The valuable role of Australian-based Sri Lankan engineers was celebrated recently at a gala dinner in Sydney, hosted by the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) NSW Chapter, a signatory to the Washington Accord.
Engineers Australia Sydney President Michael Myers OAM FIEAust CPEng EngExec NER highlighted the innovative, diverse and highly skilled contribution of the IESL NSW Chapter engineers.
“I was honoured to be part of the IESL Gala Dinner, supporting the contributions and achievements of a vital cohort of our engineering community: our engineers with oversees qualifications and background,” Dr Myers said. “This group of talented engineers brings innovative ideas, technologies and skills, which help Australia develop a competitive edge, and they are vital in generating new approaches to engineering and delivering exceptional projects that contribute to the economic development of Australia.”
The innovative and progressive projects celebrated at the gala dinner focused on ecological sustainability and the wellbeing of the community, including shock mats made of recycled tyre waste and a methodology for assessing bridges on road networks.
Engineers Australia International Manager Phoebe Tan said that participating in the seventh consecutive IESL event reinforces Engineers Australia’s vision and core strategies.
“Our involvement in the IESL Gala Dinner supports our strategic objective to be the ‘gateway to international engineering practice', and the event’s focus on ecological sustainability also upholds Engineers Australia’s vision to be the ‘global home for engineering professionals renowned as leaders in shaping a sustainable world.'” Ms Tan said.
The event was sponsored by NSW Public Works, University of Technology Sydney and Roads and Maritime Services and supported by Engineers Australia.
IESL NSW Chapter Secretary Amali Wickramasinghe MIEAust CPEng NER highlighted the commercial and collaborative value of government, industry, universities and Engineers Australia working together to celebrate the contribution of internationally educated and qualified engineers.
“We are always committed to working with government, industry and tertiary institutions to facilitate business opportunities between Australia and other countries,” Mrs Wickramasinghe said. “The IESL Gala Dinner, attended by over 250 engineers, provides a platform for industry experts, academia and invitees representing various collaborative organisations to network among fellow engineers and to strengthen mutually beneficial relationships with professionals and professional organisations.”
With over 400 engineers as members, the IESL NSW Chapter stands out as a vibrant migrant engineer community servicing NSW and the ACT.
IESL NSW Chapter President Ananda Herath MEng CEng MIE (SL) said that the challenges engineers have to overcome during their daily work were successfully addressed by the IESL award winners.
“Flexibility, adaptability and sustainability in a dynamic environment are the major challenges, as well as key strengths, of successful engineers today," Mr Herath said. "Engineers have to work with professionals of other disciplines as well as the industry partners to successfully deliver their services."
The following exceptional projects were selected as award finalists:
- ‘Methodology for assessing bridges on road network for freight vehicles’ by Adj. Professor Wije Ariyaratne FIEAust.
- ‘Equivalent-circuit models for efficient transmission and dispersion analyses of multi-state periodic structures’ by Professor Karu Esselle FIEAust and Dr Dush Thalakotuna.
- ‘Significant improvement in both low- and high-field performance of MgB2 superconductors through graphene oxide doping’ by Dr Sujeewa De Silva.
- ‘Shock mats made of recycled tyre waste to enhance the stability of ballasted rail track’ by Mr Sinniah Navaratnarajah.
- ‘Optimisation of stochastic deterioration models for bridges under incomplete inspection data using Bayesian inference-based approaches’ by Dr Niroshan Walgama.
Image: Distinguished guests at the IESL Gala Dinner: Engineers Australia National President 2013, Dr Marlene Kanga AM HonFIEAust CPEng NER APEC Engineer; President of the IESL, Mr Wimalasena Gamage BSc Eng CEng FIE(IESL) PGDEng Hydrology IHE(Delft) PGDM(OUSL); Engineers Australia Sydney President 2016, Dr Michael Myers OAM FIEAust CPEng EngExec NER; and, IESL NSW Chapter President, Mr Ananda Herath MEng CEng MIE(SL). Courtesy of IESL NSW Chapter.