Pictured (left to right): Engineers Australia Queensland President Mark Lendich, Matthew Uidam and Amanda Yeates
Queensland’s Centenary Gala proved to be more than just a celebration of 100 years of Engineers Australia, with two of the State’s most outstanding professionals recognised in the form of the 2019 Queensland Professional Engineer and Young Professional of the Year awards.
We’d like to properly introduce you to the winner of the latter award: Matthew Uidam MIEAust CPEng NER APEC Engineer IntPE(Aus).
“I was extremely humbled by being selected as the 2019 Queensland Young Professional Engineer of the Year. To have this recognition from Engineers Australia is so humbling and I truly feel blessed and honoured to have been given this award,” said Uidam.
“It was also extremely special to have the Golder family around me on the night, it made the event and occasion even more special for me.”
The 33-year-old couldn’t attribute his success on the night of the Centenary celebrations to just one major item in 2019.
“I wouldn’t say it was anything just this year that would have put me in contention, but a culmination of many years in the industry. I would think that my work in building teams, volunteer work, a variety of roles from design, construction, business development and project management,” he said.
Something that may have helped?
Uidam’s contribution to Inland Rail: A project that will enhance supply chain efficiency by establishing freight rail tracks between Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
While being unmistakably proud (and humble) of his most recent achievement on the engineering stage, Uidam is even prouder of the legacy his contribution will leave not only on his home State – but the rest of the country.
“Being involved this year in Inland Rail will be a once in a lifetime project for generations to come,” Uidam said. “It’s not every day that you work on a project that has an impact in three States of Australia.
“On top of that, I think more my legacy will be building the geotechnical team at Golder. A team which, I hope, will always fondly remember our cultural diversity and delivery of some Queensland’s iconic projects.
“I also think my involvement in major pursuits and business development around the country and assisting our consulting team in bringing in large opportunities, plus my involvement in the Consult Australia committee for the past few years may have also been a deciding factor.”
The desire to better the world around him has always been a point of focus for University of Newcastle alumni from the very beginning.
Uidam explains his origins.
“I love working for my community,” he said. “I love people, so for me it was between ministry, teaching or engineering. I decided to choose engineering because I wanted to help make an impact on the built environment.
“I was always fascinated as a kid in building different things and solving problems, so in the end it was an easy choice. I can also say that I am still inspired and looking to contribute even more.
“What is funny is I am able to still teach – it’s a different type of teaching but able to use those skills too.”
So where to from here for Uidam?
“My main goal is to make a difference to the community in which I serve and the people that I lead and work with. So for me, my goals are around building teams, building people, building culture, and being involved in some really cool projects along the way,” he said.
“Golder are going through a very exciting phase. We continue to win major projects through our passion to continue to innovate and push the technical edge to deliver quality products to our clients.
“For me personally, I have moved out of my role as Geotechnical Group Manager and now looking after Business Development for Australasia, which is very exciting, so I am looking forward to continuing to build Golder’s pipeline along with being involved in projects.
“Finally, I want to thank Jay Ameratunga for nominating me – he has always been an amazing professional and I have learnt a lot from him over the years I have known him. I also want to thank Scott Fidler, Golder’s Regional Leader in Queensland, who has also had a major impact of my career. I would also like to thank Craig Mckiernan and David Raftery who gave me an opportunity early on my career at Golder that I will never forget. I also want to thank Mark Vella and Mark Adams who also had impacts on my career earlier on.”
About Matthew Uidam MIEAust CPEng NER APEC Engineer IntPE(Aus)
With 11 years’ consulting experience in ground engineering and construction, Matthew has experience in a variety of different engineering projects in both construction and design, including Inland Rail, Brisbane Airport Link, Hunt8r Alliance, Glenugie Alliance, Hunter Expressway, Dampier to Cape Lambert Transmission, Kingsford Smith Drive, Melbourne and Brisbane Airport project amongst others. Matthew is a Chartered Engineer and an active member of Young Professional Groups.