A former National President of Engineers Australia is one of the engineers who has been recognised with Queen’s Birthday Awards honours this year.
Dr Marlene Kanga AO, Engineers Australia’s National President from 2013 to 2014 and President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations from 2017 to 2019, was recognised for “distinguished service to engineering, particularly as a global leader and role model to women, to professional organisations, and to business”.
Also recognised in the honours were Chartered Northern Territory Airports Aerodrome Safety and Standards Manager Robert Calaby for his service to aviation and Chartered engineer Shayne Kessey of Perth. Calaby was Engineering Associate of the Year for the Northern Division of Engineers Australia in 2006.
Chartered engineer Paul Bellas CPEng, who boasts decades of experience in Defence, was awarded a Bar to the Conspicuous Service Medal for “meritorious achievement in the reform of organisation management in the Australian Army”, while Chartered engineer Keith Bell CPEng, Engineering and Technical Support Manager at the University of Queensland, received an AM.
Engineers Australia National President Nick Fleming congratulated the awardees, saying the honours reflected the broad influence of engineering in the community.
“I commend these engineers for their exceptional contributions to Australia’s success,” he said.
“Engineers Australia is proud that its members and their achievements are receiving recognition fitting the importance of their work.”
A Chartered chemical engineer, Kanga is also director of video analytics company iOmniscient and non-executive director of Sydney Water Corporation, Air Services Australia, Standards Australia and BESydney. She was awarded Professional Engineer of the Year in 2018.
The second Australian and the second woman to lead the World Federation of Engineering Organizations, has spoken about the importance of diversity and innovation in the profession.
“Engineering is all about innovation,” she told create. “I always say to young people, ‘if you want to change the world, become an engineer’.”
She also made the announcement in her opening address at the 2019 World Engineers Convention in Melbourne, that 4 March would be celebrated as World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development.
“World Engineering Day is an opportunity to celebrate engineering and encourage young people to consider engineering as a career for a better world,” Kanga tweeted after the announcement.
Among Kanga’s professional achievements is her work in process safety engineering for hazardous industries.
“I drafted the first Land Use Safety Criteria for hazardous industries, which has been adopted in legislation in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, keeping millions safe,” she said.
View the full 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
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