Engineering South Australia, March 2013 by Engineers Australia

IMPORTANT NOTICE In July 2013, Engineers Australia South Australia Division will be converting to an electronic newsletter. This will increase readership and enable the Division to re-allocate resources used on hard copy printing. For more information please contact the Division at: sa@engineersaustralia.org.au

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The Engineering Excellence Awards aim to inspire and encourage engineers to achieve worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best practice through teamwork, innovation, and appropriate technical excellence, and to recognise those engineers, companies, or organisations responsible. Information on how to participate in the 2013 Awards on Page 4.

ENGINEERING SOUTH AUSTRALIA MARCH 2013 www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa

CONTENTS Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message Division Updates

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Member Profile

Upcoming Events

Engineers Australia proudly introduces avis australia to the member benefit program

DIVISION EXECUTIVE President John Olson RFD FIEAust CPEng EngExec FAICD Deputy Presidents Dr Cris Birzer MIEAust Fernando Gonzalez MIEAust CPEng Immediate Past President Gerry Doyle FIEAust CPEng Executive Director Caroline Argent MAICD Deputy Director Sarah Carey Produced By Engineers 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 www.facebook.com/EA.SouthAus http://twitter.com/Eng_SouthAus

SPONSORS Division Partner

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Division Supporters

This Engineering South Australia newsletter is published by the South Australia Division of Engineers Australia and reports impartially on items of interest to Engineers in South Australia. The statements made or opinions expressed in the newsletter do not necessarily reflect the view of Engineers Australia.

ENGINEERING SOUTH AUSTRALIA

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Continuing my theme for 2013 of “Engagement”, this month I’d like to examine how we communicate the role of the engineering profession in society. The many benefits provided by the profession are too numerous to mention in this article. However, only a small proportion of the general population would fully understand what we do (and a lot of them would be our family and friends whom we try to educate over dinner!). I am initially reminded of the highly successful TV series shown a few years back about some of the greatest engineering wonders of the last few centuries. London’s sewer system, the Panama Canal, one of the first iron ships, a lighthouse built in the North Sea – feats not imagined until solved by engineering knowledge and a determination to succeed. It is a shame, though, that we couldn’t convince David Attenborough (of nature fame) to narrate the series and elevate it to a prime time commercial TV spot! Perhaps we aim too low when promoting our achievements and as a result, the general public take for granted what, at one time, were cutting edge achievements only possible because of the dedication of members from the engineering profession. Misunderstanding of the term “engineer” is an ongoing challenge for our profession. The media often reports on industrial disputes involving aircraft maintenance “engineers”, for example. While the term “licensed aircraft maintenance engineer” is accepted terminology in a number of countries, it does not reflect the common use of the term ‘engineer’ in Australia, where this is understood to represent an entirely different set of competencies based on an entirely different education and professional structure. Similarly, old images of “engineers” driving trains or “engineers” fabricating metal structures in a workshop still exist today. All of us must counter these misconceptions by taking every opportunity to promote the achievements of the engineering profession. My message is simple – “Communicate and Educate”. Communication tells the public what we do, helping to dispel some of the myths about “engineers”, while education is about why we do it and the major benefits our profession provides to society. Closer to home, here’s some of what Division Committee and Division Staff are involved in as part of the “Community Engagement” theme in 2013. You can help in these areas too! EngQuest – This is a nationally coordinated initiative which, in South Australia, provides engineering project resources that in 2012 were used by 74 schools, exposing 931 lower primary, 1339 primary and 1742 middle school students to engineering concepts. What a great way to encourage students to take up engineering as a career. Visit the website at http://www.engquest.org.au if you would like more information and, perhaps, you might volunteer some time to be part of this important community engagement project. Engineering Week – August seems a long way away, but detailed planning for Australian Engineering Week (Monday 5th to Sunday 11th August 2013) has already commenced. Engineering career nights, behind the scenes tours, plus the highly popular engineering stand at Science Alive!, will enable the engineering profession in SA to connect with the community at the “Mums and Dads” level, highlighting great opportunities for their children should they choose engineering as a career. This year we are also planning a President’s Community Forum, showcasing our Engineering Excellence Award Winners from previous years. Your help as volunteers in all of these areas is critical for success – contact the Division Office if you would like to help. Engineers Without Borders – In early February, at the request of Sir Eric Neal, I was pleased to chair a meeting with Dr Mulimbalimba Masururu Luc, who is an elected member of the National Parliament for the Democratic Republic of Congo and is also founder of MHCD (Mission in Healthcare and Development) which is working to rebuild health facilities in his local region of D.R. Congo. Two representatives from Engineers Without Borders attended the meeting, along with the Executive Deans from two of our university engineering schools. Dr Luc was seeking support for the installation of a micro hydro power station which would supply power to the local hospital and up to 80,000 residents, thereby enabling the community to start small industries and become more economically sustainable. EWB agreed to investigate the potential for provision of engineer volunteers to assist with this and other projects in D.R. Congo, another example of the great work being undertaken by EWB and its volunteers, most of whom are Young Engineers. For more information on EWB, visit their website at http://www.ewb.org.au/. EWB Design Challenge – While at the meeting with Dr Luc, Assoc Prof Brenton Dansie from the University of South Australia spoke about his university’s support for the EWB Design Challenge (website http://www. ewb.org.au/whatwedo/institute/ewb-challenge). This unique project involves first year university engineering students learning about design and teamwork through real, inspiring, sustainable cross-cultural development projects. By participating in the EWB Challenge, students are presented with an excellent opportunity to design creative solutions to real world problems. The University of South Australia has also modified the challenge and is working in partnership with schools like St Mary’s College to introduce Year 9 students to engineering. Yet another great “Community Engagement” initiative! John Olson RFD FIEAust CPEng EngExec FAICD President Engineers Australia South Australia Division @

