College Awards Information

For general enquiries on these awards please contact Engineers Australia's Engineering Practice directorate at: engpracawards@engineersaustralia.org.au

To view College Awards that are currently open for nomination, please visit the Open Awards page.

Category A — Services to the Profession of Engineering

• Award For Biomedical Engineering Excellence – Biomedical College (David Dewhurst Award)
• Sir John Holland Award for Civil Engineer Of The Year – Civil College
• National Professional Electrical Engineer of the Year Award - Electrical College
• M A Sargent Medal - Electrical College
• A G M Michell Medal - Mechanical College
• John Connell Gold Medal – Structural College
• IREE Neville Thiele Award - ITEE College
• Transport Medal - Civil College
• David Robinson Award - ITEE College

Award For Biomedical Engineering Excellence – Biomedical College (David Dewhurst Award)

This Award is presented for outstanding service to biomedical engineering, by the Board of the College of Biomedical Engineers.

Criteria

It is presented for one of the following criteria:

• A highly significant contribution through technical innovations, to the science; or practice of biomedical engineering.
• Long-standing eminence in science or practical biomedical engineering.
• Exceptional and sustained management or leadership relating to biomedical engineering.
• A notable combination of the foregoing qualities and achievements.

Nominations are invited from the Chairman or office bearers of the biomedical branches affiliated with the College, and submitted through the Division representative on the Board.

Nominees don’t have to be members of Engineers Australia.

The winner is selected by the Board and presented at a special meeting or function of the College, where they will deliver an address.

David Dewhurst Award

Entry submissions will re-open in 2017.

About this Award

(Category A - Services to the Profession of Engineering)

The David Dewhurst Award honours Dr David Dewhurst, one of Australia's first prominent Biomedical Engineers. In 1974, he established the Institution of Biomedical Engineering (IBME), an early forerunner of the professional associations now representing biomedical engineering in Australia. For more information about David Dewhurst please click here.

The David Dewhurst Award is awarded annually to a member of the Biomedical engineering team who has made a significant contribution to the discipline.

Nomination Criteria

The Award is presented for outstanding service to biomedical engineering through either:

• a highly significant contribution, or contributions, through technical innovation relating to the science or practice of biomedical engineering
• long standing eminence in biomedical engineering science or practice
• exceptional and sustained management or leadership relating to biomedical engineering
• a notable combination of the afore mentioned qualities and achievements.

Terms and Conditions

1. Nominations are invited from the Chairman or office bearers of the Biomedical branches affiliated with the College and are to be submitted through the Division representative on the Board.
2. Nominees need not be members of Engineers Australia.
3. Current College Board members are not eligible to accept nomination for this award.

Presentation of Award

The Award consists of a framed bronze medal and certificate and is presented at a special meeting or function of the College selected as appropriate by the Board of the College of Biomedical Engineering.

2016 Winner

Professor Karen Reynolds FIEAust

Professor Karen Reynolds is one of Australia’s most productive, successful and influential biomedical engineers. Her outstanding contributions and advances in biomedical research and technical innovation are having significant impacts on biomedical practice and delivering tangible benefits to human health.

Professor Reynolds’ exceptional leadership, inspiration and energy have produced strong support pillars in biomedical engineering education, research and commercialisation, and have established a highly supportive innovation environment for emerging biomedical engineering industries in Australia.

Most significantly, Karen had the vision in 2008 to establish and lead the highly successful Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP). In addition, as Director of Flinders University’s Medical Device Research Institute, Karen harnessed the capability of 100 scientific, engineering and medical researchers and clinicians from the University and affiliated medical centres to work in collaborative, multidisciplinary teams with established or fledgling companies to solve challenging new and long-standing problems.

Sir John Holland Award for Civil Engineer Of The Year – Civil College

Sponsored by

This Award provides an important annual focus on civil engineering achievement.

It aims to:

• promote the discipline of civil engineering
• foster community understanding of the contribution of civil engineering to our well being
• recognise the achievements of civil engineers throughout Australia
• focus the achievements of civil engineers throughout Australia
• focus attention on the standards of excellence achieved by civil engineers
• provide assurance that civil engineering in Australia is equal to world best practice.

Criteria

The Award will be made based on one or more of the following criteria:

• leadership in design
• leadership in construction
• length of service to the community
• involvement in major projects
• development of new technology/ research development
• leadership of an engineering organisation
• public profile
• service to the engineering profession
• contribution of the use of ecologically sustainable development in engineering.

The Award is presented annually as part of a gala event promoted by the Civil College.

Sir John Holland Civil Engineer of the Year

Entry submissions will re-open in 2017.

About this Award

(Category A - Services to the Profession of Engineering)

Civil Engineers make a major contribution to our quality of life through the integral role they play in the provision of services and facilities for the general benefit of the community. They are also responsible for much of the infrastructure that impacts on our daily lives and play an important role in bringing about a more sustainable future for Australia.

The Sir John Holland Award for Civil Engineer of the Year provides a high profile focus on engineering achievement and serves as both a showcase for civil engineering and a focus for young people interested in pursuing a career in engineering.

This prestigious award is presented annually by the Civil College of Engineers Australia.

This award is proudly sponsored by John Holland.

 

Nomination Criteria

The award is presented to an eminent civil engineer considered to have made a major contribution to the profession in one or more of the following areas:

• leadership in design
• leadership in construction
• service to the community
• involvement in major projects
• development of new technology/research development
• leadership of an engineering organisation
• public profile
• service to the engineering profession
• contribution to the use of ecologically sustainable development in engineering

The judging panel will use the following guidelines for their selection:

• Role model for engineers and potential engineers
• Practice in identifiable engineering or engineering management
• Articulate and inspiring
• Able to speak with authority on relevant engineering matters and be knowledgeable on engineering regulations, governance etc
• Contribution to the community in addition to professional practice

Terms and Conditions

• Nominations must include:
  • Citation
  • CV
  • Photo
• Nominees must be eligible for membership of Engineers Australia
• Nominees must have been practicing in Australia within the last 2 years
• Nominees must be available for interviews, media talks and speeches

Presentation of Award

The award consists of a framed certificate and sculpture and is presented at a special meeting or function of the College selected as appropriate by the Board of the College of Civil Engineering.

2016 Winner

Mr David Polkinghorne

David Polkinghorne is a visionary who influences our day-to-day life through forward-thinking design and construction of public infrastructure, buildings and urban spaces. A professional Civil Engineer, who has more than 38 years of experience in design and construction, David is one of John Holland’s most senior managers and specialises in civil engineering services and design, quality, consistency and innovation.

David is currently the Design Manager on the Sydney Metro Northwest project. He is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team for the Thiess John Holland Dragados (TJHD) joint venture which is delivering the Tunnels and Station Civil works contract for this iconic infrastructure project.

 

National Professional Electrical Engineer of the Year Award

This Award recognises current excellence in performance by a highly respected senior member of the Electrical College.

It is conferred on someone the members of the profession can relate to in terms of the work they have performed and the roll they play as a model for young members.

Each year nominations are sought from each electrical branch/panel at each division, and the National Committee and societies affiliated with the Electrical College.

Nominations are sought mid year and judging is carried out by the College Board Executive. The recipient receives a certificate and a bronze medal.

National Professional Electrical Engineer of the Year

Nominations for 2017 are now open.

Click here to nominate

About this Award

(Category A - Services to the Profession of Engineering)

The National Professional Electrical Engineer of the Year award is designed to promote excellence and the profession within the community at large; and encourage young people to consider electrical engineering (especially power engineering) as a career.

This award is an annual national award for an outstanding senior electrical engineer member of the College who would be expected to be at (or near) the peak of his or her career, and a good role model for younger members of the profession.

In contrast, the M A Sargent Medal is awarded only when there is a nomination of a candidate who meets the special requirements of that award, normally at the end or near the end of their career, as it is an award recognising overall career achievements.

