CEO Update – Global rEAch Dec 2014 Friday, 12 December 2014

We have just wrapped up the highlight of the year, Convention 2014: Our Voice. Our Future. Over five exhilarating days, engineers and business leaders congregated in Melbourne to hear from world-class speakers and to be inspired and challenged.

Our first Convention has strengthened our reputation on the world engineering stage, bringing Australian engineering to the forefront of business leadership. Across the week, we heard from global business leaders, political figures, sporting heroes, astronauts and of course, the boldest and most visionary engineers. We learnt the powerful role that engineering has played in the development of key industries and economies around the world.

Most importantly, the week has further highlighted to me the importance of developing and strengthening relationships with international partners, as globalisation becomes the norm, rather than the exception. Australian engineers are renowned around the world and a stronger external profile will be a major area of focus for Engineers Australia in 2015. This includes facilitating an exchange of learning, development and skills between Australia and other key international economies.

At Convention, we had the privilege of hosting Er. Marwan Abdelhamid, President of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO). Er. Abdelhamid is a renowned engineer who has served as an advisor to multiple European and Middle Eastern governments and now leads the strategic direction of WFEO, an organisation where over 90 countries are represented. Part of the purpose of Er. Abdelhamid’s visit to Convention was to prepare for the World Engineering Congress in 2019, which Engineers Australia will be hosting for the first time. Convention is a fantastic platform which we will build upon leading up to WEC 2019.

During the week I had the opportunity to meet with representatives from other engineering organisations, including the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand, the Board of Engineers Malaysia, the Institute of Chemical Engineers, Hong Kong Institute of Engineers and the Institute of Structural Engineers. During these conversations, I reiterated Engineers Australia’s commitment to collaborate with kindred bodies, invest in engineering capability and share a combined voice for the engineering profession globally.

It is an exciting time for engineers, as governments and industry recognise the immense potential that our profession holds to shape and lead the future of nations. I encourage you to be a part of the EA story by watching and sharing this video which outlines our commitment to the profession and vision for the future: https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/about-us.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

 

Stephen Durkin FIEAust

CEO, Engineers Australia