Engineers Australia in Western Australia (WA) has reached a significant milestone in its 106 year history, reaching its 1000th Division Committee meeting.
Led by the Division President, WA’s Division Committee has governed and guided Engineers Australia WA over the years. The members of this Committee have determined the strategies of WA in pursuing Engineers Australia’s objectives; providing leadership and direction to the WA groups, office bearers and volunteers; providing advice to Council on behalf of the members of WA; and providing a public voice for Engineers Australia within WA.
Reflecting on the Division Committee’s past Helen Pedersen, Will Neethling and Francis Norman share their key achievements during their terms as President.
Helen Pedersen FIEAust CPEng - President 2013
As 2013 President we focussed on three key themes of diversity, workplace mental health and technical governance, building key relationships with government and opposition, education providers and other professional networks to advance these themes. During my term we also championed professional formation and development and articulated the value of professional ethics and standards to engineering employers. I initiated and developed the Canstruction competition in support of Foodbank, promoted RU OK Day and spoke out for diversity and inclusion across the profession. In addition I also supported and grew a number of key WA initiatives including the Engineers Australia policy on sustainability, industry-academia engagement and the FLNG industry review.
Will Neethling TFIEAust CEngT NER - President 2014
During a year of change members witnessed a number of organisational changes throughout Engineers Australia to modernise the Institution. I focused on articulating the changes, like the proposed Regulations to members, and spoke and wrote about the challenges facing the engineering profession and how we as WA engineers need to maintain a point of difference in order to remain globally competitive. Discussions with WA Regulators were reignited to discuss a regulatory scheme for engineers in WA. The new National Engineers Register (NER) is now in place and the next step will be to get it accredited with all State Regulators.
Francis Norman AFIEAust CEngA EngExec NER - President 2015
The principal goals during 2015 were of leadership, relevance and advocacy. To achieve these long term objectives Engineers Australia WA placed a high emphasis on public engagement through the media and personal meetings, sharing the message of the value of engineering and of Engineers Australia as broadly as possible. We met frequently with members of the media, state government and department officials and worked to be part of as many debates around the future of the profession and the state as possible.
Looking forward at the year ahead, 2016 President, Jason Flowerdew shares his vision and key focuses.
Jason Flowerdew MIEAust – President 2016
The key focus for this year is consolidation and momentum. Engineers Australia has undergone a period of change in the last few years and last year represented the first year of the modern Engineers Australia. This year’s focus will be on consolidating those plans that went into the five year plan last year and gearing up for rolling these plans out. This is very important given the contraction in the resource and oil & gas sectors which in turn has resulted in fewer traditional work opportunities for members.
It is a time of challenge for our members but also represents opportunity as new markets open. Flexibility in education through our institutions is required to take advantage of these opportunities as they arise in the engineering market place. During these times it is critical the engineering profession remains strong and Engineers Australia remains at the forefront by being the trusted voice of our profession.
Engineers Australia deeply appreciates the valued contributions from our 2016 Division Committee and its predecessors.
2016 Division Committee
Jason Flowerdew MIEAust | President
James Westcott FIEAust CPEng | Deputy President
Francis Norman AFIEAust CEngA EngExec NER | Past President
Helen Pedersen FIEAust CPEng | Congress Rep
George Simpson FIEAust CPEng NER
Jillian Formentin FIEAust CPEng NER
Kevin Norton MIEAust
Mark Keenan MIEAust CPEng NER
Neil Midolo FIEAust CPEng NER
Peter Willis MIEAust
Sebastian Bunney MIEAust CPEng
Tristan Geiles GradIEAust
Image caption (L -R): Kevin Norton, Peter Willis, Sebastian Bunney, Jillian Formentin, Francis Norman, Helen Pedersen, Tristan Geiles, Mark Keenan, George Simpson.