1www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa

South AuStrAliAEnginEEringSouth AuStrAliA

www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa

July 2011

Bob Clisby FIEAust CPEng receiving his certificate recognising 60 years membership from Acting Chief Executive

Rupert Grayston FIEAust CPEng and South Australia Division Deputy President Gerry Doyle MIEAust CPEng

EnginEEring South AuStrAliA1

I am sure that most of you are, like me, disillusioned with the low level of debate and leadership being demonstrated by our federal political leaders. It is no surprise that the leaders of both of our main political parties have such low levels of public approval in the numerous polls reported in our mainstream media. It is no use blaming the media for the current state of play in the political arena. Our elected politicians are accountable for their own performance. We are blessed with resources and wealth, which should be used to create a better future for all Australians, and our political leaders need to show the leadership and

commitment to articulating a vision for Australia as a successful and caring country.

Many of you will have seen the annual feature in the June 2011 edition of the national Engineers Australia magazine on the Top 100 “Australia’s most influential engineers”. Only 2 out of the 100 were in politics – Bill Marmion, Minister for Environment and Water in the Western Australian government; and Greg Combet, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency in the federal government. Yet as the article clearly demonstrates, engineers make outstanding leaders, and make outstanding leadership contributions to our society.

I think the time has come for us to be prepared to stand up and be counted for what we believe in and I exhort all of you to become engaged with Engineers Australia and contribute to influencing the debate on crucial issue facing the country. And there are many, such as energy policy and climate change, migration including asylum seekers, population policy, sustainability, wealth creation for Australians from the current surge in mining and resources activity, to name but a few.

Some of you would have had the privilege to hear Steve Ludlam FREng FIEAust, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, ASC, and Andrew Fletcher FIEAust CPEng Chief Executive, Defence SA, speak at the recent Pathways to Leadership breakfast event held by Engineers Australia on 22nd June 2011. Steve and Andrew are role models for engineers who are prepared to take leadership positions and to be accountable for achieving success. I hope you will take the opportunity to attend future similar events and be inspired in your own careers.

Next year South Australia is also hosting the biannual national engineering leadership conference from 30th May to 2nd June 2012. This conference is expected to attract over 600 delegates and will have keynote contributions by senior engineering leaders from overseas as well as Australia. I encourage you to find out more by visiting the conference website www.elc2012.org.

You may have also noticed the full page advertisement on page 49 in the same June edition of the national Engineers Australia magazine encouraging our members to seek accreditation as an Engineering Executive (EngExec). This level 3 certification was specifically introduced to cater for engineers seeking to develop their careers in a leadership capacity, and is typically available to engineers with at least 10-15+ years of professional experience. I encourage you to find out more about this certification by visiting www.engineersaustralia.org.au/eng_exec.

By the time this newsletter reaches you we will have seen the successful conclusion of the 15th International Conference for Women in Engineering and Science, which was held from 19th-22nd July 2011. 17% of engineering students are women yet less than 10% of the engineering workforce are women. This appalling loss of talent and skill from our profession is a major challenge for engineering businesses throughout the country, at a time when engineering skills are in very short supply, and crucial to the continuing growth in prosperity of our country. Congratulations to Engineers Australia National Committee for Women in Engineering for organising an outstanding conference on a topic of major importance to our profession.

Dr David Cruickshanks-Boyd FIEAust EngExec President Engineers Australia South Australia Division

Contents

Division exeCutives

sponsors

President Dr David Cruickshanks-Boyd FIEAust EngExec

Deputy President Gerry Doyle MIEAust CPEng

Immediate Past President Doug Gillott FIEAust CPEng

Executive DirectorCaroline Argent

Deputy DirectorSarah CareyProduced ByEngineers Australia South Australia Division

Level 11, 108 King William Street Adelaide South Australia 5000 tel 08 8202 7100 fax 08 8211 7702 www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa

President’s Message

Australian Engineering Week

Division Elections

News

Division Updates

Upcoming Events

1

2

3

4-6

7-10

11

presiDent’s message

Division Partner

Division Supporters

2www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa

WHAT’S ON?There are more events to come!

Monday 1st August 2011

Guest Speaker: Neil Greet

Ian Wark Research Institute

City of Salisbury - Greenfields Wetland

Australian Plant Phenomics Facility

Tuesday 2nd August 2011

ETSA Utilities

Coopers Brewery

Student Careers Night

Wednesday 3rd August 2011

AdelaideAqua - Desalination Plant

Coopers Brewery

CELM and YEA Transitions in Leadership Breakfast

Thursday 4th August 2011

AdelaideAqua - Desalination Plant

City of Salisbury - Greenfields Wetland

Australian Plant Phenomics Facility

Friday 5th - Sunday 7th August 2011

Science Alive!

