The winner of the 2010 Young Professional Engineer Award, presented by Engineers Australia, Victoria Division was presented at Engineers Australia, Victoria Division’s 2010 Engineering Leadership Gala Dinner with guest speaker Tim Flannery on the evening of Friday, 15 October 2010.

Dr Lisa Lowe is the 2010 Young Professional Engineer of the Year for having demonstrated a high level of competence and significant achievement in engineering and community affairs. She received a generous cash prize of $3000 and is now eligible for the National Young Professional Engineer Award 2010.

Dr Lowe is an environmental engineer and over the past ten years she has excelled on a range of diverse and challenging projects in the Water and Environmental sector at Sinclair Knight Merz.

As part of her PhD research, Dr Lowe developed an approach to address uncertainties in water accounting. Many of Dr Lowe’s methods are being adopted by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology for inclusion in the National Water Account. Dr Lowe’s expertise in water accounting also took her to the United Nations where she spent a number of months working with a global water accounting team.

The Young Professional Engineer of the Year Award, proudly supported by VicRoads, acknowledges and rewards young engineering professionals who have realised competence and significant achievement in community affairs; a demonstrated understanding of the role and purpose of the engineering profession in society; proficiency in the use of communication skills in engineering projects; and effective communication with public media.

Two High Commendation Awards of $1500 were also announced and presented to Miss Nicolette Cumbo, Development Planner with Port of Melbourne Corporation and Mrs Astrid Kauffman, Manager, Safety Systems and Risk with Transport Safety Victoria.

Judges were impressed with the significant level of engineering proficiency, industry achievement and contribution to the Profession of both High Commendation Award Winners.

Miss Cumbo’s role as a Maritime Engineer has seen her encompass the areas of condition assessment and remediation, maritime infrastructure planning, project management and design. She is also the current Chair of Engineers Australia, Victoria Division’s Structural Engineering Branch.

Mrs Kauffman’s career as a Mechatronics Engineer has seen her work on a broad range of projects including leading the investigation into the flammability of the military combat jacket.

Her commitment to the profession is evident in her role as Continuing Professional Development Coordinator for Engineers Australia, Victoria Division’s Centre for Engineering Leadership and Management and her participation in the 2010 Engineers Australia Emerging Engineering Leaders Program.

Mr David Eltringham, Engineers Australia, Victoria Division President said “It’s exciting that in Engineers Australia’s Year of Engineering Leadership that these three young outstanding engineers have taken this recognition from the Profession. I congratulate them on this great achievement and look forward to their ongoing contribution as engineering leaders”.

Media enquiries may be directed to Noel Dos Santos (03) 9321 1726 or Email: ndossantos@engineersaustralia.org.au