The excellent technical, managerial and leadership skills within the profession of electrical engineering by Simon Bartlett, the Chief Operating Officer for Powerlink Queensland, has been officially recognised with the announcement that he has been named as the National Professional Electrical Engineer of the Year 2009.

In announcing the award, the Chair of Engineers Australia''''s Electrical College Board, Albert Koenig, highlighted Simon Bartlett''''s electrical engineering experience, forward-looking vision and leadership skills.

"For over 35 years, Simon Bartlett has been the initiator and driving force behind a range of new technologies and innovative design, maintenance and work practices in the Queensland electricity supply industry.

"His outstanding engineering skills, strategic thinking and leadership of significant engineering workforces has drawn the highest respect across Australia and internationally, and his advice is highly regarded across government, universities and key stakeholders across the electricity industry.

"Simon is a passionate promoter of the engineering profession and engineering education and consistently makes the time to mentor engineering graduates and to reinforce the critical value of continuing professional development throughout a career, " Albert Koenig said.

As Powerlink''''s Chief Operating Officer, Simon is responsible for managing and coordinating all aspects of high voltage electricity transmission that includes 12,000 kilometres of transmission lines and more than 100 major substations throughout Queensland. Powerlink provides, operates and maintains the essential "backbone" of Queensland''''s electricity grid.

Also as Chairman of the recently formed Power Engineering Alliance and Director of the Australian Power Institute, Simon has been the driving force behind achieving the re-invigoration of power engineering education across Australia.

Simon attained a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical, with Hons) at the University of Queensland in 1973 and then added a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics and Computing) in 1976. As his career developed he achieved senior executive positions across government and also the corporate sector. His skills and leadership also have been recognised with awards including the Certificate of Special Commendation for Outstanding Leadership in Cyclone Larry Relief Effort, awarded by the Prime Minister and Premier of Queensland in 2006.

While the annual award by the Electrical College Board of Engineers Australia has been instigated to recognise the professional excellence of an individual senior electrical engineer, it is also an opportunity to highlight the contribution the engineering profession makes across the community, and to encourage young females and males look to electrical engineering as a highly desirable career.

Further Information: John Bright 0407 234 490 jbright@engineersaustralia.org.au

Engineers Australia is the common name of the Institution of Engineers, Australia with a membership of over 86,000