Practitioner Award

Award criteria

 
Purpose: The purpose of this award is to recognise outstanding achievement in the learning, sharing or execution of NDT/CM/SHM practice.
 
Details of the award: £250 cash, a voucher to the value of £300 towards training at an Approved Training Organisation (ATO)/Authorised Qualifying Body (AQB) and an invitation to the NDT Annual Conference Dinner with one night's accommodation. This financial contribution to the value of £300 is in support of any CPD initiative/aspiration, of the recipient’s choice, that has been endorsed by the Practitioner Committee and must be used within two years of presentation.

Eligibility: Any member or non-member of BINDT showing outstanding performance in NDT/CM/SHM duties and demonstrating qualities such as a consistently high standard of performance in a specific job (service, loyalty, ethics, client satisfaction), potential to develop the depth or breadth of NDT/CM/SHM competence, acting as a mentor, coach or leader of junior or less experienced colleagues or associates and/or contribution to a specific project that yielded technical and/or financial benefits for the employer or organisation.

The proposer of the award should be a voting member of the Institute. If they are not, they will need to ensure the application is endorsed by an Institute voting member.

Frequency: Annual award.
 
Nomination arrangements: Nominations may be made by any manager, supervisor, team leader or mentor who is familiar with the nominated person, has witnessed their engagement in the execution of NDT/CM/SHM, has observed commendable behaviour, effort or aptitude and can attest to having done so.

The Practitioner Committee will select the most suitable applicant and forward its nomination to the Croxson Committee for submission to Council for approval.

Awarding arrangements: Presentation from any member of the Practitioner Committee at the most mutually convenient location. Photographic record and subsequent publication in NDT News and Insight.
 
Committee: Practitioner Committee.

Winners

The Practitioner Award for 2026 is awarded to Chris Hipkiss and Graeme Falconer.

Chris Hipkiss serves as the Level 3 Subject Matter Expert at Fulkrum, where he exemplifies technical excellence, mentorship and leadership in non-destructive testing (NDT) practice across global operations. He has expertise in class society inspections and audits, spanning the UK and worldwide projects with Fulkrum, combined with a commitment to elevating industry standards.

Chris demonstrates outstanding proficiency in NDT methodologies, writing and reviewing procedures to enhance standards across Fulkrum, and has supported multiple NDT companies worldwide in similar roles over the past ten years. As an expert in class society inspections and audits, he ensures compliance with international maritime and offshore standards, conducting witness inspections that uphold rigorous quality while providing meaningful and actionable improvements to companies, colleagues and clients. His global contributions provide targeted coaching and feedback, driving continuous improvement among technicians.

Chris develops new techniques to address unique inspection challenges, serving as a key liaison to advance Fulkrum’s reputation and standards globally. This solves immediate problems while setting benchmarks for future practices, embodying accuracy, rigour and risk management. 

Throughout his career, Chris has mentored numerous new NDT technicians through comprehensive programmes, developing syllabuses tailored for onboarding and skill-building. His approachable nature and technical proficiency create an environment where junior colleagues thrive. He has supported various inspection bodies internationally over his career and extended his impact to the wider NDT community. 

Chris plays a pivotal role in competency assessments during onboarding. His work fosters safety, quality and professional excellence, inspiring teams and embodying leadership that respects life, law and public good. 

Graeme Falconer was introduced to the NDT industry, like many who had not previously heard of it, through a family friend working as an Offshore Inspection Engineer (OIE). He began his career in Aberdeen in 2007 with CAN Offshore, where he spent nine years developing his technical skills and gaining qualifications in multiple advanced NDT methods.

In 2016, Graeme became a contractor, gaining highly valuable experience across the globe in a range of industries, for various companies, both onshore and offshore. This period allowed him to broaden his expertise and further refine his technical knowledge.

In 2019, he joined Altrad (formerly Stork UK), taking the lead in developing their advanced NDT services. He played a key role in strengthening capability, enhancing service delivery and building the organisation’s industry reputation. He was subsequently promoted to Technical Manager, where he continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to mentoring early-career personnel, building team competence and maintaining the highest standards of client satisfaction, safety and operational delivery.