In summary, the National Professional Electrical Engineer of the Year award is designed to:

• promote excellence;
• promote the profession within the community at large; and
• encourage young people to consider electrical engineering (especially power engineering) as a career.

The recipient will be a highly respected member of the College and a role model for young members.

Nomination Criteria

The following criteria are used to assess applicants:

• Substantial experience in the profession of electrical engineering (in industry, government or academia);
• Currently fully active in electrical engineering work, either at a senior managerial or specialist technical level, or a combination of both;
• A solid history of high level achievements in the work of the profession (as a technical specialist, or manager of people and/or projects), demonstrating outstanding leadership;
• Demonstrated excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Sound awareness of the role engineering and other professions play within the community; and
• Evidence of participation in the provision of CPD to the members of the profession.

Terms and Conditions

Nominees must be:

• members of the Electrical College of Engineers Australia;
• Australian citizens or permanent Australian residents; and
• either a Fellow or have CPEng status.

Please note that if a nomination is not sucessful in the year of nomination, it will be considered again during each of the following two years.

Presentation of Award

The award consists of an engraved medal and framed certificate and is presented at a suitable formal Engineers Australia event.

2016 Winner

Dr Jose Lopez-Roldan FIEAust CPEng

Jose Lopez-Roldan received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Barcelona in 1993 and 1997 respectively. During his Ph.D. studies, he was a visiting-researcher at the R&D centers of Ontario-Hydro (Toronto), Schneider-Electric (Grenoble) and EDF (Paris) .

He worked at VA TECH-Reyrolle in the UK from 1996 to 2000 as a senior engineer engaged in the development of Gas Insulated Switchgear. He joined Pauwels in Belgium in 2000 as R&D Project Manager in the Transformer Division and from 2002 to 2006 was the engineering manager of the Substations Division.

Since 2006, he has been working as Principal Consultant in High Voltage Switchgear for Powerlink Queensland in Australia. From 2009 to 2012, he also collaborated with Zenergy Power in Australia in the development of High Voltage Superconducting Fault Current limiters.

Jose has co-authored more than 50 papers on HV switchgear, substations and electrical insulation. He is adjunct professor at the Queensland University of Technology. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Australia, senior member of the IEEE and member of several international working groups of CIGRE.

 

M A Sargent Medal - Electrical College

This is the most prestigious award made by the College of Electrical Engineers. It is named in honour of Dr Michael Anthony (Mike) Sargent, an outstanding Australian electrical engineer.

Dr Sargent graduated from the University of Queensland in 1964 and gained a PhD in electrical engineering at the same university in 1967. After holding various engineering appointments in Queensland and North America, he joined the South East Queensland Electricity Board in 1978 - becoming its Chief Engineer in 1984 and Manager, Business Systems in 1989.

Dr Sargent is an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia and has served in many positions in Engineers Australia including:

• Chairman of the Electrical and Computing Branch of Queensland Division 1976
• Chairman of Queensland Division 1984
• Member of Council 1984 to 1986
• Vice President of Engineers Australia 1985 to 1986 and 1988
• Deputy Chairman of the Electrical College Board 1988
• Deputy President Engineers Australia 1989
• President Engineers Australia 1990

Criteria

This winner of this award, which consists of a bronze medal, is selected for one of the following criteria:

• A highly significant contribution - through technical innovations - to the science or practice of electrical engineering.
• Long-standing eminence in science or practice of electrical engineering.
• Exceptional and sustained management or leadership relating to electrical engineering.
• A notable combination of the foregoing qualities and achievements.

The award is made by the Board of the College of Electrical Engineers on the recommendation of its Executive Committee. Nominations are invited from the chairmen or office bearers of the electrical branches affiliated with the College, and submitted through the Division representative on the Board. Nominees do not have to be members of Engineers Australia.

The winner is selected by the Board and presented at a special meeting or function of the College.

M A Sargent Medal

Nominations for 2017 are now open.

Click here to nominate

About this Award

(Category A - Services to the Profession of Engineering)

This is the most prestigious award made by the College of Electrical Engineers. It is named in honour of Dr Michael Anthony (Mike) Sargent, an outstanding Australian electrical engineer.

Dr Sargent graduated from the University of Queensland in 1964 and gained a PhD in electrical engineering at the same university in 1967. After holding various engineering appointments in Queensland and North America he joined the South East Queensland Electricity Board in 1978 becoming its Chief Engineer in 1984 and became Manager, Business Systems in 1989.

Dr Sargent is an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia and has served in many positions in Engineers Australia including Chairman of the Electrical and Computing Branch of Queensland Division 1976, Chairman of Queensland Division 1984, member of the then Council 1984 - 1986, Vice President of Engineers Australia 1985 - 1986 and also 1988, Deputy Chairman of the Electrical College Board 1988, Deputy President of Engineers Australia 1989 and President in 1990.

Nomination Criteria

• a highly significant contribution, through technical innovation, to the science or practice of electrical engineering; or
• longstanding eminence in science or the practice of electrical engineering; or
• exceptional and sustained management or leadership relating to electrical engineering; or
• a notable combination of the foregoing qualities.

Please note that international peer recognition of contributions to the practice of electrical engineering will be well regarded.

Terms and Conditions

Nominees must be:

• a current member of Engineers Australia
• an Australia Citizen or a permanent Australian resident

Self-nominations will not be accepted.

Please note that if a nomination is not successful in the year of nomination, it will be considered again during each of the following two years.

Presentation of Award

The award consists of an engraved medal and framed certificate and is presented at a suitable formal Engineers Australia event.

2016 Winners

Dr Alan Finkel AO FIEAust FTSE

Dr Finkel has an extensive science background as an entrepreneur, engineer, neuroscientist and educator.

Dr Finkel commenced as Australia’s Chief Scientist on 25 January 2016. He is Australia’s eighth Chief Scientist.

Prior to becoming Chief Scientist, he was the Chancellor of Monash University and President of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE).

Dr Finkel is a world leader in the design, development and worldwide commercialisation of electronic instrumentation for neuro-scientific measurements.

His leadership in the field of electrical and electronics engineering has been widely recognised including through his election as:

• Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia
• Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS)
• Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE)
• Fellow of the prestigious Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for his contributions to measurement technology for biomedicine.

A G M Michell Medal - Mechanical College

This award is made annually for outstanding service in the profession of mechanical engineering and is in memory of Anthony George Maldon Michell.

An Australian, Michell was an outstanding mechanical engineer, responsible for a number of studies in the field of lubrication, for a design of a crankless engine and in particular, for the invention and development of the tilting-pad thrust bearing.

He was one of only two Australians to have received the James Watt International Medal, which is awarded by the British Institution of Engineers to an outstanding mechanical engineer.

Criteria

The A G M Michell Medal, made annually by the College of Mechanical Engineers, is awarded for a highly significant contribution(s) to the science or practice of mechanical engineering through one, or all, of the following criteria:

• technical innovation
• long-standing eminence
• notable and sustained leadership in mechanical engineering within Engineers Australia.

Within the year of winning the award, the recipient delivers an address at a college meeting.

AGM Michell Medal

Nominations for 2017 will open in March 2017.

About this Award

(Category A - Services to the Profession of Engineering)

The Award perpetuates the memory of Anthony George Maldon Michell (1870-1959), an outstanding Australian Mechanical Engineer. AGM Michell was a consulting engineer in the field of hydraulics and pump design and in conjunction with his investigations of lubrication at the beginning of the century he invented the tilting-pad thrust bearing, a momentous technical innovation.

Other notable achievements were the invention of his viscometer, the development of hydraulic power transmissions and the design and development of a series of crankless engines. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1934 and was awarded the Kernot Medal in 1938 and the James Watt Medal in 1943.

The Award was first presented in 1978.

The Award is made annually by the Mechanical College Board upon the recommendation of its Executive Committee, the latter having invited Confidential Nominations accompanied by supporting documentation.