Australian Engineering Week (AEW) is a public awareness and education campaign that aims to highlight the role and achievements of the

engineering profession in Australia, and to promote engineering as the career of choice.

Working towards these aims will benefit the entire engineering profession.

Engineers influence all aspects of our lives – they are the people in the team that make it

happen. Australian Engineering Week provides an opportunity for the community to see just how

important engineers are to us all. The engineering team is well educated, bringing intelligence and

vision to bear, to create products and environments for people.

Australian Engineering Week will be held from 1st - 7th August 2011. Members, students and the general

community are invited to participate and see how engineers have improved our quality of life. With

the help of our supporters, a number of events will be held, with the inclusion of Science Alive! over

the weekend. We hope that you will be able to participate in some of the events on offer in 2011.

Dr David Cruickshanks-Boyd FIEAust EngExecPresident

Engineers Australia, South Australia Division

Keep an eye out on all the upcoming events and register online by visiting the South Australian Division

section of the 2011 AEW website:

www.engineersaustralia.org.au/aew/divisions/sa

For further enquiries please contact Events Coordinator Sharryn Fensom

P: 8202 7140 or E: sfensom@engineersaustralia.org.au

Proudly sponsored by:

EnginEEring South AuStrAliA3

South Australia Division CommitteeSix elected positions exist on the Division Committee for a one year term.

2012

College BoardsVacancies exist for South Australia Division members on the following College Boards for a two year term.

Chemical Mechanical

2012-2013Nominees, proposers and seconders shall be members or affiliates of the relevant college.

south australia Division eleCtions open

In accordance with Royal Charter By-Laws and Division Regulations, Engineers Australia South Australia Division calls for nominations for the positions below. All participants in the election process shall be members of the Division. A ballot will be held for positions contested by more than one candidate.

Registration for the 16th Engineering Heritage Australia Conference in Hobart in November 2011 is now open. Full details are on the website www.cdesign.com.au/ehac2011 where the registration brochure, registration form and on-line registration are all available.

16th engineering heritage ConferenCe

4www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa

run for a Cause

Engineers Australia South Australia Division will be participating in the Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run on the 18th September 2011 to raise funds for the humanitarian organisation Engineers Without Borders (EWB) as part of the 2011 Year of Humanitarian Engineering.

EWB works in partnership with developing communities, both within Australia and overseas. Their focus is on developing the capacity of the local technical sector through small scale, grassroots engineering programs to ensure that innovative, appropriate and sustainable solutions to issues that impede development are locally generated and driven. Some common issues facing the communities they work with include access to drinking water, sanitation, energy, basic infrastructure, waste systems, information communication technology and engineering education.

We would like to invite all members interested in showing off their fitness for a good cause to join us on the day for the 12km, 6km or 3km options. This is a chance to get out in the community and raise the profile of engineers while promoting an exceptional cause.

Registration is available through the South Australia Division website Events section (www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa/events). Registration is $55.00 for 12 and 6km runners and walkers, and $49 for 3km runners and walkers which includes your registration fee, a hat and a donation to Engineers Without Borders. Colleagues, friends, family and anyone else not running will be able to sponsor the team and contribute to EWB’s exceptional work via online donations.

For any enquiries please contact Events Coordinator Sharryn Fensom via sfensom@engineersaustralia.org.au or by calling 08 8202 7140.

South Australia Division

KBR has secured SA Water’s Project Management and Procurement (PMP) Contract for the next five years.

SA Water Chief Executive John Ringham and Board Director Sybella Blencowe today joined KBR Company Director Patrick Saunders and Secretary Rosie Bolingbroke to sign the contract, which began from 1st July 2011.

SA Water Chief Executive John Ringham says the initial 5-year deal was the second major contract to be announced as part of the new Metropolitan Adelaide Service Delivery model for Adelaide’s water supply and would see improved delivery, flexibility and better value for money on our projects.

“KBR will now be charged with the project management and procurement processes which are vital to maintain and improve service to our customers across the metropolitan area,” Mr Ringham said.

“The contract will see KBR take on the bulk of our capital works program with projects ranging from $500,000 to $11 million in value.

