“Inspection carries with it a responsibility; the work I do directly contributes to safety and reliability in the energy sector by helping to prevent potential failures and save lives and livelihoods. By doing my job to the highest standard, I empower my team and their success becomes my success and has a direct impact on communities, the energy sector and our country.”
Photo credit: Luvo Productions Ltd.
Akash Ravi Balchan still lives in San Francique, Penal where his parents raised him in a close-knit circle which fostered in him a desire to stay rooted in family and community. His professional life echoes a similar deep loyalty, with Akash celebrating 32 years of service at In-Corr-Tech Limited, his first and only place of employment. He is the Inspection Manager there, but his career has seen multiple changes over time, all enabled by continuous learning which began with a mechanical engineering diploma and includes his specialized API certifications in pressure testing vessels, piping and storage tanks, welding and risk-based inspection. His early ambition was for medicine, but his father’s involvement in Petrotrin as a driver, exposed him to the sector in a way that sparked a curiosity about how energy systems work. Today he considers his role in the field of inspection akin to that of a doctor since he “protects not just the integrity of systems, but at the heart of it, the safety and well-being of lives; by making sure that we adhere to standards, we are in a real sense protecting communities and the people who perform critical tasks and those who live in the communities that these companies operate within”. He continues to be guided the sound advice of his father that “the only thing that moves on with you, is your good name”.
Akash oversees a team of seventy persons (fifteen women inspectors/engineers among them) and is tasked with ensuring they acquire technical capabilities and compliance with regulatory requirements and company safety standards. Always having had an eye for detail, Akash lists this as a key skill and mindset required to develop as a leader in this field “Every inspection must meet the required standard
and this is only achieved by leadership blended with technical knowledge and integrity regarding what you are called on to do”. For the younger ones interested in becoming a part of inspection, Akash highlighted several basic guidelines that will lead to success “You must work as a team and it helps to remain calm under pressure; look at the challenges as opportunities to grow and a must is your attention to detail.
In an era when professionals seek mobility by moving multiple times during their careers, Akash is proud to have remained at In-Corr-Tech since his start right after completing his studies in 1993 with the then, San Fernando Technical Institute. His career has not been static there, as he has progressed through several roles including Turnaround Manager before being appointed as Inspection Manager; his dedication to the company was met with reciprocal opportunities that fueled both his and the company’s development and expansion. While acknowledging the challenges such as evolving technologies and more stringent safety requirements, the field is one that requires him to constantly adapt and innovate and leaves no room for boredom or routine. He also feels a sense of belonging at In-Corr-Tech, a reality which he credits to the Founder and President, Zaid Khan, one of the industry experts whose “approachable manner, willingness to teach and his combined experience and technical knowledge” has broadly impacted Akash. Former and current colleagues Curtis Phillip and Philip Charles have also shaped his outlook and approach by guiding him, sharing their expertise and building his confidence early in his career. It is his hope to continue mentoring others who come under his charge.
Akash is proud to contribute to T&T’s energy industry and has no regrets about choosing inspection of energy systems over his first inclination towards medicine, “Inspection carries with it a responsibility; the work I do directly contributes to safety and reliability in the energy sector by helping to prevent potential failures and save lives and livelihoods. By doing my job to the highest standard, I empower my team and their success becomes my success and has a direct impact on communities, the energy sector and our country.”