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Stephen Carr IEng MBCS CITP MACS

My name is Stephen Carr and I currently have a dual role of Enterprise Architect and Web Consultant within the Information Services department of The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) in Perth, Western Australia .

Stephen Carr

Currently 30, I completed a BTEC Higher National Diploma in Software Engineering at South Bank University (Mid Kent College) in 1995. This was a 3 year sandwich scheme sponsored by my then employer GEC Marconi Avionics.

Initially I started as a Software Engineer with GEC on defence aviation projects leading on from my industrial placement as a trainee through software engineering, quality assurance and documentation departments. In 1997, I decided to go travelling to Australia for a year which has so far turned into eight. I arrived in Brisbane in subtropical Queensland and shortly went to work for Sun Microsystems on a short contract helping to setup loan and demonstration computers for customers. 6 months later, I went down to Sydney and had a choice of another short term contract or a permanent position with Perth based Motherwell Information Systems.

Very low on ready cash at the time as travellers are, I put the airfare on my credit card and caught the plane across Australia to Perth situated on the sparkling blue and warm Indian Ocean to take up a Systems Analyst position. This involved being the lead engineer on the development and subsequent deployment of a large industrial control system for the movement of the grain crop. After jumping through a mountain of immigration paperwork, I was eventually able to work freely in Australia becoming a proud new citizen in 2001.

In 1999, I joined the RAC, firstly developing an insurance policy and claims system followed by a role taking responsibility for ongoing development, support and maintenance of the company's Internet and Intranet systems. Recently I have gained an additional role researching technology and advising on technological direction to the company.

In 2004, I achieved Incorporated Engineer status with ECUK through the British Computer Society where I was already a Professional Chartered Member. For me to be an IEng, was the completion of one journey started during formal education - whilst creating new fresh paths to develop myself along. I felt that with the level of international recognition available and that at some point I would like to work back in the UK, that registration would definitely be to my advantage.

Whilst in IT, very few of my peers would even be members of a professional institution, I feel it is important for the profession to be recognised and regarded as highly as the traditional engineering professions and I encourage engineers and employers to see the value in Professional recognition.

Stephen Carr IEng MBCS CITP MACS

Perth, Australia

Registered 2004