On Friday, 10th September, at the 2010 Engineering Excellence Awards, the Newcastle Division of Engineers Australia, presented its 2010 Young Engineer of the Year Award and Professional Engineer of the Year Award as well as two Engineers Australia Medals.

View the list of Winners from the 2010 Newcastle Engineering Excellence Awards

The recipient of the Young Engineer of the Year Award was Mr Andrew Bagnall GradIEAust, from GHD, while the Professional Engineer of the Year was awarded to Mr Christopher Turnbull, FIE Aust, General Manager Infrastructure Delivery with Hunter Water Corporation.

Division President, Mr Paul Reynolds, announced both awards. Mr Reynolds commented that both recipients were inspirational engineers who had accomplished great achievements throughout their careers.

Andrew Bagnall’s citation for the Award read as follows:

Andrew graduated from Exeter University in the United Kingdom with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering (1st class honours) in 2005, specialising in innovative thermal energy storage systems.

Andrew is the Service Group Manager of GHD Newcastle’s Buildings and Energy Group. He is passionate about sustainable development and the reduction of energy use within the built environment and particularly the design of innovative passive and semi-passive HVAC systems.
At the Engineers Australia Engineering Leadership Awards in 2010 Andrew was named one of Australia’s ‘Most Inspiring Young Engineers’

He is a deserving winner of the Newcastle Division’s Young Engineer of the Year Award in 2010.’

Christopher Turnbull’s citation for the Award read as follows:

Chris has had over 23 years of experience in the water industry including planning, construction, asset management, operations, business strategy and project management.

In his current role Chris has primary responsibility for delivering Hunter Water’s $1 billion dollar infrastructure program over a period of 4 years having commenced in July 2009. Chris has led a team to create a step change in the way in which Hunter Water delivers its infrastructure program. Features of this innovative and comprehensive procurement approach include meeting Hunter Water’s Strategic Business Plan and a strong focus on safety, Chris has a vision of Hunter Water becoming a frontier best practice company in safety management with an aim of achieving zero harm and incident free year after year.

Chris also believes in ‘putting something back to the community’ which he has achieved through his fund raising for WaterAid.

He is well deserving of the title of the Newcastle Division’s 2010 Professional Engineer of the Year.

As winners at the Division level both Andrew and Christopher will go on to the National competition.

Engineers Australia Medal

This medal was established in 1989 to recognise and acknowledge a notable engineering contribution to the economic or social development of Australia. In 2005 the purpose of the award was changed to recognise meritorious service at the divisional level by an individual or group in the pursuit of Engineers Australia’s goals in the interests of the profession.

Division President, Mr Paul Reynolds, was honoured to present this award to two very worthy recipients - Mr Greg Mashiah and Mr Bob Nelson

Greg Mashiah has received this award in recognition of his continuous work in looking at better ways to service regional engineers and his enthusiastic drive to give back to the engineering community in regional NSW, especially his commitment to the Regional Taskforce and subsequent role in assisting with the establishment of the Regional Special Interest Group.

Bob Nelson has received this award in recognition of his activities in the area of engineering and science communication in schools, and his recruitment of students into the engineering profession. In particular, the crucial role he has played over the last 10 years as the Director of the Science and Engineering Challenge.

Congratulations to both of you.

For further information, please contact Paul Reynolds, Division President on 0402192297

10th September 2010