“If you don’t promote yourself nobody else will.”
“If you don’t promote yourself nobody else will.”
This is the phrase that many of us have heard in our own careers, often after a significant engineering achievement that we have taken pride in but not celebrated. Humility is often the curse of the engineering profession when we ensure critical projects, such as reliable power, clean water, efficient transportation are all delivered, while the community at large don’t have any idea of the challenges faced by or even the role of the engineer in that achievement.
Australian Engineering Week in the first week of August is the chance for our profession to showcase our achievements and contribution to our communities. During Engineering week this year we had a great range of events aimed at engaging with the public and explaining the role of engineers. It is a chance to be “Loud and Proud” of our profession, to promote engineering and to engage with the community. This year 29 events were held during Australian Engineering Week in Queensland.
One of the flagship events of Engineering week was Canstruction, where teams construct sculptures made from cans of food. Canstruction events were held in Brisbane, Gladstone and Mackay. It was a fun way for our members to engage with the community and the cans were donated to charities at the end of each event. The Brisbane event received over 1500 votes, indicating what a strong presence it had in capturing people’s interest.
Outside Engineering Week the other major engineering event of the year is the Queensland Engineering Excellence awards, to be held on the 13th September. While nominations for this are now closed, with 50 project and individual nominations received, tickets are still on sale. I encourage you to come along to the professions night of nights, recognise the achievements of our profession and have an enjoyable evening with your colleagues.
Engineers Australia will continue to shamelessly promote the valuable contribution to modern society made by the engineering profession. Although it is not often in out nature, can I encourage you to do the same, and to be proud of your role and professional achievements.
I thank-you again for your continued support of your profession and of Engineers Australia Queensland, now go out and be Loud and Proud about it!!!
Blake E. Harvey MIEAust CPEng
2014 Queensland President
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