Engineers contributing to our every-day lives have been recognised in the announcement of the 2015 Canberra Individual Awards, with winners in both the Young Professional Engineer and Professional Engineer categories.
Canberra’s 2015 Young Professional Engineer is Mr Anil Kumar, whose work on various water security upgrade projects ensures that there is a continuous supply of the highest standard drinking water across Canberra’s water reservoirs. Canberra's Professional Engineer of the Year, Mr Ambarish Natu has been involved in something many of us use regularly but don’t think about – the protocols that define the humble JPEG image.
In announcing the awards, the judging panel acknowledged that both individuals contribute outside their regular employment working with students, young engineers and industry to foster involvement in the engineering profession.
Canberra Young Professional Engineer of the Year –Anil Kumar
Anil is a young electrical engineer working with Downer Utilities and Icon Water Alliance. The judging panel described Anil as a passionate, innovative, dynamic young engineer with a strong understanding and commitment to workplace health and safety standards both in Australia and overseas.
‘Anil has a strong ability to respond positively to constructive criticism and use his varied experiences to help encourage and support other young engineers, both in the workplace and as part of the larger engineering community. Extremely determined to improve the wellbeing of the community, he has used his engineering expertise to the benefit of various residences of Canberra and the wider region.’ The judges commented.
In addition to his current role working on water treatment infrastructure at Googong Dam and Mount Stromlo, Anil has volunteered at the annual Engineering Games for the past two years, is an active member of the Young Engineers Canberra Division and on the committee of the Canberra Division’s Information, Telecommunications, Electronics & Electrical Branch.
Recently Anil led a significant fundraising project at Downer Utilities and Icon Water Alliance in support of the victims of the Nepal Earthquakes.
Canberra Professional Engineer of the Year - Ambarish Natu
Ambarish’s diverse experience includes innovation of new technologies, managing technology direction in product development teams, international standards and driving product development based on International Standards.
Since 2003 he has attracted wide recognition across the Australian engineering community and International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) for his voluntary contribution to the development of five International Standards under the JPEG Committee. This recognition has most recently been evident in his receipt of the Neville Theile Eminence Award a national award for excellence in Electronic Engineering.
Ambarish is a chartered professional engineer and Fellow member of Engineers Australia.
In announcing the award the judges commented; ‘Ambarish is a well-developed all-round engineer who uses his wealth of knowledge to the benefit of engineers and the wider community as part of the federal public service. His innovative work on the JPEG standard as part of Standards Australia and the International Standards Committee has demonstrated his commitment to the ongoing development and social responsibility all engineers should embody on behalf of the industry. Ambarish has demonstrated an on-going drive to further promote the role of engineers in the public service while leading by example and helping young engineers develop their full potential’.
Both winners will now represent the ACT at the national Engineers Australia awards to be announced later this year.