Nomination Criteria

The Award is presented for outstanding service to mechanical engineering through:

• A highly significant contribution, or contributions, through technical innovation relating to the science or practice of mechanical engineering; or
• Long standing eminence in mechanical engineering science or practice; or
• Notable and sustained leadership pertaining to mechanical engineering, within the Institution of Engineers Australia; or
• A worthy blend of the aforementioned.

Terms and Conditions

Unsuccessful nominations in the current year remain valid for another 2 years and are again considered with any new nominations received in those following years.

Please note that non-members of Engineers Australia are eligible for the Award, however their nomination will be the exception rather than the rule.

Presentation of Award

The successful recipient will be presented with a Bronze Medal and accompanying Certificate at a Presentation Dinner or equally appropriate event and the recipient is invited to give an oration on a topic of his or her choice which will later be published in the Australian Journal of Mechanical Engineering.

2016 Winner

Professor Yiu-Wing Mai AM, FRS, FREng, FAA, FTSE, FHKEng

Professor Yiu-Wing Mai received his undergraduate and postgraduate training in mechanical engineering at the University of Hong Kong, China SAR. He previously worked in the US (University of Michigan and NIST), the UK (Imperial College) and Hong Kong (CityU, HKU, HKUST and PolyU); and holds a University Chair in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sydney.

Prof Mai has made seminal contributions on fracture mechanics and advanced composite materials. His research results have influenced engineering practice with global impact. These include:

• The development of asbestos-free fibre cements (James Hardie Coy Pty Ltd)
• Superhard machining tools coated with ceramic nanocomposites (HKITC and General Motors, China)
• Testing protocols for essential work of fracture of polymers (ESIS-TC4)
• Improved composites manufacturing processes, such as pultrusion, thermoforming, stitching and z-pinning (Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures).

In recent years, Prof Mai has focused his research efforts on polymer nanocomposites in which nano-sized particles (<100 nm) are incorporated into polymer matrices. He is making important continuing contributions on:

• (a) basic understanding of the deformation, failure and toughening mechanisms of polymer nanocomposites
• (b) new syntheses and fabrication methods of multi-scale hierarchical reinforcements
• (c) multifunctional applications such as fire retardancy, permeability, optical transparency, electrical and thermal conductivities, and cathodes/anodes in Li-ion batteries.

Prof Mai received the RILEM Award and Robert L'Hermite Medal (1981), AFG Achievement Award (2000), Takeo Yokobori Gold Medal (2013) and Griffith Medal (2016), among others. He was elected FRS (2008), FREng (2011), FAA (2001) and FTSE (1992). He was appointed AM (2010) for service to engineering and was conferred an honorary DSc (2013) by Hong Kong University in recognition of his contributions to scientific research and society.

John Connell Gold Medal – Structural College

This Medal is awarded to an eminent engineer and presented by the Structural College.

It is named after John Connell, principal and founder of Connell Wagner which now practices globally as Aurecon.

John Connell is considered to have made an outstanding contribution to the practice of structural engineering in this country, and was also responsible for exporting Australian engineering skills into Asia in the 1970s and 1980s. He was actively involved in Connell Wagner (Aurecon) until the 1990s.

 

Criteria

The winner is selected according to the following criteria:

• Must be (or have been) a practicing structural engineer who has made a significant contribution, preferably of both national and international significance, to the standing and prestige of the structural engineering profession.
• May come from a background of consulting engineering, government service, manufacturing, construction, academic pursuits, or service within the professional organisation, such as Engineers Australia itself.
• Does not have to be an Australian national, or reside in Australia. But the engineer’s contribution must have had a significant impact in Australia.
• Must have reached a senior position and be widely recognised to be of eminent standing within the profession.

The award is a specially-struck gold medal incorporating, in relief, the insignia of Engineers Australia and a likeness of the individual after whom the award is made. The Medal is mounted and framed with a citation.

John Connell Gold Medal

Nominations for 2017 will open in January 2017.

About this Award

(Category A - Services to the Profession of Engineering)

This award is for an eminent structural engineer. It is named after John Connell, principal and founder of John Connell and Associates. John Connell is considered to have made an outstanding contribution to the practise of structural engineering in Australia and to exporting Australian engineering skills to Asia in the 1970s and 1980s. He has continued to be involved with Aurecon since his retirement.

Nomination Criteria

1. The recipient must be (or have been) a practising structural engineer who has made a significant contribution, preferably nationally and internationally, to the standing and prestige of the structural engineering profession.
2. The recipient may have a background in consulting engineering, government service, manufacturing, construction, academe, or service with the professional organisation, such as Engineers Australia.
3. The recipient does not have to be an Australian national nor reside in Australia. However, if the recipient is not an Australian national, the contribution that he/she has made must have had a significant impact in Australia. It is anticipated that, on most occasions, the award will be made to an Australian national.
4. The recipient must have reached a senior position and be widely recognised as holding eminent standing within the profession.
5. The nomination must include a CV.

Presentation of Award

The winner receives a specially struck gold medal bearing the insignia of Engineers Australia and likeness of John Connell. The medal is mounted and framed and presented at a special meeting or function of the College selected as appropriate by the Board of the College of Structural Engineering.

2016 Winner

Prof Kourosh Kayvani FIEAust CPEng NER

Professor Kourosh Kayvani is a Global Director of Excellence & Epertise at Aurecon. In his 28 years in the industry, he has played key roles in the engineering of many innovative, complex structures across the globe, including:

• Wembley Stadium in the UK
• West Kowloon Terminus in Hong Kong

And in such projects in Australia as :

• ANSTO OPAL nuclear reactor
• the Sydney Hockey Stadium
• Brookfield Place
• Civic Tower
• 5 Martin Place
• Liberty Place
• Melbourne Star Observation Wheel.

He specialises in long-span structures, tall buildings, stadium structures, seismic design and forensic engineering.

Kourosh is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia and a Laureate of the IABSE Prize awarded by the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering for his work on long-span structures worldwide. He has also been listed in Engineers Australia’s Top 100 most influential engineers in 2009.

Kourosh is an Honorary Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Sydney, a Director of the Australian Steel Institute, a President of the Lightweight Structures Association of Australasia and the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Case Studies in Structural Engineering published by Elsevier International.

He has also served as a Visiting Professorial Fellow at UNSW, a member of code committees for Concrete Structures and Winds Loads, and a regular invited speaker on tall buildings and long-span structures at the University of Cape Town and University of Pretoria. In addition, Kourosh has featured as the keynote speaker at a number of national and international conferences. He is the founding Dean of the Aurecon Design Academy.

IREE Neville Thiele Award

Entry submissions will re-open in 2017

 

About this Award

(Category A - Services to the Profession of Engineering)

The Neville Thiele Eminence Award is the most prestigious award of the ITEE College of Engineers Australia. It is presented in memory of The Institution of Radio and Electronics Engineers (IREE) and in named in honour of the late Mr. A.N. (Neville) Thiele OAM.

The IREE represented the profession of radio and electronics engineering in Australia for many years, while Neville Thiele was an outstanding Australian Electronics Engineer, former President of the IREE and a world renowned expert on audio engineering standards and the design of loudspeakers.

The award recognises eminence in information, telecommunications and electronics engineering and will honour a member who has made significant contributions to the art of practice of engineering in the disciplines covered by the ITEE College. The award also reconises the individual's significant contributions to the community.

Nomination Criteria

The nominee must:

• provide details of the nominee's technical and professional career, and demonstrate the the nominee’s compliance with the judging criteria and their contributions to the Australian community
• provide a brief (approx 1 page) essay on how the $10,000 cash award will facilitate their professional and personal development.

The candidate will:

• have made significant practical and/or theoretical contributions to the art and practice of engineering in any (or several) of the following disciplines:
  • Communications Engineering;
  • Computer Systems Engineering;
  • Electronics Engineering;
  • Information Engineering; or
  • Software Engineering, and
• have made significant contributions to the community.

