At the 2008 Australian Engineering Excellence Awards (2008 AEEA) gala dinner at the Great Hall of Parliament House Canberra last night, Wednesday 19 November, four members of Australia’s engineering team were honoured with individual awards for Professional Engineer of the Year, Young Professional Engineer of the Year, Engineering Officer of the Year and Engineering Technologist of the Year.

2008 Professional Engineer of the Year
David Klingberg AM – South Australia
The Professional Engineer of the Year Award is made annually to a practicing professional engineer, judged against criteria that considers competence and significant achievement in community affairs, proficiency in the use of communication skills in engineering projects and a demonstrated understanding of the role and purpose of the engineering profession within society.

David Klingberg graduated from the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Technology (Civil) in 1964 while a cadet engineer with the Electricity Trust of South Australia and has had a long and distinguished career.

David is a member in the general division of the Order of Australia for service to the community
of South Australia, is the recipient of a Centenary of Federation Medal and has been acknowledged as one of Australia’s 100 most influential engineers. David retired as Managing Director of Kinhill Limited in 1998 after 34 years experience in the management of professional engineer services to the general consulting and resource development industries in Australia and South Australia.

David recently stepped down as the Chancellor of the University of South Australia. David is Chair of the Premier’s Climate Change Council, Chairman of Barossa Infrastructure, an independent Chairman of Mawson Lakes Joint venture, Director of Snowy Hydro Limited, Director of Codan Limited, Director of E&A limited, and Chairman elect of the Leaders Institute of South Australia.

2008 Young Professional Engineer of the Year
Vaughn Grey – Western Australia
The Young Professional Engineer of the Year, sponsored by Snowy Hydro, acknowledges and rewards young engineers who have achieved excellence in their own right. Entrants for the award represent the enthusiasm, passion and commitment that is emblematic of the tradition of engineering.

Vaughn Grey, a mechanical engineer and chemist, is a member of the Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) team based in Western Australia. With a strong interest in international and local aid projects, Vaughan has focused his efforts on appropriate technology solutions in water supply, waste disposal and energy. He is Vice-president of the WA branch of Engineers Without Boarders and is currently leading projects in Indonesia, East Timor and within remote regions of Australia focusing on water and sustainability issues. Vaughan was the recipient of the 2007 UWA/SVT Acoustical Engineering Award and has received numerous leadership and community awards.

He has recently embarked on a project, in conjunction with the University of Western Australia and the International Water Centre, to develop an educational program to strengthen the capacity of the two universities in East Timor to provide more appropriately qualified water industry personnel, while at the same time creating a strong reputation amongst Perth based clients of SKM.

2008 Engineering Technologist of the Year
Bill Pickering – Queensland
The Engineering Technologist of the Year Award is presented to an engineering technologist who has demonstrated competence and significant achievement in community affairs and understanding of the role and purpose of the engineering profession with society and proficiency in the use of communication skills.

Bill Pickering is a Technologist Fellow of Engineers Australia and a member of the National Consultative Committee of Engineering Technologists. Bill’s career commenced as an apprentice electrical fitter and has developed a long and distinguished career. He has a Bachelor of Technology Engineering with Distinction and became a Chartered Engineering Technologist in 1998. Bill has been a very active member of the community serving as a Justice of the Peace for over 30 years. He has served on numerous hospital and community based boards, was an elected member of the Hinchinbrook Shire Council and continues to commit his time to many community based events and activities.

2008 Engineering Officer of the Year
Francis Norman – Western Australia
The Engineering Officer of the Year Award is presented to an Officer member of Engineers Australia who has demonstrated competence and significant achievement in community affairs and understanding of the role and purpose of the engineering profession with society and proficiency in the use of communication skills.

Francis Norman is the Regional Engineering Manager in Western Australia for Aker Solutions, overseeing the day to day execution of all engineering activities, along with recruitment, development and retention of all required personnel. His initial qualifications in instrumentation
were achieved in the United Kingdom.

Francis has participated in the development and ratification of one international standard with ISA and on major process plant infrastructure projects in developing countries such as India, Brazil and South Korea.

He regularly acts as a guest speaker to several universities, talking on his background specialty of
field instrumentation to both new students on general themes and to older students on specific aspects of instrumentation. Francis also participates in the UWA mentoring program, working with engineering students to help them integrate into their working environment.

Presentations to each winner are at http://www.vervecreativeaustralia.com/EA/video/video.php
Media Contact: John Bright – 0407 234 490 / jbright@engineersaustralia.org.au