Michael James Ingham is a Mechanical Inspector for the QA Team on the Ichthys LNG Downstream Project in Darwin, Australia. He recently graduated from the Engineering Institute of Technology, obtaining his qualification in the Diploma of Leadership and Management.
In 1995, when Michael Ingham finished school he started his apprenticeship in Engineering Fabrication. “I spent a lot of time fabricating and welding in a workshop environment, using radial drills, lathes and milling machines. I also conducted site maintenance on the four bulk carrier ships that run from Gladstone to Weipa in Queensland, Australia,” he remembers.
Michael soon started fulfilling many roles, working in construction and maintenance for various companies as a tradesman, a Supervisor and even a Superintendent. Using multi-million-dollar equipment, he would perform dragline shutdowns on the coal mines ; repairing, overhauling and maintaining the coal mines. He also aided the construction of oil refineries for BP and Caltex. He has worked on Nickel mines and LNG plants - upstream and downstream - throughout Australia, too.
Ingham is employed on a ‘Fly in Fly Out’ basis - thus, expanding his resume in terms of training and education would have proven to be difficult because of his working schedule. But then, he found the Engineering Institute of Technology. With full-time work obligations and family obligations, Michael needed an alternative to brick and mortar universities/training institutions. EIT’s interactive, online training was a perfect option for him.
“As I have been doing FIFO for many years I wanted use my time away from family wisely so it was quite easy to do a little studying each night after work to meet the minimum requirements to complete the course. A little studying each night is all it took to get my studies done and assignments completed without affecting my work,” Ingham said.
The Diploma of Leadership and Management wasn’t Ingham’s first online qualification. He completed his Advanced Diploma of Mechanical Engineering through EIT too - he attributed his success in his current job to graduating through EIT. “This style of training really works well for me,” he admitted.
He wants to go a step further and apply for the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering next. After that, he would like to earn his Master’s degree - which is also available through the Engineering Institute of Technology.
And, on the prospect of further work, Ingham said: “I would like to gain employment after this project, inspect equipment on a new or operating plant, preferably in Brisbane or somewhere in Australia. I am also keen on working abroad,” Ingham told us.
The pursuit of success in engineering industry is a daunting undertaking for some. Ingham says that education is vital. “I have learned that education can do so much for an individual in the Engineering profession. One person can never cover every aspect of Engineering. I have been able to learn a lot by choosing courses that are right for me and giving it a go.”