Sydney Professional Engineer of the Year goes to former CEO of Cochlear Dr Chris Roberts Wednesday, 18 November 2015

A global leader in engineering took home the 2015 Professional Engineer of the Year award at the Engineers Australia NSW Showcase dinner on Friday, 6 November. Dr Chris Roberts, a remarkable engineer with over 37 years’ experience in international medical device businesses, has worked at the forefront of dialysis, pacemakers, respiratory and sleep medicine and now cochlear implants.

As the President and former CEO of Cochlear Limited, Dr Roberts was responsible for managing a global leader in solutions for the hearing impaired with 2,600 employees both in Australia and around the world. Since 2004, when he assumed this role, more than 170,000 people, young and old, have been given this gift of hearing.

Through his leadership, Cochlear has more than 100 research partners across the world.  The company invests approximately 13 per cent of its annual revenue in R&D.  In the last five years this amounts to more than $500million; a figure that would rank him as presiding over one of the largest research funds in Australia. His peers recognise his contributions to the profession globally.

Dr Roberts’ longstanding expertise in international medical device businesses is driven by technological innovation and saw him being awarded the 2003 Commonwealth Government’s Centenary Medal ‘for service to Australian society in innovative management and technological industries’.

He contributes his engineering expertise and experience as a member of the NSW Innovation and Productivity Council, the Business Council of Australia Innovation Taskforce, the UNSW Faculty of Medicine Advisory Council, Macquarie University Foundation Board of Patrons and the University of Technology Sydney Vice-Chancellor’s Industrial Advisory Board.

The judging panel of the award has commended Dr Roberts’s achievements mentioning “Chris unquestionably meets all criteria for judgment and award of Professional Engineer of the Year, Sydney Division and sets a standard for others to follow and be proud of. Chris will be a reliable ambassador for advancing the profession through Engineers Australia.”

Outside of engineering Chris is a quiet achiever, preferring to contribute in a private capacity. For charitable work, Chris formed the Roberts Family Foundation as a Private Ancillary Fund, supporting charities with a focus on women’s health and education issues.

View the full list of winners from Engineers Australia 2015 NSW Showcase Dinner.

Moving on to national level, Dr Roberts made Sydney proud by winning the National Professional Engineer of the year award announced by Engineers Australia on 20th November 2015.