“With capital works other than equipment replacements and similar now separated from the O&M contract I am confident this new arrangement will provide SA Water with improved delivery and value for money.

“The new PMP structure will provide SA Water with more flexibility to tailor procurement arrangements for specific project packages.

“Under the contract, KBR will also provide construction management services as required.

“I look forward to working closely with KBR over the next five years to deliver the best outcomes for our customers.”

Mr Ringham said this was a separate contract to the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contract which was awarded to AllWater in February 2011.

“Under existing arrangements, the metropolitan operations contractor is responsible for all capital works across Adelaide, however this will change from 1st July 2011 as the new PMP and O&M contracts take over,” Mr Ringham said.

KBR will use SA Water’s panels for design, construction and other services and SA Water will determine how projects worth more than $11 million are delivered.

On 9th February 2011 the State Government announced the Allwater Consortium would manage Adelaide’s water and wastewater networks for the next 10 years. This contract began on 1st July 2011 when the current contract with United Water ended.

SA Water

KBr to manage aDelaiDe Water proJeCts for five years

The Bolivar High Salinity Project, a previous example of SA Water and KBR collaboration.

EnginEEring South AuStrAliA5

INSPIRE the world’s best teams to CREATE innovative solutions for physical assets that ENHANCE our communities for future generations.

Apply online at www.pbworld.com

Senior or principal civil engineers – join us to create the Cities of the Future.

B17

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At Parsons Brinckerhoff our engineers and planners are putting ideas such as ‘Think Globally-Act Locally’ into practice.

Our vision is to be a positive influence on the quality of life in the communities we serve around the world through the design, construction management, operation and maintenance of infrastructure. Every day, our people are enthusiastically seeking new ways to develop infrastructure that is not only safe and reliable, but also conserves resources, protects and enhances the natural environment, and promotes social and economic vitality.

On community development projects, we integrate land use and public transport to create vibrant, liveable communities. On transport projects, we incorporate energy-saving features into transport infrastructure, develop context-sensitive designs so major roads can co-exist with the human and natural environment, and apply construction techniques to salvage and re-use existing materials. We are also a leading organisation in renewable energy projects (wind, solar and geothermal), and in efforts to reduce the environmental impact of conventional power plants.

For example, our people designed the first railway bridges in the world to be made of recycled plastic material, in Virginia, USA. In England, Parsons Brinckerhoff is developing renewable energy solutions to enable 10,000 homes and 600,000 square meters of commercial space to be zero-carbon. In Tianjin, China, we are working on the design for the 700,000-square-metre Eco-City Commercial Centre, conceived as a working model of sustainable development. Closer to home, the Australian government has recently engaged Parsons Brinckerhoff to provide advice on

the risks and impacts of climate change on national infrastructure.

In South Australia, we were part of the team which recently completed the Master Plan for the SA Government for the showcase Bowden Urban Village; a project which won the 2010 Minister’s Award for Planning Excellence. It articulates a strategic vision for a mixed use, transport orientated development that will be delivered over the next 10-15 years.

Parsons Brinckerhoff is also currently working on another major project for the SA Government, the Tonsley Park redevelopment, in conjunction with Woods Bagot and KPMG. The objective is to develop a centre for sustainable technologies and environmental industries, advanced manufacturing, education, and research and development, on the former Mitsubishi Motors manufacturing site.

At Parsons Brinckerhoff we have found that public and private clients are increasingly interested in creating cities of the future. We will continue to challenge the status quo to help create cities which enhance the quality of life for their communities.

parsons BrinCKerhoff Creating Cities of the future

Shenyang Vegetable And Seafood Logistics Park

conceptual plan in Liaonig Province China

6www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa

The Aurecon Speakers Club, held fortnightly in Aurecon’s Adelaide office, supports the development of public speaking skills for its employees. “The club assists us to develop our public speaking and professional presentation skills in a safe environment. It encourages us to take risks and to practice our public speaking skills as we learn strategies for making an impact when presenting internally or to clients” says Aurecon Electrical Engineer Peter Giannini.

With an initial six session program focusing on creating confidence and persuasive communication, the club is open to all employees brave enough to test their public speaking skills. The club meetings provide participants the opportunity to present both prepared and impromptu speeches on a variety of both technical and non-technical topics.

Aurecon, Learning and Development Consultant, David Barnett, said “The key part of the club is the opportunity it provides participants to receive feedback from fellow club members. Practicing and receiving feedback from others on your public speaking

produces great results and by default, participants also gain confidence in giving others constructive feedback”.

