The exceptional achievements of Queensland’s current and past engineers were recognised and honoured at Engineers Australia’s Queensland Division annual Hawken Address in Brisbane on Friday 13 November 2009.

The award dinner and address, hosted by Queensland Division President, Andrew Chapman, included inductees to the Queensland Engineering Hall of Fame, the Queensland Professional Engineer of the Year, the Queensland Engineering Officer of the Year, and the Eric Brier Memorial Award.

The Hawken Address honours the memory of Professor R.W. Hawken, who played a prominent role in the formation of Engineers Australia in 1919. Hawken was a member of the teaching staff at the University of Queensland for 35 years, occupying the Chair of Engineering and Dean of the faculty continuously for 29 years. During this time, Hawken served the University, the state of Queensland and the profession of engineering with unmatched distinction.

The 2009 Hawken Address delivered by another eminent University of Queensland professor, Vice-Chancellor Paul Greenfield AO. Professor Greenfield examined the concept of engineering sustainability, a greatly debated issue in the engineering profession.

Queensland Engineering Hall of Fame

The Queensland Engineering Hall of Fame recognises the accomplishments of those engineers who have demonstrated extraordinary professional achievements and have made a significant contribution to society.

2009 Queensland Hall of Fame inductee – JOHN FREDERICK KEAYS (1908 - 1985)

John Keays was a pioneer of town planning in Queensland. His technical innovations brought the design of sewerage systems into the present age with the advances he made in the sewering of Cairns and continued in other projects (including much of the design for Brisbane). He made a noteworthy contribution during World War II using his engineering skills in the construction of many airfields in Queensland and in Borneo.

Keays was associated with developing the Queensland branch of a large consulting practice (Guteridge Haskins and Davies – GHD). He was a founding member of the Association of Consulting Engineers and National President 1972-1974.

He developed a pre-eminent reputation as an engineering arbitrator and was a foundation Fellow of the Institute of Arbitrators Australia, and later Honourary Fellow. In recognition of his dedicated contributions to Engineers Australia, Keays was made an Honourary Fellow, and the Division Committee meeting room was named in his honour.

2009 Queensland Hall of Fame inductee – Sir SYDNEY SCHUBERT

Sir Sydney Schubert was the foremost engineer in Queensland at a time of spectacular growth during 70s and 80s, and he heavily influenced the financing and direction of this expansion. He was an excellent administrator and was instrumental in bringing modern planning and research into the Department of Main Roads, and then as Coordinator-General (1976-88) he strenuously expedited major projects in Queensland.

In 1988, Schubert was appointed Executive Director and in 1990 Chief Executive of the Daikyo Group in Australia (one of the largest tourist developers, with offices on the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Cairns and Sydney and NZ ). From 1988-92, he was a Director of Jupiters Development Limited, and Jupiters Management Limited. Schubert remained CEO of Daikyo until 2000. Among his many awards were Honourary Fellow of Engineers Australia and Fellow of Australian Academy of Technological Sciences. In 1985, the award of a knighthood acknowledged his high level of public service.

2009 Queensland Engineering Officer of the Year – KEITH CHAMBERS

Keith Chambers is a Captain in the Australian Army and is presently deployed overseas on active duty. Chambers is the senior army engineering representative to the Commander 3^rd Brigade and he manages large engineering capability projects in a multi-disciplined team. He contributed to the Defence White Paper on defence engineering, and he played a role in the establishment of Associate on the National Engineering Registration Board.

2009 Eric Brier Memorial Award – STEVE POSSELT

The Eric Brier Memorial Award is a legacy bequeathed to the Queensland Division of Engineers Australia to be awarded to a member of Engineers Australia who has made a significant contribution to advancing the public status of the engineering profession, particularly in the field of sustainability.

Author, adventurer, wetland advocate and lifelong water engineer, Steve Posselt is passionate global warming, sustainability, and Australia’s water crisis, particularly management of the Murray River.

Posselt has written a book about the issue (Cry Me a River), he gives talks to school groups, corporate presentations, runs a dedicated website – kayak4earth – and he is becoming one of Queensland’s most vocal engineers on matters of climate change.            

2009 Queensland Professional Engineer of the Year – SIMON BARTLETT

Simon Bartlett has an international reputation for engineering innovation and strategic asset management. Currently Chief Operating Officer with Powerlink, Bartlett is responsible for $4.5 billion worth of transmission and IT assets in Queensland. He is presently managing more than 60 capital projects exceeding $1.6 billion over the next two years, and $3 billion in five years, and co-ordinates six divisions with 900 permanent staff including 240 engineers.

Bartlett recently received the 2009 National Electrical Engineer of the Year award, and in 2006 was awarded a certificate of special commendation from the Prime Minister and the Queensland Premier for outstanding leadership in the Cyclone Larry relief effort. With almost 40 years service to our communities through electrical engineering innovation, leadership, and expertise, Simon Bartlett is a most deserving winner of the Queensland Professional Engineer of the Year title.