The Assessor Mag Autumn 2024 Web - Flipbook - Page 19
JOURNAL
IAEA
IAEA
COUNCIL
Here, IAEA Council Member and LV= Desk Engineer,
Jason Russell, M.Inst.A.E.A, MFIEA, CAE IMIMI,
introduces himself. Over to you, Jason!
started off my career
volunteering at a small
independent garage
just after 昀椀nishing high
school and sixth form.
I kept volunteering there for about a
year whilst I started a college course in
light vehicle mechanics and eventually
went on to become employed as a
mechanic, at the same garage.
I
I was the main mechanic there for
about 昀椀ve years, until we had a training
day on the health and safety concerns
with repairing a Toyota Prius. The idea
that there were fewer components on a
vehicle that could be repaired by small
independent garages prompted me to
make a change in my career path.
An opportunity presented itself in
the form of an engineering admin
job within the Inspection Allocation
Department at LV= Insurance. I spent
four years here arranging inspections
for our 昀椀eld engineers, meanwhile
learning the insurance basics and
principles. Following this, I started
spending my lunch breaks sat with the
engineers and began learning skills I
would need to become an engineer.
Using the skills and knowledge I had
built up over this time, I was ready
for a move into the engineering
department as an apprentice engineer
and started a four years engineering
apprenticeship with Les Minton. I
昀椀nished the apprenticeship with a
distinction in each of my IAEA written
exams and passed my practical exam,
making me a full Member of the IAEA.
I entered the Bodyshop Magazine VDA
of the year competition a few times
and won in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
In 2023, I helped judge the VDA of
the Year award. Then later that year I
applied to be a member of the IAEA
council and was elected towards the
end of 2023.
Now I am enjoying my role as a desk
engineer at LV= and on the IAEA
Council.
Thank you to my managers at LV=
for the continued support, which has
allowed me to be an active member of
IAEA Council. I look forward to getting
more involved as a Member of Council
and see where that takes me.
JOURNAL
SCOTTISH REGION
UPDATE
P
rior to the COVID pandemic, our Region was an active one. We usually held three meetings per session
plus the Scottish AGM. We provided reports to Head Of昀椀ce and the Assessor Magazine. During the 2020
lockdown, all Regions had to cease physical meetings and when online meetings and presentations were
in place, matters improved.
Our long-serving Secretary, Jim McAlpine, passed away four years ago. So far, we have not been able to
昀椀nd a volunteer to 昀椀ll the post. In the meantime, Chairman Hugh Doherty and the PRO Peter Ramsey can share the duties
and we appreciate the help offered by the HO to achieve this.
Earlier this year, Hugh Doherty and myself met on an informal basis, with two regular supporters, both former Scottish
Region Chairman. The point was to discuss the way forward after a period of relative inactivity due to Coronovirus and the
aftermath. We all agreed that the Region should be restored to pre-pandemic level. With this in mind we are hopeful of a
site visit to a specialist repairer in the not too distant future. Details will follow.
Our main supporters are several retired Members and a few younger working Members. We know that we need new
blood and fresh ideas to keep the Region viable. Finally, we look forward to receiving a visit from out President David
Punter in Spring 2025.
Peter Ramsey
www.iaea-online.org/news/the-assessor | AUTUMN 2024 | THE ASSESSORS JOURNAL
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