This edition's Member Spotlight features Philip Chan, Sustainability Manager at Asia Square and Singapore Chapter's newest President.
When did you first know you wanted to be an engineer?
My late grandfather and father were working on ships repairing in the late 60s when I was just six years old. Seeing them working on the machinery to turn a block of metal to a shape like an impeller has sparked my interest to become an engineer. I realised that I would be able to innovate changes that will benefit our society and the environment.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
To be a good engineer has to be detailed, patient, hardworking, resourceful and creative. This will lead you to become more passionate in what you love to do and you will do it well.
Never give up when you face many challenges. Challenges will foster you to become a better engineer. When you overcome these challenges, it will boost your confidence and help you gain experience.
What are your top two career highlights?
My top two career highlights are working for;
1) Twenty-two years with Hitachi Plant as a Head of Maintenance and ESCO has given me a good platform of learning experiences to solve 120 buildings in air-conditioning systems, mechanical ventilation systems, electrical systems, cleanroom, cold room, plumbing and sanitary. Troubleshooting in these areas has given me a better understanding and added advantages in designing system configurations.
I have created sound designs that are able to reduce 30% to 50% of energy in clean room air-conditioning system, mechanical ventilation system and cinema air-conditioning system.
2) Six years in Asia Square as a Sustainability Manager which spearheaded the sustainability drive to reduce electrical power, water and air-conditioning. With my vast experience in plant system, I was able to save 12.5 million dollars in the utilities in term of electricity, water and chilled water provided by Singapore District Cooling Centre over the past five years.
In 2015, I won the National WaterMark Award from Public Utilities Board, where I helped design a circuitry to prevent water tank overflowing within seconds, which saved up to 40,000 litres of precious water in the domestic water tank. I have also created a unique design cooling matrix which saved up to 50% of chilled water usage for the AHU air-side control.
How does being Chartered assist in your career?
Being a Chartered Professional Engineer will definitely help you to be recognised by your employers and staff. It will give you more confidence to complete every task that you take on.
What advice do you have for graduate engineers?
Being passionate, creative and innovative in your job will transform you to be a better engineer for the future.
How has the profession changed over your career?
The profession has changed during my career as there are new ways of solving problems for building operations that are more efficient and environment friendly. I believe the younger engineers have to be more adaptive in their thinking.
Who (living or dead) would you like to sit next to on a plane and why?
I would like to sit beside Thomas Alva Edison to learn where his inspiration came from for his creations. This would give me an insight on how a great inventor’s mind works.
What was the most recent thing you have done to promote the profession of engineering?
I was invited to speak at the 2nd Skyscraper Summit in Hong Kong for the projects that I have done for Asia Square on how to optimise efficiency further.
The young engineers were inspired by my vast knowledge and design skills which I discussed in my presentation. I am proud and delighted that they have taken my ideas and applied them into their buildings.
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