Nominees with Chartered status will be favourably regarded.

Terms and Conditions

A recipient of the award must:

• be an Australian citizen or permanent Australian resident; and
• be eligible to be a member of Engineers Australia in the grade of engineer, technologist or associate.

The nomination form must be signed by the nominee and two referees, at least one of whom must be a chartered member of Engineers Australia.

Unsuccessful candidates may be re-nominated in subsequent years.

Please click here to download the award guidelines

Presentation of Award

The recipient will receive a cash prize of AU $10,000 provided by the IREE Foundation, a framed certificate and an engraved medal. The prize will be presented at a suitable formal occasion of Engineers Australia.

2015 Winner

Mr Matthew James, BSc MSc (Comms Eng) B App Sc

Matthew is the founder of Distant Curve and has a unique work history encompassing scientific and engineering work with a focus on developing countries and remote areas.

Matthew started his career as a research engineer in the Sugarcane Fields of North Queensland and Papua New Guinea where he showed an ability to take conceptual research from R&D to the field.

Following his passion of creating and delivering innovative solutions to practical applications, Matthew completed further studies in Engineering, earning a Master’s Degree in Computer and Communications Engineering from the Queensland University of Technology, and a number of formal commendations for academic achievement in the process.

Matthew then worked in a management capacity within the private sector in a number of multi-billion dollar projects in Mining, Oil and Gas for several years.

Matthew’s key focus is to design and deploy highly redundant and intelligent telecommunication systems to rural and remote areas.

Matthew has a well-deserved reputation and is a trusted industry advisor. He is committed to building strong working relationships and services that support both rural and remote development through an unrelenting focus on honest communication and hard work.

Matthew has seen that astounding things happen when people are given new insights and opportunities. His aim is to leave a positive legacy of enhanced knowledge, skills and confidence. He obtains an enormous amount of satisfaction by helping people from remote and regional areas to achieve great outcomes for their communities.

Matthew is currently in the advanced stages of delivering a major project which aims to deploy high speed telecommunications via microwave to two very remote Aboriginal Communities (Engawala and Atitjere) in the Central Desert Region of Northern Australia.

Transport Medal

Entry submissions will re-open in 2017.

About this Award

(Category C - Specialty Open Awards)

The Transport Medal seeks to reward and recognise outstanding individual contributions to transport in Australia. This award is presented on a biennial basis.

Nomination Criteria

• Has given consistent and distinguished service to transport in Australia over a period of at least ten years
• Reputation/are of professional influence must extend beyond the ‘home' state to at least the national and preferably the international level
• Award recognises excellence and relevance to transport in Australia, i.e. the emphasis is on ‘having made a difference' by advancing theory and/or practice in transport
• Award is open to individuals from public and private sectors including transport operators, consultants, government departments and authorities as well as academics and researchers
• Award is not limited to members of Engineers Australia

Presentation of Award

The award consists of a framed certificate and engraved medal and is presented at a special meeting or function of the College selected as appropriate by the Board of the College of Civil Engineering.

2014 Winner

Professor Michael Taylor FIEAust CPEng

Professor Michael Anthony Peter Taylor is Emeritus Professor of Transport Planning at the University of South Australia and Program Leader ‘Low Carbon Precincts’ in the CRC for Low Carbon Living.

His principal research interests lie in travel demand modelling, transport network analysis, transport-land use-environment interactions, transport network reliability, transport technology, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), and energy consumption and environmental impacts of road traffic.

He has published extensively in all of the above areas, with over 440 papers, book chapters and articles, 16 books (authored or edited), and six software packages to his credit. He is internationally acknowledged as an expert on traffic flow theory, travel behaviour and traffic data collection and analysis, travel demand modelling, traffic simulation, public transport evaluation, the environmental impacts of road traffic, and the applications of information technology in transport and logistics planning.

David Robinson Award

Entry submissions will re-open in 2017

About this Award

(Category A - Services to the Profession of Engineering)

The David Robinson Award is presented in memory of The Institution of Radio and Electronics Engineers (IREE) and in named in honour of the late Dr David Errol Robinson AM.

The IREE represented the profession of radio and electronics engineering in Australia for many years, while David Robinson was an outstanding Australian Electronics Engineer, former President of the IREE and a world renowned expert on ultrasound technology.

The award recognises achievements in information, telecommunications and electronics engineering; and to enhance the ongoing professional development program of the recipient.

Nomination Criteria

The nomination must:

• provide details of the nominee's technical and professional career, and demonstrate the the nominee’s compliance with the judging criteria and their contributions to the Australian community
• provide a comprehensive professional development plan, and description of how the $10,000 cash prize will enable them to implement that plan in a manner which may not be possible without the financial support which the award provides.

The candidate will:

• have made significant practical and/or theoretical contributions to the art and practice of engineering in any (or several) of the following disciplines:
  • Communications Engineering;
  • Computer Systems Engineering;
  • Electronics Engineering;
  • Information Engineering; or
  • Software Engineering, and
• have made significant contributions to the community.

Terms and Conditions

A recipient of the award must:

• be an Australian citizen or permanent Australian resident; and
• be eligible to be a member of Engineers Australia in the grade of engineer, technologist or associate.

The nomination form must be signed by the nominee and two referees, at least one of whom must be a chartered member of Engineers Australia.

Unsuccessful candidates may be re-nominated in subsequent years.

Please click here to download the award guidelines.

Presentation of Award

The recipient will receive a cash prize of AU $10,000 provided by the IREE Foundation, a framed certificate and an engraved medal. The prize will be presented at a suitable formal occasion of Engineers Australia.

2015 Winner

Dr Derek Rogers

Dr Derek Rogers is the Head of Saab’s Global Centre of Excellence in Autonomous Vessels and responsible for the design and development of Unmanned and Autonomous Surface Vessels that find application in defence, civil security, fishing and scientific research. He has been with Saab for over six years originally working on the Amphibious Assault Ships project before which he worked with BAE Systems on electronic warfare self-protection for Chinook and Blackhawk Helicopters leading a team of approximately 40 people and a multi-million dollar budget.

Over his career he has also worked for Motorola both in Australia and the USA on emerging technologies in the area of telematics and telecommunications network management. Dr Rogers commenced his career with a small University start-up company, the Centre of Telecommunications Information Networking, as part of a multi-disciplinary team where he made a number of significant contributions in the area of wireless communications including to a report for the then Prime Minister’s Science and Engineering Council.

In addition to working with Saab, Dr Rogers is an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Australia, adjunct with Adelaide University, member of an industry advisory board with Flinders University, and member of a Red Cross committee on International Humanitarian Law.

He holds four degrees from the University of Adelaide in Engineering including his PhD, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Science and Technology Commercialisation. He has published almost 40 papers, and sat on a Federal Government Advisory Council on Intellectual Property for a period of three years.

Widely recognised for his development of other engineers, Dr Rogers has received numerous best practise and innovation awards across multiple companies and was the inaugural winner of the IREE Neville Thiele Award, he served on Engineer’s Australia’s membership committee and has been actively involved in a number of community and charitable activities over many years.

Category B - College Awards Related to a Specific Engineering Discipline on the Basis of a Paper

• Young Biomedical Engineer’s Award – Biomedical College
• John A Brodie Medal – Chemical College
• W H Warren Medal – Civil College
• John Madsen Medal – Electrical College
• Young Environmental Engineer of the Year Award – Environmental College
• Engineers Australia (WA Division) Prize for Research in Software Engineering – ITEE College
• George Julius Medal – Mechanical College

Young Biomedical Engineer’s Award - Biomedical College

Young biomedical engineers nominate in the abstracts of a paper that they would like to be nominated for this award.

Nominations

Nominations for the Young Biomedical Engineer’s Award are called for at the Biomedical Engineering Conference. Potential applicants then nominate in the abstract of a paper they are writing, that they would like to be considered for the Award.

