Victoria’s most prestigious engineering awards were handed out at a centenary celebration in Melbourne on Thursday night; marking 100 years to the day that Engineers Australia was founded.
Charlie Littlefair, General Manager of South East Water’s Liveable Water Solutions Group, was named 2019 Professional Engineer of the Year - Victoria.
Mr Littlefair leads a team of 160 staff and up to 500 consultants, contractors and sub-contractors. He is an approachable and vibrant leader who creates an environment which inspires those around him to dream big and deliver innovative and sustainable services for the community.
Entrepreneur, Ruby Heard, was named 2019 Young Professional Engineer of the Year - Victoria.
Following a six-month expedition for Engineers Without Borders to support the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees energy team in Ethiopia, Ms Heard founded Alinga - a social conscious engineering consultancy that provides specialist engineering services with a focus on areas where energy accessibility and affordability issues impact the availability of reliable power.
Heidi Michael was highly commended in the Professional Engineer of the Year category for her work as Head of Community Programs (International and Australia) for Engineers without Borders.
Engineers Australia President – Victoria, Grant Scott said the Engineer of the Year Awards celebrate outstanding individual engineering achievements.
“All nominees have made substantial contributions to the profession, and I look forward to seeing both nominees and award winners continue to innovate and inspire in their fields,’ said Mr Scott.
Engineers Australia General Manager – Victoria, Alesha Printz, said the centenary was also an opportunity to look to the future.
“As we embark on the next 100 years, Engineers Australia is committed to fostering cultural change so the engineering profession, and Australian society, can benefit from a more diverse and inclusive engineering workforce. Working together, all of us will bring better solutions to the many challenges facing our nation, and the planet,” said Ms Printz.
Notes for Editors:
• Engineers Australia is the peak representative body for the engineering profession, representing more than 100,000 members from all disciplines of engineering, and maintains representation in every state and territory.
• The Australian Engineering Excellence Awards identify and reward outstanding achievement in the practice of engineering and service to the profession.
• Victoria’s Chief Engineer, Collette Burke, was on the judging panel and attended the event.
• 150 people attended the Engineers Australia Centenary Celebration at Crown Metropol on Thursday August 1, 2019.
• The Institution of Engineers Australia (now operating as Engineers Australia) was incorporated August 1, 1909 and in 2019 celebrates its Centenary, a significant milestone for the organisation and a chance to accentuate the critical role engineering plays in the lives of all Australians.
• Images of the night will be available by request on Friday morning.
Ends.
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