Article written by Chris Stoltz FIEAust CPEng EngExec NER, President – Victoria, Engineers Australia.
In the few months since relocating to Melbourne’s Central Business District, our new premises has hosted a number of dignitaries, including the Governor of Victoria; the Chair of Infrastructure Australia; the CEO of McConnell Dowell; the CEO of Roads Australia; a former (Labor) Federal Minister for Defence Material and Science; and, most recently, the Prime Minister of Australia.
What has been most pleasing about these visitations is the fact that we, at Engineers Australia, have allowed the building, with its spectacular views, to showcase the work of engineers in shaping the World’s Most Liveable City.
I have overheard many a conversation among our members boasting about their connection to one landmark or the other. That is to be encouraged! Our members should feel proud about what they do, and I encourage all of you to take advantage of the office, by bringing your friends and family here to see the fruits of your labour.
During the first half of 2016, we have set quite a pace, meeting with a number of engineering leaders to promote the Engineers Australia brand, and elicit their support in our conversations with the government on such things as the registration of engineers and the provision for Chartered engineers to sign Statutory Declarations.
A very recent example of this collaboration happened in late June, when Engineers Australia hosted the Melbourne launch of Latrobe City Council’s Economic Development Strategy, which articulated Council’s ambition to become the engineering capital of Australia.
We pledged our support to Council because of their long history of innovation and the desire to put engineering at the core of their economic development strategy for the next four years. I encourage all councils to look at this strategy and see how it can be replicated to create jobs and boost the local economy.
A week ago, CEO Stephen Durkin FIEAust CPEng EngExec NER APEC Engineer provided staff an update of the organisation, noting his optimism for the future of Engineers Australia, after recording a surplus for the 2015/16 financial year. His message to staff was to reassure them that our strategy of engagement with all of our major stakeholders was to continually build our brand for being the ‘trusted’ voice of the profession.
The activities that I and the leadership group undertake in Victoria are very much aligned to Engineers Australia’s national agenda. Strengthening the brand and expanding our reach is what members want and what we intend to deliver.