Abstracts are judged by referees nominated by the College, and a shortlist of up to five nominees drawn up. These are then invited to make a present ation in a special session at the conference. Those not shortlisted will be considered for the general papers.

Referees meet after the special session to select the winner.

Judging criteria

Presentations are judged across a number of areas. These may include:

• content
• presentation
• contribution to knowledge
• ability to field questions
• demonstration of an in-depth appreciation of the area being presented.

The winner receives a certificate as well as money to offset travelling expenses to present their paper at an overseas conference.

Young Biomedical Engineering Conference Paper & Poster Prizes

About this Award

These prizes are given to young biomedical engineers based upon their paper or poster presentation at the Australian Biomedical Engineering Conference (ABEC). Students are required to submit an extract through the ABEC Conference 'Call for Abstracts' site. During this process the nominee is to specify which prize they are submitting the abstract for.

The abstract applicants will be judged by a set of referees nominated by the College for inclusion in a specific session in the conference specifically for presentations by the short-listed young biomedical engineers. Abstracts who are not judged to be part of the special session will be considered for the general papers. Up to five abstracts may be chosen for the special session. The referees will meet following the session to select the recipient for the award.

The presentation will be judged by scores in a number of areas. These may include content, presentation, contribution to knowledge, the ability to field questions and demonstration of an in-depth appreciation of the area being presented.

Presentation of Award

The prize consists of a certificate and $750. The funds are to be used to assist with travelling to an overseas conference to present their paper.

John A Brodie Medal - Chemical College

The John A Brodie Medal is awarded for the paper selected by the Board of the College of Chemical Engineers as the best in the discipline, published in ‘Chemical Engineering in Australia’ in the last 12 months, or presented at that year’s Chemeca Conference.

The award is not limited to members of Engineers Australia.

The Medal is named in honour of John A Brodie, who was Chief Engineer with Union Carbide.

He established a reputation as a leading industrial innovator in Australia, having been responsible for the design and construction of polyethylene film extrusion units, the manufacture of bakelite and a continuous crystallisation plant known as the Brodie Purifier.

He won several international awards for his inventions, and he also won the Prince Philip Award for Australian Design. Brodie was a Councillor of Engineers Australia from 1967-1971.

In 1976 this medal replaced the Chemical Engineering Prize, which had been established in 1963, and consisted of a certificate and cash.

John A Brodie Medal

About this Award

(Category B - Open Awards)

The John A Brodie Medal is named in honour of Mr J A Brodie, who was Chief Engineer with Union Carbide. He established the reputation as a leading industrial innovator in Australia, having been responsible for the design and construction of polyethylene film extrusion units, the manufacture of bakelite and a continuous crystallization plant known as the Brodie Purifier. He won several international awards for his inventions, and he also won the Prince Philip Award for Australian Design. Mr Brodie was a Councillor of the Institution from 1967 to 1971.

Terms and Conditions

The John A Brodie Medal is awarded by Engineers Australia for the best paper in the discipline of chemical engineering presented at the Chemeca Conference, at any other conference sponsored by Engineers Australia, at a Engineers Australia Chemical branch meeting or published in the journal of Chemical Engineering in Australia during the past year.

This award is not limited to Engineers Australia members.

Click here to download the current guidelines

Presentation of Award

The Award consists of a medal and certificate and is presented at the gala dinner held during the Annual Chemeca Conference.

2015 Winner

Ms Trish Kerin for her paper titled 'Process Safety Competency'

After graduating from RMIT University with honours in mechanical engineering, Trish spent several years working in design, project management, operational, safety and executive roles for the oil, gas and chemical industries.

Trish’s passion for process safety saw her take on several advisory committee roles. This includes representing the Plastics and Chemical Industries Association (PACIA) on drafting the 2007 OHS regulations for major hazards in Victoria – Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007. She has also represented the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the Safe Work Australia temporary advisory group for drafting the major hazard facility model law.

Trish has also represented PACIA to the WorkSafe Victoria Major Hazards Advisory Committee and is often invited to speak at various local and international conferences.

She currently sits on the board of the Australian National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) and is a member of the Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center steering committee.

Trish is a Chartered Engineer, a registered Professional Process Safety Engineer and Fellow of IChemE. She also holds a diploma of OHS and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

2015 Certificates of Merit

Mushtak Al-Atabi, Ferng Lin Ooi, Marwan M. Shamel and Yeong Leong Lim as co-authors of the paper titled 'Mixing Using Synthetic Jets and Its Application in Enzymatic Reactions'

Siang-Piao Chai, Lling-Lling Tan, Siek-Ting Yong and Wee-Jun Ong as co-authors of the paper titled 'Turning the Surface Charge via Protonation of Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4) coupled with reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) as 2D/2D Heterojunction Nanocomposites toward Artificial Photosynthesis'

Jennifer Clemow and Richard Wawrzon FIEAust as co-authors of the paper titled 'Implementation of a Model Based Advanced Process Control Scheme across tow Ethylene Plants'

Akira Matsuoka and Koji Noishiki as co-authors of the paper titled 'Development of Liquid-Liquid Extraction Process by using large capacity Micro-Channel Reactor (SMCR(R))'

W H Warren Medal - Civil College

This Medal perpetuates the memory of Professor W H Warren, who was the first President of Engineers Australia. It is awarded annually for the paper selected by the Board of the College of Civil Engineers as the best in the discipline of civil engineering.

Professor Warren was appointed to the first Chair in Engineering at the University of Sydney in 1883 - a position he held until 1925. In 1895 he was elected the first President of the Sydney University Engineering Society, which later became one of the foundation societies of the Institution. Professor Warren was awarded the Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal in 1923.

This award was first made in 1929 and was known as the Warren Memorial Prize. The award formerly consisted of a certificate and cash. This was replaced by a medal in 1976.

WH Warren Medal

Entry submissions will re-open in 2017.

About this Award

(Category B - Open Awards)

The W H Warren Medal perpetuates the memory of Professor W H Warren who was the first President of the Institution of Engineers Australia. Established in 1929, this award is given annually by the Civil College of Engineers Australia for the best paper in the discipline of civil engineering.

Nomination Criteria

• The Award shall be for a paper on a civil engineering subject, provided such paper is adjudged of sufficient merit as a contribution to the literature of the engineering profession
• Papers should be original and innovative

Terms and Conditions

• Papers are eligible if they are published between 22 August 2015 to 21 August 2016 in any of Engineers Australia's journals, conference proceedings or any other document recognised as a formal Engineers Australia publication
• Joint authorship of a paper is restricted to three in number, of which one must be a member of Engineers Australia
• The Award shall be given only to members who are in good standing at the close of the financial year

Presentation of Award

The award consists of a framed certificate and engraved medal and is presented at a special meeting or function of the College selected as appropriate by the Board of the College of Civil Engineering. Only members of Engineers Australia will receive the medal.

 

2012 Winner

Mr Eng How Ghee and Mr Wei Dong Guo

"A Simplified Solution for Predicting the Response of Rigid Piles due to Lateral Soil Movement""A Simplified Solution for Predicting the Response of Rigid Piles due to Lateral Soil Movement"

John Madsen Medal - Electrical College

The John Madsen Medal is awarded for the best paper in the discipline of electrical engineering, which is selected by the Board of the College of Electrical Engineers.

The Medal perpetuates the memory of Sir John Madsen who was foundation Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Sydney from 1920-1949. He was one of Australia’s great electrical engineers and some of his outstanding community service was through his active cooperation with CSIRO.

He proposed the founding of a Radio Research Board and was a leader in the development of radar in Australia. He was active in forming the Electrical Research Board and the National Standards Laboratory, and was a Councillor of Engineers Australia from 1930-1933. He was awarded the Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal in 1944.

This prize was originally created by a donation made by the Electrical Association of Australia, one of the Foundation Societies of Engineers Australia. It was first awarded in 1927 and was known as the Electrical Association Premium. The name was changed to Electrical Engineering Prize in 1954, and replaced with this Medal in 1976.

