Dr Peter Wilks

Dr Peter Wilks

Functional Safety Trainer

Why did you choose to join TÜV SÜD?

I had attended training courses at the TÜV SÜD Academy in Germany, so I was already familiar with their style of teaching. Working as a functional safety trainer for the academy allows me to combine my passion for education with my love of technology.

Where do you work?

I work mostly from home, delivering training courses remotely, but I am increasingly being asked to visit customer locations directly to deliver in-house training on-site.

What are your main areas of expertise?

I have a degree in Electronic Engineering and a doctorate in Biomedical Engineering. I have worked many years in the automotive sector on projects with a significant safety component. In recent years, projects have increasingly included cybersecurity and autonomous requirements. In addition, I have worked on safety-critical projects in the industrial and medical sectors. Thus, I bring a broad experience to the training I deliver for the academy.

What does your role involve?

My main responsibility is to deliver functional safety training courses, either remotely or in-person.

What most interests you about your role?

As an educator I am most excited when course delegates experience that moment when the “penny drops”, and they understand the concepts being presented. I find that each course that I deliver has highlights, particularly when the group comes together to apply the principles being taught to the specific problems a delegate might be having with his or her project at work.

What exciting developments have you seen at TÜV SÜD since you started?

New courses are being developed all the time, and I was very happy to be involved recently with revising the material for one of the training courses.

What future trends do you see developing in your area of work?

Post pandemic, education has faced similar challenges to those experienced by other sectors. I see a lot of education continuing online, but I think more customers will request on-site training. We now live in a world where the technology to work online is mature and well accepted, and students will have the choice to receive training in person or virtual.

What is your biggest challenge?

As a technology trainer, I have to keep up to date with a ever-changing technology landscape. New standards and legislation are being introduced all the time. The challenge is to remain current, so I spend a lot of time ensuring that my knowledge of the subjects I teach is always correct and relevant.

How have TÜV SÜD supported you?

I find the TÜV SÜD Academy to be very accommodating, and I have a lot of flexibility in the way that I work.

Describe your fellow workers in five words

Professional, friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, awesome.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of applying for a role similar to yours?

Being a trainer requires a dedication to and love of education, together with a commitment to study continually. If that is you, then the role of trainer is extremely rewarding.

ADDITIONAL INFO

Presentations at Industry Events

Event: “Embedded Software Engineering Kongress 2023”, Sindelfingen, Germany | 04.–08.12.2023

Presentation topic: “Automating ISO 26262 Part 6 Compliance using Understand by SciTools”

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