RACA Journal September 2022 | Page 31

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Personality Profile Sponsored by :

SKILLS TRANSFER

Compiled by Benjamin Brits
Christopher Kent enjoys interacting with people and encourages the importance of imparting knowledge .

Kent grew up in Edgemead , Cape Town where his earlier years included attending Edgemead High School and subsequently he went on to study mechanical engineering at Cape Peninsula University of Technology , obtaining his bachelor ’ s degree in 2013 .

While he was busy with his studies , he was approached by a family friend who runs a well-established HVAC company in Cape Town . They were looking for a project engineer and knowing how difficult it can be to get work straight out of university , Kent naturally jumped at the opportunity .
He worked as a project engineer for two and a half years , designing , installing and project managing various HVAC-R systems in the commercial sector . Thereafter he worked for 6 years for a large corporate as a project engineer in the industrial refrigeration sector .
Kent has recently joined A Perks Consultancy Enterprises as a specialist engineer fulfilling several business functions including those related to site emergency plans , plant audits , incident response training , process hazard analysis , cold store management training , plant specific training and other specialist services to the industry . He notes that this is an exciting prospect and certainly one where he feels he can make a significant impact in the industry .
Kent ’ s hobbies and interests outside of work include trying to cycle as often as he can as it is a fantastic stress reliever ! “ Exercise in any form is a great way to get mind , body and spirit in sync . I surf on the weekend when the weather in Cape Town cooperates . I also enjoy photography and gardening .”
Considering what he enjoys most about his work , it ’ s clear that the interaction with people on a day-to-day basis and being able to provide a quality service and product are top of the list . “ Sitting and chatting to clients and colleagues after an engaging session , or successful project delivery is the cherry on top of an already rewarding job ,” he adds .
C . Kent
Turning then to what he would rate as his most successful achievement is “ convincing my wife to marry me ” he admits . “ Behind every strong person is a stronger person pushing them on . I certainly would not be where I am today without the encouragement and support of my wife , and for that I am eternally grateful .”
Talking to his views around the importance of training he adds that training in today ’ s fast-paced world is absolutely essential . In the past , artisans had years to learn before being thrown in the deep end . Nowadays , personnel work harder , longer and under stricter regulations than before .
“ Training is essential in the workplace to prevent and avoid potential incidents that could result in injury or death . The SAQCC Gas training gives a fantastic base to start from , however , unless you are part of a major corporate company , there is a lack of further skilled training in the market . One of my passions is imparting knowledge and upskilling people to perform at the level they are capable of , especially when it can make a positive impact on people ’ s lives ,” he concludes . RACA

www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I September 2022 29