John Madsen Medal

 

About this Award

(Category B - Open Awards)

The John Madsen Medal is awarded for the best paper written by a current member of Engineers Australia, and published in The Australian Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

The medal perpetuates the memory of Sir John Madsen who was Foundation Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Sydney from 1920 to 1949. Sir John Madsen was one of Australia's great electrical engineers and some of his outstanding community service was through his active cooperation with CSIRO.

He proposed the founding of a Radio Research Board and was a leader in the development of radar in Australia. He was active in forming the Electrical Research Board and the National Standards Laboratory. He was a Councillor of the Institution from 1930 to 1933 and was awarded the Peter Nicol Russell memorial Medal in 1944.

In 1976 this medal replaced the Electrical Engineering Prize which was originally founded upon a donation made by the Electrical Association of Australia, one of the Foundation Societies of the Institution. It was first awarded in 1927 and was known as the Electrical Association Premium. The name was changed to the Electrical Engineering Prize in 1954. The award formerly consisted of a certificate and a cash premium.

 

Terms and Conditions

• For a technical paper to be eligible for consideration for the Madsen Medal it must satisfy the following criteria:
  • The topic of the paper must be related to the discipline of Electrical or ITEE Engineering; and
  • The paper must have been published in the AJEEE in the previous year
• At least half of the authors must be members of Engineers Australia during the entire period from the time of submission of the paper, to the end of the financial year during which the paper was published in the AJEEE; or
• The principal author must be a member of Engineers Australia during the entire period from the time of submission of the paper, to the end of the financial year during which the paper was published in the AJEEE

The 2015 John Madsen Medal will be awarded on papers published in 2015 and the judging process will begin in 2016.

Presentation of Award

The winner is awarded an engraved medal and framed certificate and are presented at a suitable formal Engineers Australia event, during the year following that when the paper was published. Authors who are not members of Engineers Australia will receive a certificate only.

2015 Winners

Paper - "Generation modelling of residential rooftop photovoltaic systems and its applications in practical electricity distribution networks

Peter K.C. Wong FIEAust CPEng

Peter K.C. Wong was born in Hong Kong. He received the B.Sc. (Eng.) degree in electrical engineering from the University of Hong Kong in 1983. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering at Victoria University, Australia.

From 1983 to 1989, he was a Protection Engineer with the Hong Kong Electric Co. Ltd. From 1989 to 1994, he was a senior Control and Protection Engineer with the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, Australia. From 1994 to 1995, he was a Product Manager with Schneider Australia.

From 1995 to 2007, he worked in various technical leadership roles with United Energy and Alinta. Since 2007, he worked for Jemena, an electricity and gas infrastructure company in Australia, and is currently the Manager Network Technology and Measurement responsible for new technology and smart meter strategy.

Mr. Wong is a Chartered Professional Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, and a Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (U.K.). He was the recipient of the Energy Networks Association Overseas Study Tour Award in 2011.

Dr Robert Barr FIEAust CPEng

Dr Robert Barr AM is a consulting engineer, director of his company Electric Power Consulting Pty Ltd and the current National President of the Electric Energy Society of Australia. Robert has over 42 years experience in the field of electricity distribution, is a fellow of Engineers Australia and a member of Consult Australia.

Robert is an Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University of Wollongong and was awarded the title of Australian National Professional Electrical Engineer of the year in 2012. Dr Barr became a Member of the Order of Australia in 2013.

Prof Akhtar Kalam FIEAust CPEng NER

Professor Akhtar Kalam has been at Victoria University, Melbourne since 1985 and a former Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science for 7 years. He is currently the Head of Engineering. He is also the current Chair of the Academic Board and lectures in the Masters by coursework program in the Engineering Institute of Technology, Perth Australia. Further, he has Distinguished Professorship position at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia and 5 Malaysian universities.

He has wide experience in educational institutions and industry across four continents. He received his B.Sc. and B.Sc. Engineering from Calcutta University and Aligarh Muslim University, India. He completed his MS and Ph.D. at the University of Oklahoma, USA and the University of Bath, UK. He has worked with Ingersoll Rand and other electrical manufacturers. He has held teaching appointments at the University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq and Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education, Rockhampton, Queensland.

He is regularly invited to deliver lectures, work on industrial projects and examine external thesis overseas. His major areas of interests are power system analysis, communication, control, protection, renewable energy, smart grid, IEC61850 implementation and cogeneration systems.

He has been actively engaged in the teaching of Energy Systems to undergraduates, postgraduates and providing professional courses to the industry both in Australia and overseas. He regularly offers Continuing Professional Development and Master Class courses on Power System Protection, Renewable Energy, IEC61850, Cogeneration & Gas Turbine Operation and PBL in engineering education to practising engineers, the Energy Supply Association of Australia (ESAA) and Australian Power Institute (API).

He also runs postgraduate distance education programme on Power System Protection for the ESAA. He has conducted research, provided industrial consultancy and published over five hundred publications on his area of expertise and written over 29 books in the area.

More than 35 students have graduated under his supervision and he is an external examiner of many external doctoral students in Australia and overseas. He provides consultancy for major electrical utilities, manufacturers and other industry bodies in his field of expertise. Professor Kalam is a Fellow of EA, IET, AIE, a member of IEEE and CIGRE AP B5.

Young Environmental Engineer of the Year Award - Environmental College

This Award promotes engineering excellence and recognition of the valuable contribution environmental engineers make to the community. It is made annually to the person submitting the best paper in response to a specific topic set by the Environmental College Board.

Criteria

The best paper is selected by three members of the Environmental College Board and is presented at the next Society for Sustainability and Environmental Engineering (SSEE) Conference. The winner gains entry to the next SSEE conference (including flights and accommodation) and their paper is published in the Environmental College’s quarterly national journal, The Environmental Engineer.

Young Environmental Engineer of the Year

Nominations for 2017 will open in January 2017.

About this Award

The Young Environmental Engineer of the Year award is presented by the Environmental College of Engineers Australia to acknowledge and reward young environmental engineers who have:

1. Engineering competence
2. Demonstrated leadership skills including leadership of teams
3. Positive/notable outcomes from their engineering work
4. Creativity/innovation
5. Community service to industry, the profession and/or society

Nomination Criteria

Nominations must include:

• CV (maximum 2 pages); and
• A supporting statement (maximum 1500 words) which is to address how your current role in environmental engineering contributes towards the criteria for this award. In your statement please demonstrate your leadership skills, how your role has made a positive impact to your engineering work and any notable outcomes or innovations as a result. Please demonstrate areas of community service to the industry, the profession and/or society.

Terms and Conditions

Applicants must:

• be a current financial member of Engineers Australia;
• be a practising engineer that graduated less than 5 years ago; and
• currently reside in Australia.

Presentation of Award

The Award consists of a framed certificate and is presented at an appropriate Conference. The recipient will also receive complimentary registration, flights and accommodation to attend the conference.

2015 Winner

Miss Clare Stephens MIEAust CPEng

Clare Stephens is a surface water engineer at Jacobs with four years’ experience in hydrologic and hydraulic modelling. She has contributed to a range of projects including the innovative Flinders Highway Flood Study, which defined a new method for assessing flood performance of linear infrastructure.

She has also worked on large infrastructure projects including the Gateway Motorway and Pacific Highway upgrades. Clare has contributed to community flood studies and flood risk management in Brisbane, Toowoomba, the Lockyer Valley and regional NSW.

Clare was the Queensland President of Engineers Without Borders Australia in 2014 after holding other executive roles since 2012. She has also contributed to community outreach at Jacobs, including through her current role as liaison between Jacobs and Beacon, an organisation that works with disadvantaged students to prepare them for meaningful work.

During university, Clare was a Dean’s Excellence Scholar at the University of Queensland and a Queensland Resource Council Student Ambassador.