Speaker’s club participant Fay Nunn, a Senior Electrical Engineer, commented “I have become a more confident speaker – having gained tips on use of voice tone, preparation, and how to look and sound confident. I love the constructive feedback we receive after each speech”.

Aurecon

aureCon speaKers CluB Delivers great presentations

Participants at a recent Speakers Club meeting

With the Australian economy struggling to address the current and future skills shortage, the bridge between university graduation and employment outcomes just got stronger. Adelaide based Living Career, a leading provider of Australian workplace skills to international university graduates including the Engineers Australia Professional Year Program, can now offer the services of a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). Living Career has undergone rigorous assessment by DFEEST to become an RTO, able to offer the Certificate IV program in Business, which is tailored to bridge that gap between international university graduates and employment outcomes. Eleanor Pannall of Living Career said the package of training now available to graduates and employers will help to reduce the skill shortage by retaining a greater percentage of international students who have completed their university studies in Australia and would like to contribute to local companies.

Eleanor Pannall Director Living Career Pty Ltd

living Career pty ltD Doing more for loCal employers anD university graDuates

Living Career Director Eleanor Pannall with two students.

Engineers Australia has been named the winner of a national award for our 2009/10 Annual Report - specifically the award was the Online Reporting Award - Not for Profit Sector. It was awarded by the Australasian Reporting Awards Association (ARA) at a gala event in Melbourne on 9th June 2011.

Strategically it says a lot about the capability Engineers Australia now has to use the website to communicate clearly and effectively with our many stakeholders. It is also worth noting that we have significantly reduced our print run, project carbon footprint, and in so doing internalised costs without compromising the outcome - quite the opposite in fact!

I encourage you to explore the online Engineers Australia 2009/10 Annual Report (click on the tabs at the top to see the depth of information) at www.engineersaustralia.org.au/annualreport

Rupert Grayston FIEAust CPEng Acting Chief ExecutiveEngineers Australia

australasian reporting aWarDs 2011 - engineers australia Claims national

aWarD for its annual report

EnginEEring South AuStrAliA7

aCting Chief exeCutive visitsEngineers Australia’s Acting Chief Executive Rupert Grayston FIEAust CPEng visited the South Australia Division on the 15th June 2011.

While in South Australia he met with the South Australia Division Committee and staff to provide an update on current direction and projects underway within the organisation. He also took the opportunity to attend the Retired Engineers Group Luncheon and present a certificate recognising member Bob Clisby’s FIEAust CPEng 60 years of membership with Engineers Australia.

Our thanks to Rupert for taking the time from his hectic schedule to visit the South Australia Division.

Engineers Australia South Australia Division

yea event upDate

That’s right, you heard it, the Young Engineers Australia South Australia Group (YEA-SA) Lamb-on-Spit was yet again a complete success! With a waiting time of over 1 hour once cutting of the lamb commenced, students and staff members couldn’t wait to sink their teeth into this year’s Lamb-on-Spit, put on by UniSA Campus Coordinator Paul Koufalakis. With over 100 students and staff members turning up to have a taste, it was the most successful BBQ held at the university to date!

Representatives from industry and Engineers Australia were also on hand to discuss any enquiries that came up and distribute copies of the Undergraduate and Graduate Handbook for 2011. The remaining stocks of the Handbook were exhausted quickly to a popular reception. We would like to thank all the student volunteers who assisted in preparing and serving during the event and who helped to make it such a success.

Paul Koufalakis StudIEAust University of South Australia Campus Coordinator Engineers Australia South Australia Division

UniSA Campus Coordinator

Paul Koufalakis StudIEAust (left)

with a helping hand from

Engineers Australia member Con Gatis StudIEAust (right)

Left: Acting Chief Executive Rupert Grayston FIEAust CPEng with Division President Dr David

Cruickshanks-Boyd FIEAust EngExec

Right: Acting Chief Executive Rupert Grayston FIEAust

CPEng with Division Deputy President Gerry Doyle

MIEAust CPEng

pathWays to leaDership BreaKfast

In 2012 the Engineering Leadership Conference will be held in Adelaide from Wednesday 30th May to Saturday 2nd June 2011. In the lead up to this conference the Centre for Engineering Leadership and Management (CELM) and Young Engineers Australia (YEA) have teamed up to host a series of four thought-provoking seminars in 2011 and early 2012.

