meet their needs.”
Jason Taylor CEng MInstNDT BSc started his NDT career in 1985. After a couple of years working in radiography crews on various projects, Jason undertook a radiography course in Cambridge, UK, and the newly developed PCN Level 2 examination. After passing this, he carried on working throughout the UK and offshore, adding Level 2 magnetic testing (MT), penetrant testing (PT) and ultrasonic testing (UT) to his arsenal. Throughout this time, he was working in general engineering, oil & gas and structural and ship surveys.
Ten years later, Jason took a change in direction and began working as the NDT Operations Manager for a new employer that was heavily involved with aerospace inspection and the local section of the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT). This meant that Jason became SNT-qualified, as well as having the PCN ISO 9712s already held, and over the next few years he added ASNT Level 3 radiographic testing (RT), MT, PT, UT and visual testing (VT) to his CV.
Another five years on, and Jason was back in the oil, gas and petrochemical environment, where he operated NDT on a couple of sites, with up to 120 technicians on some projects. As the clients used him as their informed resource for NDT, this pushed Jason to keep his NDT knowledge growing. Due to his reputation and his NDT training experience, his employer then made him the NDT Technical Manager for the group.
This new role expanded his horizons, allowing him to get involved with both BINDT and the North Atlantic Section of ASNT (ASNT NATL). During this time, Jason managed the company’s NDT training school and developed courses not covered by traditional NDT training. He found he could use his experience and position to guide and mentor many apprentices and veterans, bringing them into the industry. Many of these contacts are still maintained to this day.
This led to the role of Global NDT Technical Manager for SGS, supporting SGS operations and clients around the world. During a restructuring within SGS, Jason moved to be the Technical Manager for SGS UK’s Industrial Operation. He has maintained his involvement with BINDT by working on committees and is currently serving as the President Elect; he has also remained involved with ASNT by serving as the Chair of the North Atlantic Section (NATL) for several years and continuing to serve as the Treasurer. Jason also serves as Chair of the Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed) TC5 NDT Committee, is a member of their Technical Steering Committee and TC11 Training Committee and is on the UKAS NDT Committee.
Jason continues to expand his technical qualifications, adding Level 3 ISO 9712 qualifications in MT, PT, RT and UT. He also works with equipment manufacturers and end-users to both keep up with developing technologies and to advise on best practice applications. Jason remarked: “It is a real honour and privilege to be able to champion NDT and CM technicians at the heart of our industry, whom day in and day out are making this place a safer world, one test at a time.”