Engineers Australia (WA Division) Prize for Research in Software Engineering – ITEE College

This Prize, sponsored by the ITEE College (WA), recognises a significant contribution to the discipline of software engineering through research undertaken at a university in WA.

Criteria

Each finalist will be invited to present a technical paper on their research that demonstrates their contribution to research in software engineering. The prize is awarded to the finalist that demonstrates the most substantive contribution to new ideas and/or technologies in software engineering, and whose paper is of the highest standard.

Nominations

Nominations for the award are invited on an annual basis from each of the universities in WA. The award includes an engraved medal and cash.

Nominees are pre-selected to be finalists.

George Julius Medal - Mechanical College

The George Julius Medal is awarded for the paper selected by the Board of the College of Mechanical Engineers as the best in the discipline of mechanical engineering.

The Medal perpetuates the memory of Sir George Julius who practised in Sydney as a consulting engineer in the mechanical/electrical field. One of his best-known achievements was the automatic totalisator before the days of electronics.

From 1925-1940 he was Chairman of the Standards Association of Australia, and from 1926-1945 he was Chairman of CSIRO. Sir George Julius was a member of the inaugural Council of Engineers Australia. He remained a Councillor until 1939, and was President of Engineers Australia in 1925. He was awarded the Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal in 1927, and was elected an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia in 1943.

In 1976 this Medal replaced the Mechanical Engineering Prize, which had been established in 1955 and consisted of a certificate and cash.

Sir George Julius Medal

Nominations for 2017 will open in March 2017.

About this Award

(Category B - Open Awards)

In 1976 this medal replaced the Mechanical Engineering Prize, which had been established in 1955. The medal perpetuates the memory of Sir George Julius who practised in Sydney as a consulting engineer in the mechanical/electrical field. One of his best-known achievements was the automatic totalisator before the days of electronics. From 1925-1940 he was Chairman of the Standards Association of Australia, and from 1926 - 1945 he was Chairman of CSIRO.

Nomination Criteria

The medal is awarded to the author(s) of the publication in the field of mechanical engineering judged to be the best of those submitted for consideration. The publication may be for a paper, group of related papers, book or monograph. The award is normally made for work carried out in Australia.

Presentation of Award

The successful recipient(s) will be presented with a Bronze Medal and accompanying Certificate at an appropriate Engineers Australia Mechanical College event in their home state.

2016 Winners

'Minimising energy usage for domestic cooling with off-peak PCMstorage'
A/Prof Frank Bruno

Associate Professor Frank Bruno received his Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering with First Class Honours from the University of Adelaide in 1991, and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Australia in 1997.

After completing his PhD, he remained at the University of South Australia where he has been involved in research, consultancy and teaching in the areas of low energy buildings, air conditioning, thermal storage, refrigeration and solar thermal.

He has worked widely with industries and led various research programmes. An example is the national testing for evaluation of Seeley International’s innovative indirect evaporative cooling system (Climate Wizard), now commercialised.

Associate Professor Bruno established the Thermal Energy Storage Group at the University of South Australia. Under his leadership the Group has developed novel technology for low-cost energy storage. The team is engaged with partners spanning international research institutions, industry and government agencies. His focus has been on phase change material for thermal energy storage in applications such as heating and cooling in buildings, refrigeration and solar power.

Associate Professor Bruno led the research on novel approaches to designing and optimising storage systems using phase change materials. This work won the 2012 AIRAH Award for Excellence in Heating, Ventilation, Air conditioning and Refrigeration Research. He also led the development of a patented technology leading to inexpensive thermal storage, which recently won the 2015 ANSTO Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology. He has worked jointly with industry to commercialise his research on phase change materials for refrigeration.

Over his career Associate Professor Bruno has secured over $22M AUD of research funding from national and other competitive grants, government and industry. He has authored or co-authored over 130 refereed journal and conference papers, 70 Engineering Technical reports, 1 Book and 2 Book Chapters.

Dr. Martin Belusko

After graduating with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineer in 1997, Martin Belusko has been conducting industry focused research in the area of sustainable energy engineering, for nearly 20 years at the University of South Australia. He obtained his PhD in mechanical engineering in 2005, and is currently a Senior Research Fellow.

Dr. Martin Belusko specialises in the area of low energy buildings, low energy heating and cooling, thermal energy storage and integration of renewable energy. He has contributed to the areas of solar heating technology, insulation, air conditioning, concentrated solar power and energy storage using phase change materials (PCMs) in applications ranging from -30 to 700 deg. C. His approach is outcome and industry focused, having worked with a range of companies and government agencies.

His work affected residential house energy rating policy and been applied in Lochiel Park, Australia’s leading sustainable residential development. His activities have reached commercialisation including the development of a solar heating system, and an air conditioning ducting rating tool. His most significant achievement has been the commercialisation of his PCM thermal energy storage for refrigeration applications.

This novel thermal storage technology is capable of economically supporting on site renewable energy generation, specifically for the refrigeration sector. Today his focus is the commercial use of energy storage for renewable energy integration.

For his work in PCM energy storage he has been awarded the 2012 AIRAH Award for Excellence in Heating, Ventilation, Air conditioning and Refrigeration Research, and in 2015 the ANSTO Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology.

Dr. Nguan Hwee Steven, Tay

Dr. Steven Tay graduated with a PhD in February 2013 with the University of South Australia and has a significant amount of publications during his PhD candidature. The focus of his research during his PhD has been in the area of off-peak thermal energy storage system for refrigeration systems.

He was awarded a 3 years full-time post-doctoral fellowship from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) at the end of 2012. The postdoctoral fellowship allowed him to explore further the viability of using dynamic PCM on high temperature PCM thermal storage systems in concentrated solar power plants. The practical application of this research is to resolve the time mismatch between solar energy supply and electricity demand with an aim to reduce the cost of the electricity.

The technology that was developed during his PhD candidature has gained recognition from a commercial refrigeration company whose clientele includes independent supermarket groups, major medical and scientific institutions, horticulture producers, food manufacturers and handlers. This technology has since been commercialised and a demonstration system has been implemented.

This research has resulted in a patent (AU2013101456) and a license agreement has been entered. He was awarded the Excellence in Research Award from the Australian Institute for Refrigeration, Air conditioning and Heating in November 2012. In August 2015, this innovative technology has won him and his team the ANSTO Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology.

The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are the most comprehensive national science awards, honouring excellence in Research and Innovation, Leadership, Science Communication and Journalism, and School Science.

Category C - Specialty Open Awards

• The Rio Tinto Award - Chemical College
• Fluor Award - Chemical College
• ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions Medal and Prize - Chemical College
• National Professional Electrical Engineer of the Year – Electrical College
• R W Chapman Medal – Structural College

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Rio Tinto Award

Recognises outstanding applied Chemical Engineering in the field of mineral processing in a candidate below the age of 35.

Fluor Award

Recognises exceptional management and leadership talent that has directly resulted in a sustained corporate success over a significant period. It can include both line management and project management and can apply to either private or public sectors.

ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions Medal and Prize

Recognises practical services to the profession and to the practice of chemical engineering in Australia or New Zealand. Achievements may be in technical, marketing or management fields.

Recommendations for the award are made by the Awards of Excellence Selection Committee and presented at the annual Chemeca Conference.

View more details here

R W Chapman Medal - Structural College

This award is made annually for the paper selected by the Board of the College of Structural Engineers as the best on structural engineering.

The Medal perpetuates the memory of Sir Robert Chapman, a former Professor of Engineering at the University of Adelaide. He was a member of the inaugural Council of Engineers Australia and continued as a Councillor until 1927. He was Chairman of the former Adelaide Division in 1920 and was President of Engineers Australia in 1922.

Sir Chapman was awarded the Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal in 1928 and was elected an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia in 1942.

Criteria

For the purpose of this award, “structural engineering” refers to the design of structures to withstand all forces likely to be impressed on them, with the problems that arise in building them and with investigations made in an effort to improve the knowledge either of materials or of methods of design.

