Welcome to the last edition of Engineering News for 2022. As we wrap up for the end of the year, Engineers Australia would like to thank our ACT members for your continued support. We’d like to take the chance now to look back the achievements of our Canberra members and committee groups in 2022, and their contributions to the engineering profession and community. 

This has been a busy year featuring regular and meaningful engagement with ACT Government, leading to significant outcomes for the engineering and broader community in Canberra. We also had many more chances to come together again for networking, CPD opportunities and to celebrate the achievements of our profession. 

Caitlin Buttress, ACT General Manager says she is thrilled to have joined Engineers Australia as the ACT Division’s General Manager in 2022, to work with this extraordinary membership base in Canberra.

“I am grateful for the dedication and commitment of our members who have worked hard this year to deliver some incredible outcomes for engineering. We have strengthened our relationships with industry and government through our extensive engagement work in 2022. This work has put us in good stead for next year, to secure Engineers Australia as a leading and trusted voice in Canberra’s industry and an ambassador for safety and quality in our region.”

Engineers Australia would like to extend a huge thank you to members for being a part of the progress we’ve made this year. Particular thanks to our incredible Office Bearer community in Canberra who work tirelessly above their day-to-day jobs to give back to the profession.

Thank you to this year’s outgoing President, Dr Therese Flapper, whose commitment and leadership during her tenure have been invaluable to Engineers Australia and its members.

Therese says it has been a busy year with an outstanding end being the Bill tabled for engineering registration in the ACT.

"We actively talked with the ACT Government on skilled migration, the planning Bill, COVID response and the impacts on the construction sector and engineering. We held numerous CPD events and adapted to online and other forms of engagement and communications," she says.

"We look forward to a jam packed year with you in 2023 under the Presidency of Catherine Galvin as my term now comes to an end. Thanks to everyone around Engineers Australia and engineering on the ground for their support and activism during 2022."

One of our most notable achievements in 2022 was the reinstating of mechanical engineering on the ACT Critical Skills List. Skilled migrant mechanical engineers will now be able to apply for a Skilled Work Regional Visa, subclass 491, after Engineers Australia advocated to the ACT Government.

We have also been meeting regularly with ACT Government, ACT Chief Engineer Adrian Piani and other industry stakeholders during the development of the ACT Engineer Registration Scheme. After many months of consultation, the Bill was introduced to the Legislative Assembly on 1 December. Engineers Australia was a major stakeholder in the development for this first phase and will continue to consult with government next year, advocating for best practice as regulations are developed and implemented.

In November, we relaunched our flagship event the Butters Oration. This year’s keynote speech was given at the National Press Club of Australia, by none other than Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Cathy Foley AO. Dr Foley’s words were inspirational and challenging. She left powerful calls-to-action for those in the room and more broadly among the engineering and science industries.

Dr Foley's words on workforce diversity were particularly poignant, she said “think deeply and honestly about your workforce. Consider the proportion of women. Consider whether you have women of all ages, and whether women are equally represented at different levels of the organisation. Take a hard look at rates of pay. And then ask yourself why the disparities exist and how you can close the gap. Understand that this means meeting women on their own terms, especially while they are caring for children. This isn’t charity. It’s not only a question of equity. This is absolutely about the success of your organisation into the future.”

This year we launched the Canberra Division Mentoring Program in November. We also began work on a STEM program, due to kick off next year, which will involve schools visiting several engineering workplaces in Engineering Week, 19-25 February 2023.

We celebrated the ACT Engineers Australia Excellence Awards in August and the national awards in October. We were so proud to see Canberra take out a couple of the top awards. Congratulations to our 2022 Award winners:

• Electrical College and ITEE College - M A Sargent Medal winner, Lachlan Blackhall
• ACT Young Professional Engineer of the Year, Bryce Cronin
• National Engineering Technologist of the Year, Nicholas Clarke MBE CSC
• ACT Project of the Year, evolve: smart software for the orchestration of 21st century electricity systems, by ANU and Zepben

We are already planning for a busy and exciting 2023, kicking off with Engineering Week in February in which we will run STEM school and workplace visits, site tours, and more.

With the introduction of ACT Engineer Registration coming in mid-2023 as well, we will be consulting regularly with ACT Government to advocate for a best practice system and will keep members informed of the developments.

Engineers Australia’s holiday shutdown period will run from Monday 19 December 2022 to Friday 13 January 2023. During this time our office will be closed and there will not be any events held.  

We wish you all the best over the holiday period and into 2023.