Expert of the Month returns with Immanuel Yartel-Kubin!

After a short hiatus, we’re delighted to announce the return of the Expert of the Month award! Each month one person from our Expert Community will be showcased in an article highlighting their background and experiences during their time with the Solar Impulse Foundation. The Expert of the Month award will place a spotlight on an Expert who has gone above and beyond in their role to help label sustainable and profitable Solutions.

September’s Expert of the Month: Immanuel Yartel-Kubin

The Expert of the Month award for September 2020 goes to Immanuel Yartel-Kubin! A big thank you to Immanuel for his great contribution and involvement throughout September. Immanuel has been an Expert at the Solar Impulse Foundation since July this year, making him one of our newest Experts.

Immanuel is a British citizen originating from Ghana. He has a Bachelor of Science degree with honours in Civil Engineering, and a Master of Science degree in Geotechnical Engineering and Management. He is a fully qualified Occupational Health and Safety professional with The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH). Immanuel has been working since 2004, professionally since 2007.
 
He was a soldier of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, where he served in the Royal Logistics Corps as a Pioneer/Engineer. He then began work as a Graduate Engineer with Ecobuild and moved up the ranks with Southern Testing (a site investigation consultancy) and others. In his job as a Civil Engineer specialised in Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Immanuel carries out conceptual design assessments all the way through from detailed design to construction. Immanuel provides expert advice on how to remediate pertinent geotechnical problems either in residential, commercial or highway sectors. He keenly incorporates sustainability in his solutions and encourages contractors and operatives to follow suit. In his spare time, he loves to read and enjoys watching and playing football.
 

Why did you decide to become an Expert with the Solar Impulse Foundation?

Immanuel: I was introduced to the Solar Impulse Foundation by a colleague who knows my passion for sustainability and clean solutions for our planet, and the Foundation champions this same idea. It was a no brainer that the Foundation fulfils my personal career aspiration, so I was always going to stick with this great organisation.

 
What is the value of being an Expert, and in general what does being part of the Solar Impulse Foundation mean to you?

Being an expert has opened my horizons to some of the bespoke, global solutions which our planet desperately needs. It has increased my confidence and I have met lovely people along the way too.
 

What is the most challenging part of your work?

Challenge is part and parcel of life which I fully embrace. With my current job, the most challenging part is being able to remotely and accurately carry out geotechnical assessment or inspection of geohazards or defects without being at the location in-person. A new solution would seriously help us, although there is an asset visualisation information system currently being deployed, but there is a lot to be done for it to serve its purpose.
 

What are your hopes for the labeled Solutions, and the mission of the Solar Impulse Foundation more widely?

I hope the Solutions which have been labelled will get the deserved publicity and support from world powers and leaders. I hope people will also embrace them and surely it will become their new normal. The more funding the better to support these SMEs.
 

What would you say to someone who is considering becoming an Expert?

Go for it, you would not regret or look back.
 

Anything else you would like to share with us?

It has been an absolute pleasure to be part of the SIF family, and more yet to come from me. Thank you for nominating me as Expert of the Month.


Thank you once again to Immanuel for his hard work and input since becoming an Expert! Interested in joining the Expert Community? Find out more about becoming an Expert here.