The structures may be framed ones, such as a steel bridge or aeroplane wing, or mass structures, such as a reservoir wall, and they may be either static, as in the case of a framed building, or designed for motion, as an aeroplane or a ship.

Engines, mechanisms and road pavements are specifically excluded.

The award is a bronze medal.

RW Chapman Medal

About this Award

(Category C - Awards related to sub-disciplines of engineering)

The medal was first awarded in 1935 and perpetuates the memory of Sir Robert Chapman, a former Professor of Engineering at the University of Adelaide and a member of the inaugural Council of the Institution. He was Chairman of the former Adelaide Division in 1920 and was President of the Institution in 1922.

Nomination Criteria

The medal is awarded for the paper satisfying the criteria in the previous calendar year. A learned paper submitted for this award must meet the following criteria:

1. Make a genuine attempt to share data.
2. Represent a realistic approach to the subject i.e. practically appropriate techniques.
3. Have at its core an important or neglected issue that could have wide application.
4. Be a sound technical development.
5. The recipient does not have to be an Engineers Australia member.

Presentation of Award

The winner receives framed medal and is presented at a special meeting or function of the College selected as appropriate by the Board of the College of Structural Engineering.

2015 Winners

Nguyen, T., Gad, E., Wilson, J. & Haritos for their paper "Mitigating footfall-induced vibration in long-span floors".

Category D - Awards to Graduate and Student Members

• The Kvaerner Design Prize - Chemical College
• Young Mechanical Engineer of the Year Award - Mechanical College
• Rod McGee Medal - Civil College

Kvaerner Design Prize

This annual award, presented at Chemeca in association with The Institution of Chemical Engineers, is for outstanding competence in a design project by a final year chemical engineering student.

The Prize is offered to all chemical engineering departments within Australian and New Zealand universities/institutes for the best design project that meets a number of guidelines.

The award consists of a framed certificate and a cheque for $3,000 courtesy of Kvaerner. Twelve months free membership, at graduate level, will be offered by both Institutions.

Young Mechanical Engineer of the Year Award

This Award, presented by the Board of Mechanical Engineers, recognises the achievements of young members of the mechanical engineering team and encourages them to value Continuing Professional Development and the attainment of Chartered Status within Engineers Australia.

The Award consists of a presentation at the national final of the Warman Design-and-Build Competition, and the opportunity to share with mechanical engineering undergraduates in attendance, their career and experiences in the field of mechanical engineering.

The winner also receives a framed certificate and a set of Vernier Callipers in an engraved box.

Young Mechanical Engineer of the Year Award

Nominations for 2017 will open in March 2017.

About this Award

(Category D - Awards to Graduate and Student Members)

The Award is conferred by the Board of the College of Mechanical Engineers to recognise the achievement and contribution of a young mechanical engineer, technologist or associate in the profession of mechanical engineering.

Specifically, the level to which the nominee has enhanced the public image of mechanical engineering and/or their contribution to the volunteer activities of Engineers Australia; and the excellence and commitment shown to Continuing Professional Development, in particular to the attainment of their Chartered Status.

Nomination Criteria

Nominations must include:

• 1-2 page summary outlining the achievements of the nominee in relation to contribution to and/or raising the public image of Mechanical Engineering and their demonstrated commitment towards professional development
• 2 referees

Terms and Conditions

Applicants must:

• be under the age of 35 at the time of the presentation of the award
• be a financial member of Engineers Australia

 

Presentation of Award

The award consisting of a framed certificate and a set of Vernier Callipers will be presented to the winner at the Mechanical Awards evening to be held at the end of September each year.

2016 Winner

Ms Barbara Lee Rendic

Barbara is a mechanical engineer, consultant, analyst and teacher with experience in engineering registration requirements, an RPEQ in Bulk Materials Handling - Coal Ports (which includes feasibility through to detail technical design, construction, legal claims, commissioning and closeout), working within related Australian and International standards.

Barbara is an advocate for Continuing Professional Development (CPD), an Engineering Registrations (CPEng / RPEQ) ambassador and mentor, and is currently the secretary of the Engineers Australia Queensland Division Innovation Committee, driving Engineering Innovation into the wider community.

Outside of her engineering work, Barbara is qualified at the rank of Captain (AAC) in the Australian Army Cadets, and was the Commanding Officer of 161 ACU Aviation, the only Army Aviation Cadet Unit in Australia. During this time, Barbara was invited to lecture engineering topics at Australian Air Force Cadet Aviation courses on numerous occasions.

Barbara’s community work extends to Lions Clubs International, where she is the Immediate Past (2015-2016) Club President, Past Cabinet Environmental Chairman, past Zone Chairman, and is a Melvin Jones Fellow.

A Bronze-winged RC fixed wing flyer, Barbara’s personal passions include innovation, renewable energy, defence, aviation, unmanned vehicles and transport (eg UAV, and driverless cars), medical/engineering, government policy and it is in her ultimate goal to be working in one or more of these areas.

 

Rod McGee Medal

Entry submissions will re-open in 2017.

About this Award

To recognise the contribution of Rod McGee to Australian public works engineering and durability, the Board of the College of Civil Engineers, Engineers Australia created the Rod McGee Medal. Click here to find out more about Rod McGee.

The Medal recognises and encourages engineering students to engage in career opportunities in public works engineering. One award will be offered each year to undergraduate students in their final year Civil Engineering.

Nomination Criteria

• The applicant for this award must submit two typed A4 pages in 12pt font:
  • One page outlining your understanding of how Rod McGee's engineering career helped his fellow citizens, through its recognition of durability in public works engineering; and
  • A second page describing your motivation of embarking on an engineering career, your final year project and how you imagine this work could benefit your fellow citizens in future.
• Applications are to be accompanied by a copy of academic record (transcript) to date
• Applicant to provide a written reference in support of the application from an appropriate academic staff member of the enrolling institution
• Applicant to provide a curriculum vitae detailing extra curricular activities and/or volunteer work

Terms and Conditions

• Applicant must be a final year, undergraduate student enrolled in Civil Engineering at an Australian University
• Applicant must be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident
• Applicants are to supply a passport style colour photograph with their entries to be used in publicity for the winner of the award

Presentation of Award

The winner of the Rod McGee medal will receive an engraved medallion, $2000 and a certificate conferred by Engineers Australia and be presented at an appropriate event.

2014 Winner

Mr Nicholas Werrett StudIEAust
The University of Newcastle

Nicholas is passionate about the role of engineers in improving society, especially through multidisciplinary collaboration. He experienced firsthand the contribution that engineers bring to communities in the summer of 2013/14 working at South Gippsland Water predominantly on the Alberton Sewerage Scheme.

In 2014 Nicholas was awarded the scholarship MADE by the Opera House and traveled to Denmark to work on a building design project hosted by COBE architects as part of a multidisciplinary team.

In 2015 Nicholas completed his final year project with the Sydney Opera House titled “A Proposed Framework for Recording Engineering Heritage”.

At the beginning 2016 Nicholas began work as a Graduate Engineer with Arup in Perth in the Building Structure’s team.

Category G - Divisional Awards and those Awards that do not rest with the previous categories

• Civil and Structural Branch Graduate Engineer Award - Civil and Structural Colleges
• College of Electrical Engineers Student Prizes - Electrical College

The Civil and Structural Branch Graduate Engineer Award

This Award of $250 is to be made to a graduate civil/structural engineer for the best conference paper, university research report or journal paper, published or presented between a 12-month period from August 1 each year.

The paper should be principally prepared by the graduate, who must work or reside in the Newcastle area, and be a graduate member of Engineers Australia.

The branch looks for original and innovative work in any civil/structural engineering area that will benefit the profession and the community.

College of Electrical Engineers Student Prizes

Implemented in 1990, these Student Prizes aim to raise the profile of Engineers Australia and the Electrical College within electrical engineering schools of tertiary institutions, to encourage students to become members.