Final year Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) student Jake Whitehead, was awarded the 2010 Rod McGee Medal at the Engineers Australia’s Civil College awards in Canberra on Thursday 28 October.

The Rod McGee Medal was established by Engineers Australia to commemorate the contribution of Dr McGee to Australian public works engineering, and encourages final year engineering students to engage in career opportunities in public works engineering.

Grant Atherton, President of the Tasmanian Division of Engineers Australia and former work colleague of Rod McGee, said that Jake Whitehead now joined a very elite group of previous winners through his exemplary academic achievements, his community contributions and passion about sustainability.

Jake Whitehead has a particular interest in the strategic planning of metropolitan transport networks in order to maximise traffic efficiency, minimise environmental impact and maximise urban aesthetics. During 2009 Jake undertook two semesters studying at the KTH – Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden which lead to his 2010 final year project around the results of congestion charging schemes in Stockholm, as well as in London and Singapore. From the research he aimed to determine the suitability of establishing similar schemes in an Australian city, in particular, his home town of Brisbane.

In accepting the award Jake said that he hoped that his research could be used to promote a fair public debate on congestion charging schemes in Australia.

“Congestion charging schemes provide an opportunity to not only combat congestion, but to encourage the use of public transport and provide an alternative public revenue source for raising the capital to construct major pieces of toll-free infrastructure,” Jake said.

Jake said that Rod McGee’s life story was a great example of the important and valuable work that can be done in public works engineering, and that the medal has provided encouragement for him to push forward with his work on his PhD studies next year.

The award is jointly sponsored by the Tasmanian Department of Infrastructure Energy & Resources and Johnstone McGee & Gandy Pty Ltd. The prize includes an engraved medallion and a $2,000 prize.

The awards dinner also included the presentation of the Sir John Holland Civil Engineer of the Year Award 2010 to Professor Tony Wong of Monash University and AECOM in Melbourne, and the 2010 Warren Medal for an engineering paper to Craig Scheffers of AECOM in Sydney.

Further Information: John Bright - 0407 234 490 / jbright@engineersaustralia.org.au / www.engineersaustralia.org.au
Engineers Australia is the common name of the Institution of Engineers Australia with a membership of 93,000.