The first of these, a breakfast covering the topic Pathways to Leadership, was held on the morning of Wednesday 22nd June 2011 at the Adelaide Pavilion. Over 100 guests attended and enjoyed the presentations delivered by Steve Ludlam FREng FIEAust, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ASC, and Andrew Fletcher FIEAust CPEng, Chief Executive of Defence SA.

Following the presentations further information was drawn out of the highly regarded speakers during a panel discussion, facilitated by Heath Colebatch of Business and Risk Solutions.

Those who attended received an insight into what makes a leader and how to become one in their chosen field.

The second seminar in the lead up to 2012 conference will be held Wednesday 3rd August 2011 as part of the 2011 Australian Engineering Week. We hope to see a great turn out from the members.

Sharryn Fensom Events Coordinator Engineers Australia South Australia Division

Top: Division President Dr David Cruickshanks Boyd FIEAust EngExec with (left to right) Heath Colebatch, Steve Ludlam

FREng FIEAust and Andrew Fletcher FIEAust CPEng

Right: Steve Ludlam FREng FIEAust and

Andrew Fletcher FIEAust CPEng

answering panel questions.

8www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa

David Pawsey MIEAust CPEng was born David Christian Pawsey to Charles Joseph and Hilda Winifred Pawsey in Melbourne in 1920. He attended Scotch College in Melbourne where his father was a teacher and a student of the Classics. His mother graduated with a M.A. from Melbourne University in the days when few women attended university. She had a remarkable memory and a brilliant academic record but always said that she “didn’t think” until she was thirty years old.

David was the third of five boys, who all achieved well at university except for David’s brother Bobby, who died aged twelve years in 1929. In 1942, after Melbourne University, David worked at Standard Telephones and Cables in Sydney, considered a reserve occupation during the war, and joined the University of Adelaide under Professor Eric Willoughby in 1951.

David preferred teaching to research but was delighted when informed that a paper he had published had led to big savings for a businessman overseas. He was well travelled in his career, spending time on study leave at Dollis Hill and Imperial College in the UK and Eindhoven, Munich and Stuttgart among a number of

other places throughout Europe and the Unites States of America.

He was diagnosed with non Hodgkins Lymphoma in 1982-1983 but made a good recovery and retired in 1985. Students described him as their “friend”. Due to his 34 years of service to the University of Adelaide it was decided that there would be an annual prize awarded in his name. The David Pawsey Prize for best academic performance in the Level 2 course Signals and Systems was presented by David’s son Ken to Pasindu Dissan Aluthwala on the 12th May 2011.

David was in his 70th year of Engineers Australia membership, having joined as a student member on 16th September 1941, and maintained his membership and interest in engineering to the end. He passed away on the 28th May 2011, after a courageous struggle. He is survived by his wife and two children, who greatly mourn his loss.

Engineers Australia South Australia DivisionOur thanks to David’s wife, Julie Pawsey, for providing the vale information.

vale - DaviD paWsey mieaust CpengJuly 1920 – may 2011

On the evening of Thursday 16th June 2011, the Electrical College Branch hosted Ken Brown FIEAust CPEng, National Professional Electrical Engineer of the Year (NPEEoY) 2010, as part of the Eminent Speaker series 2010-2011.

More than forty members listened to Ken’s presentation on ‘Impacts of Emerging Technologies on Power Systems’.

Ken spoke on some recent major power systems disturbances that have occurred in Europe, the lessons learnt, and what is being done to help ensure the security of power grids is maintained and improved. He explored some of the emerging trends that are

shaping the energy future and how these trends will have implications for the Australian energy sector. The introduction of emerging technologies such as Wind Power, PV, Electric Vehicles, Smart Grids and Energy Storage are having a considerable impact on the ‘traditional’ way power systems have been operated and significant changes are taking place.

The presentation provoked discussion on the policies and legislation being put in place within Australia, and the need for engineers to contribute to the understanding of their impact.

Ken's presentation has been recorded, and will be available through the Eminent Speaker section of the Engineers Australia website.

Anthony Mew MIEAust Chair, Electrical Branch Engineers Australia South Australia Division

UniSA’s Chancellor Dr Ian Gould AM CompIEAust has been recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours, appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to the mining industry, education and the community.

Dr Gould, who has been UniSA’s Chancellor for nearly three years, is a geologist by profession. He has 40 years’ experience in the minerals industry, having worked in CRA and Rio Tinto Group before becoming Group Managing Director of Normandy Mining Limited. The AM particularly notes his efforts as a proponent of environmental management in the mining sector. He is also a member of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, St Andrew’s Hospital and Economic Development boards in South Australia.

