As the year draws to a close, Engineers Australia Northern Division would like to take a moment to express thanks to our members for your continued support. This will be the last edition of Engineering News for 2024. This is a great time to reflect on the achievements of our members and committee groups in 2024, and your contributions to the engineering profession and community. 

This year, our focus has been on elevating the profile of engineers in the NT, ensuring they have a voice in critical issues facing the Territory.  

Jacinta Kelly, Northern Division President said from contributing to consultation on the Territory Coordinator Bill, to placing our members in seven different government policy working groups and statutory bodies, we’ve used the wealth of incredible talent within our local membership.  

“This commitment to harnessing our local talent to have a voice in Territory policy will continue into 2025.”  

As an Engineers Australia member you are at the heart of the work we do to create positive, sustainable change that has an impact on the Territory. We’d like to thank you for the invaluable insight you’ve provided across the year in these growing initiatives.   

Ahead of the NT election, we engaged with CLP and Labour on key member issues. We have since initiated regular meetings with the new Ministers to address workforce shortages, visa and immigration issues, the Territory Coordinator Bill, the lack of a Territory STEM strategy and measures to help industry grow and support the engineering talent pipeline.   

Our working groups on energy security, water security and buildings are continuing to establish themselves as forums for collaboration on the strategic issues facing the Territory.  

Raising our profile also means recognising our own for their achievements. This year, we hosted more than 40 events, including a memorable Awards night honouring Erwin Chan (Professional Engineer), Georgina Catto-Smith, (Emerging Young Professional) and Power Water’s Katherine PFAS Water Treatment Plant (Project Award).   

One of our members, Associate Professor Sabaratnam Prathapan OAM, was awarded an Order of Australia Medal and an Honorary Fellowship for his enduring contribution to education and community service here in the Territory. Congratulations Prath! 

We welcomed two members as new Fellows, David Kirkpatrick and Alan Chambers – David also achieved EngExec. We also celebrated 31 new Chartered engineers here in the Territory. Congratulations to you all.   

In June, we hosted the Engineers Australia Board and Executive and had the opportunity to showcase several engineering excellence highlights in Darwin, including the work of our CDU researchers and projects on our Harbour including the Darwin Port and Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct. The Board’s highlight was the International Women in Engineering Day celebration hosted by our Women in Engineering Committee on the lawn at Parliament House, celebrating our wonderful female engineers. 

We have members across the NT and this year we have welcomed some fresh faces to the Alice Springs Regional Group and a renewed energy in the centre to reignite this regional group.  

In December, we thank Jacinta Kelly as her term as Northern Division President ends. Jacinta has led the Northern Division through some significant changes and been a tireless advocate for engineers both in the NT and nationally through the President’s Forum. We warmly welcome Simon Flowers to the President role in 2025. Simon will continue to represent the Northern Division on Congress.  

Keep an eye out for some key events in early 2025.  We’ll have a welcome to the engineering community, Ignite Kick-off, on 27 February. 

On April 3, we are holding an inaugural Territory Engineering Day which will be a strategic infrastructure leadership conference bringing together industry experts, academics and community stakeholders to address the unique engineering challenges and opportunities facing the Northern Territory. This year’s theme is, "Building resilience and innovating solutions for Northern challenges". 

Put both of these dates in your diaries. 

Engineers Australia’s holiday shutdown period will run from 20 December 2024 to 3 January 2025 inclusive. 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 2025.