The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) has appointed Jason Taylor, Technical Manager of Industries and Environment at SGS, as its new President for the next two years. With over 35 years of experience in non-destructive testing (NDT), Taylor brings a wealth of expertise to the position, having worked across a diverse range of industries, including aerospace, petrochemical, nuclear, and offshore operations.
In an exclusive interview, Taylor discussed his career and the challenges he anticipates during his tenure. His career in NDT has seen him work with both small and large companies, and he currently holds multiple qualifications, including PCN Level 3 in several testing disciplines and ASNT Level III qualifications. As a result, he has developed a deep understanding of the industry's evolving needs and the skills required to maintain high standards in testing.
When asked about the challenges BINDT faces, Taylor emphasized the rapid pace of technological change in the NDT industry. "I think the biggest challenge for BINDT going forward is the speed of change. For many years, PCN has been held up, for good reason, as a gold standard for NDT qualification. Even though the new version of ISO 9712 is going to bring many other ISO 9712 schemes up to the PCN standard, it is the development of new techniques and technologies that will see the need for certificates of competence for the technicians in a much shorter timeframe than has previously been seen. We will not be able to wait years before a new qualification is launched as the technology will have changed beyond all recognition in that time."
Taylor’s primary goal as the new President is to ensure that the Institute serves the best interests of its stakeholders. He aims to streamline the process for technicians through IT developments that will allow them to upload and track their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) records, bringing more automation and control to the recertification process.
"My main goal is to ensure the Institute is not only representing the best interests of its stakeholders but is seen to be doing so," he explained. "We have a lot of good people working very hard towards creating and maintaining an Institute that is fit for purpose and it is important that people see that."
Looking to the future, Taylor sees BINDT playing a key role in the integration of NDT with other engineering disciplines, such as condition monitoring and structural health monitoring. He believes that inspection professionals will need blended competencies to meet the demands of these evolving fields. "I believe that in the future the lines between NDT, condition monitoring (CM), structural health monitoring (SHM) and other engineering disciplines will become even more blurred," said Taylor.
Drawing on his diverse background, Taylor also highlighted how his experiences have prepared him for the leadership role. "From the start, as an NDT Technician you develop a thick skin pretty quickly. Your whole job often entails telling a skilled craftsperson that they have not done their job properly or an asset owner that they cannot use the equipment they need to operate," he said. "As the President of BINDT, I will be a focal point for people who want to complain, and I welcome that. If you have constructive criticism of what the Institute has or has not done, please let me know. I will listen. I may or may not agree, but I will take any input forward and use it to shape our future."
As the new President, Taylor is poised to lead BINDT into an exciting period of transformation, ensuring the Institute remains at the forefront of innovation and continues to represent the evolving needs of the NDT community.
Reference: https://www.bindt.org/News/march-2025/meet-bindts-new-president/