Dr Gould was both encouraged and honoured to receive the AM and says he has been very fortunate in his varied career over the past 40 years. He sees the mining industry as vital to the Australian economy and he believes the future of the sector in South Australia is especially bright.

“In South Australia in particular we are seeing a booming mining industry, which is an important and sustainable part of our state’s economy, based on our unique geology, our expertise and support of government,” he says.

Dr Gould says he has been delighted to make a contribution to the state’s education sector as UniSA’s Chancellor since July 2008.

“South Australia continues to build on its reputation for education excellence. I’m proud to be part of UniSA, which has earned a reputation for innovation, adaptability and training of professionals through its quality teaching and research,” he says.

University of South Australia

eminent speaKer upDate

Eminent Speaker Ken Brown FIEAust CPEng

Queen's BirthDay honours

EnginEEring South AuStrAliA9

It was ironic that on the eve of the scheduled June 2011 address by Allan Curtis on Geothermal Power – sounds good but will it work? that the ash cloud from geothermal activity in Chile prevented Allan travelling from Brisbane to present it. At very short notice Richard Venus MIEAust saved the day by fast tracking Engineering a City – Looking at Adelaide through an engineering filter which was originally scheduled for September 2011.

While geothermal matters did not get a mention in Richard’s presentation, the 85 attendees at the function were given an insight into some aspects of Adelaide’s engineering heritage and the vital contribution engineers have made to the development of the City and the State.

At the June meeting we also recognised the 60 year Engineers Australia membership milestone reached by Bob Clisby FIEAust CPEng. Rupert Grayston FIEAust CPEng, Engineers Australia’s Acting Chief Executive and Division Deputy President Gerry Doyle MIEAust CPEng presented Bob with a certificate to mark the occasion. Bob joined Engineers Australia as a student in 1951. Then the secretary of the University Engineering Students Society at Adelaide University, from which he later graduated in Electrical Engineering & Economics. After a career in the former Public Buildings Department, as a consulting engineer in the UK and many years with the Engineering & Water Supply Department (now SA Water) Bob retired in 1992 as Manager Construction and Contracts. Interestingly Bob was also South Australia Division treasurer at the time of Engineers Australia’s first regional Headquarters opened in 1961 at 11 Bagot St North Adelaide, our home for 49 years.

Rupert Grayston in his remarks drew attention to Engineers Australia’s forthcoming centenary in just eight years time. It is planned to mark the occasion by a series of events leading up to 2019. Member’s ideas for events can be sent to the South Australia Division via sa@engineersaustralia.org.au and would be most welcome.

The address Geothermal Power – sounds good but will it work? was rescheduled to the 20th July 2011. Details of the replacement for our September meeting will be available shortly.

Deane Kemp FIEAust CPEng (Retired) Chair, Retired Engineers Group Engineers Australia South Australia Division

The South Australia Division has been busy between March and May attending a number of Careers Expos for the students of the South Australian universities.

The visits began in March with the Flinders University, University of Adelaide and University of South Australia Careers Expos. As always there were a large number of enthusiastic, switched on and motivated students in attendance.

Between March and May the South Australia Division also attended the School of Natural and Built Environment careers expo at the University of South Australia and the Chemical Engineering Society (CHEMS) and Adelaide University Engineering Society (AUES) careers expos at the University of Adelaide.

These were extremely well presented and well attended nights, and we would like to extend our congratulations and thanks to all the groups involved.

A large congratulation is also extended to the CHEMS and AUES whose careers expos are volunteer organised and run by students.

The South Australia Division would also like to thank John Dyson MIEAust CPEng and Brett Jennings MIEAust CPEng, both from Mott MacDonald, for assisting in promoting engineering to high school students through attending a careers event at St Peters College. Engineers who attend school events such as this are extremely welcome ambassadors for the profession and assist in ensuring there is interest and talent available in engineering in the future.

Do you know of a student event the South Australia Division should be attending? Would you like to volunteer to speak with students at university or high school about the profession and the benefits of Engineers Australia membership? If so please contact Member Relationship Coordinator Nathan Jones via njones@engineersaustralia.org.au or by calling on 08 8202 7170 to discuss.

Nathan Jones Member Relationship Coordinator Engineers Australia South Australia Division

retireD engineers group upDate

Retired Engineers Group Chair Deane Kemp FIEAust CPEng (Retired) and Guest Speaker Richard Venus MIEAust

Career events upDate

Attendees at the St Peters College careers event

South Australia Division

10www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa

Why did you decide to become an engineer?

A propensity for disassembling and rebuilding in my younger years, coupled with an interest in mathematics and physics gave rise to the natural selection of engineering.

What do you like the most about the engineering profession?

The ability to redesign existing products to be significantly more efficient in terms of design and their effect on the environment

What project(s) are you working on now?

Modifying a Cessna 441 light aircraft from a passenger aircraft to a laser bathometry aerial surveying aircraft

What do you see as one of the biggest issues facing the engineering profession?

By far the biggest issue is the abundance of skilled, on-shore, time served engineers. With all the engineering opportunity and prosperity that Australia has, it is imperative that we invest in the next generation of engineers and pass on good skills, work practice and ethos.

What are your hobbies?

Gymnasium and cycling

What advice would you provide to someone interested in becoming an engineer?

It is best to choose the engineering discipline that excites you most and become the best within that discipline

What do you think you will be doing five years from now?

Five years from now I would like to be working on projects that streamline the design, manufacture and environmental impact of engineering products, perhaps implementing a new power generation technology.

If you could have worked on any engineering project, throughout history, what would you choose?

The design and construction of the pyramids is an engineering marvel. Perfect alignment of the pyramids with celestial entities over such a large scale showed a dedication to perfection, especially when the tools available were very primitive and construction was performed by hand.

What is your motto?

He who dares, wins (cf. RAF SAS)

Who would you most like to meet?

Leonardi Da Vinci. He was a genius that was able to excel in the artistic, linguistic, engineering and medical fields which have a permanent brand in everything we all do in present day.

memBer profile - John ruDDy mieaust

Approximately 30 undergraduate engineering students from Flinders University attended the ‘Open Biomedical Engineering Lab’ session on Friday 27th May 2011, based in the School of Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics (http://www.flinders.edu.au/science_engineering/csem/).

The event, kindly sponsored by Engineers Australia, featured a number of Flinders University biomedical engineering research projects on display. Current Higher Degree Research (HDR) students and staff were available to demonstrate and talk about their projects, and answer any questions from attendees.

Small group tours of the newly established ‘Hexapod Robot’ were also available with Dr. John Costi MIEAust, head of the Biomechanics and Implants research group within Flinders Medical Devices & Technologies (http://fmdat.flinders.edu.au).

Prof. Karen Reynolds FIEAust (Professional Engineer of the Year 2010 and Leader, Flinders Medical Devices & Technologies) and Mr David Hobbs MIEAust (Rehabilitation Engineer & PhD Candidate, Flinders University) both agreed that this informal student event was very successful.

“As well as having the opportunity to learn more about the types of Biomedical Engineering related projects they could work on at the end of their Engineering degree and get ideas for their own final year projects, undergraduate students were able to get to know their fellow HDR students and lecturers in a fun, informal environment”, said Mr Hobbs. “A lot of first and second year undergraduate students can feel a little overwhelmed at the beginning of their degree with a lot of mathematics and basic science subjects. They often lose sight of the real life applications of their

degree, so it was a fantastic opportunity to show them the types of projects they could be working on in a few years time. They also appreciated the fact that most biomedical projects are ‘hands on’ and interactive (such as medical training simulators) and the students really enjoyed this aspect”.

A big ‘thank you’ to Engineers Australia, who sponsored this event and provided free pizza and soft drink for attendees.

Given the positive feedback from attendees, it is proposed that similar events be held annually to showcase the cutting edge and real life engineering projects the School is working on.

Kelly Burton Flinders Medical Devices & Technologies On Behalf of Biomedical Branch - SA

BiomeDiCal laB session an unDergraDuate hit

Students being shown around the Biomedical Engineering Lab during the recent

session.

EnginEEring South AuStrAliA11

upComing events

www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa

July Tue 19th to Fri 22nd ~ Various TimesConferenceHost: Engineers Australia National Committee for Women in Engineering and the International Network for Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES) Conference: 15th International Conference for Women Engineers and Scientists (ICWES15) Enquiries: icwes15@icms.com.au

Tue 26th ~ 5.00pmTechnical PresentationHost: JTP ElectricalTopic: Trev - Around the world for $400.00Enquiries: pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Tue 26th ~ 8.30amShort CourseHost: Engineering Education AustraliaTopic: Safer Construction - Design StageEnquiries: info@eeaust.com.au

Wed 27th ~ 5.30pmTechnical PresentationHost: Royal Aeronautical SocietyEnquiries: pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

August Mon 1st to Sun 7th ~ VariousAustralian Engineering Week 2011Host: Engineers AustraliaTopic: VariousEnquiries: sfensom@engineersaustralia.org.au

Mon 1st ~ 5.30pmGuest Speaker: Neil GreetHost: Engineers AustraliaEnquiries: sfensom@engineersaustralia.org.au

Wed 3rd to Thu 4th ~ 8.30amShort CourseHost: Engineering Education AustraliaTopic: Risk & Liability ManagementEnquiries: info@eeaust.com.au

Wed 3rd ~ 5.30pmTechnical PresentationHost: Joint Chemical Engineering CommitteeTopic: The Process of Aquaculture: Meeting Global Seafood Demand Enquiries: pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Wed 3rd ~ 7.00amTransitions in Leadership BreakfastHost: Engineers Australia, Centre for Engineering Leadership and Management and Young Engineers Australia Topic: Transitions in leadershipEnquiries: sfensom@engineersaustralia.org.au

Thu 4th ~ 5.30pmTechnical PresentationHost: Railway Technical Society of Australasia and JTP Mechanical Topic: PTS Railcar FleetEnquiries: pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Tue 9th ~ 5.30pm Technical PresentationHost: Electric Energy Society of AustraliaTopic: SA Future Energy Delivery and Supply InfrastructureEnquiries: pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Wed 10th ~ 10.00amSite VisitHost: IET RetiredTopic: Bureau Of MeteorologyVenue: Bureau of Meteorology Adelaide, 25 College Rd, Kent Town Enquiries: schapelj@adam.com.au

Wed 10th ~ 5.30pmTechnical PresentationHost: Information, Telecommunications and Electronics Engineering Branch Topic: Integrating the Telecommunications Management Frameworx (TM Frameworx) into A Corporate Capability Framework Enquiries: pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Thu 11th ~ 5.30pmChartered WorkshopHost: Engineers AustraliaTopic: Prepare Your Chartered Status Application Enquiries: njones@engineersaustralia.org.au

Thu 11th ~ 5.30pmTechnical PresentationHost: Society for Building Services EngineersEnquiries: pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Fri 12th ~ All Day Stage 1 Competencies National WorkshopHost: Engineers AustraliaTopic: Australian Engineering Stage 1 Competency Standards - A Framework For Quality Assured Engineering Education Enquiries: phoffmann@engineersaustralia.org.au

Mon 15th to Fri 19th ~ 8.30amShort CourseHost: Engineering Education AustraliaTopic: System Safety EngineeringEnquiries: info@eeaust.com.au

Mon 15th ~ 5.30pmTechnical PresentationHost: Australian Geomechanics SocietyEnquiries: pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Tue 16th ~ TBASite VisitHost: JTP ElectricalTopic: Visit to Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing, University of Adelaide Venue: University of Adelaide, North Tce, AdelaideEnquiries: pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Thu 18th ~ 5.30pmTechnical PresentationHost: Footings GroupEnquiries: pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Tue 23rd ~ 5.30pmTechnical PresentationHost: Structural BranchTopic: Innovating Steel Engineering for Extreme Conditions of Wind, Corrosion and Cost Enquiries: pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Tue 23rd to Wed 24th ~ 8.30amShort CourseHost: Engineering Education AustraliaTopic: Writing Winning Technical DocumentsEnquiries: info@eeaust.com.au

Wed 24th ~ 12.00pmTechnical PresentationHost: Transport GroupTopic: The Tension Between Transport and Land Use Planning: Making it Work in Adelaide Enquiries: pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Thu 25th ~ 5.30pmTechnical PresentationHost: Software Engineering and Architecture JTPTopic: Identifying and Capitalising on Trends in Information Technology Enquiries: pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Unless published otherwise all presentations are scheduled for the Engineers Australia South Australia Division Office. Event details are subject to change. Please check our website prior to

the event for current information and updates. Please note the South Australia Division address is Level 11, 108 King William Street ADELAIDE SA 5000.

Online registration, or how to register, is now available directly through the South Australia Division Website Events Section at www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa/events (or www.eeaust.com.au for those events held by

Engineering Education Australia) where ever a blue arrow is shown.