sapresident@engineersaustralia.org.au

www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa

JOHN ARGUE RECOGNISED FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE Adj Prof John Argue AO FIEAust CPEng (pictured) was appointed an Officer in General Division of the Order of Australia awards announced on Australia Day, Saturday 26th January 2013. The citation reads: “For distinguished service to engineering through contributions to the development of stormwater management and technology as a researcher and academic.” For nearly 50 years John has been a passionate advocate for reducing the waste from the increasing storm water in residential areas and using the collected storm water for the benefit of the community. His work has been recognised in the publications he has co-authered and he has put his theory into practice for the benefit of many in water sensitive design principles. John led an unfunded research project into Water Sensative Urban Design (WSUD) principles and technology which commenced at the University of South Australia in 1987 and was collated into a coherent body of knowledge as a Handbook in 2004. Procedures, criteria and strategies contained in the Handbook have formed the knowledge-base for a series of 2-day workshops conducted by Professor Argue across the nation under the auspices of EEA (Engineering Education Australia) since August 2005. 41 workshops have been held to date; they will continue to be offered in future at the insistence of the stormwater industry by a new Presenter, Mr Peter Newland FIEAust, when John steps down from this involvement in 2013. John has been a great influence on students as a lecturer supervisor of post graduate students and has made very significant contributions to the profession of engineering. He has been at the forefront of encouraging women to enter the engineering profession and received an award in 2000 from Engineers Australia for his work in this field. Engineers Australia South Australia Division

CHARTERED MILESTONE ACHIEVED FOR WORLEYPARSONS WorleyParsons congratulates Sunil Palikhe MIEAust CPEng on receiving his chartered status. Sunil is the fouth WorleyParsons engineer from South Australia to reach this milestone in the previous 12 months, and as such joins a growing list of dedicated, capable and passionate engineers that have demonstrated their competency through the rigorous requirements Engineers Australia has established. WorleyParsons South Australia has a history of involvement in the pre-eminent resource and energy projects undertaken in South Australia and we look forward to working together with our customers, both local and global to deliver even greater outcomes in the coming years. It is only through the continual improvement and education of our engineers, that we remain able to provide world class support to our customers in their search for innovative and effective solutions.

Left to right: Grant Newberry MIEAust and Sunil Palikhe MIEAust CPEng

WorleyParsons is proud of Sunil and all of our Chartered Engineers and we look forward to supporting many more of our talented engineers in their pursuit of this prestigious achievement. “I am very happy to be elected as a Chartered Professional Engineer. With this achievement, I am more enthusiastic to work in the engineering field with my best professional knowledge and ethics for the best interest of the world. This is a once in a lifetime achievement. Therefore, I would like to encourage all concerned to become a Chartered Professional.” said Mr Sunil Palikhe.

Grant Newberry MIEAust Manager of Engineering – South Australia WorleyParsons

ENGINEERING SOUTH AUSTRALIA

2013 south australian engineering excellence AWARDS

The South Australian Engineering Excellence Awards aim to inspire and encourage engineers to achieve world’s best practice through teamwork, innovation, and appropriate technical excellence, and to recognise those engineers, companies, or organisations responsible. As well as identifying the leaders within the engineering profession, the Engineering Excellence Awards provide an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the invaluable contribution the engineering profession makes to the community.

Key Dates

Categories

Registration to enter due: Friday 10th May 2013 Entry Submissions due: Friday 7th June 2013 Jury Presentations: Week beginning Monday 8th July 2013 Award Presentation Dinner: Adelaide Entertainment Centre Friday 20th September 2013

• • • • • • • • •

Questions?

All prices quoted include GST General Entries: $800 Universities: $700 Small Business $600

Project Management Innovation / Research and Development Environment Products and Manufacturing Facilities Resource Development Buildings and Structures Project Infrastructure Reports, Procedures and Systems Control Systems, Networks, Information Processing and Telecommunications • Small Business Ventures and Projects

If you have any questions about the 2013 South Australian Engineering Excellence Awards, please contact Events and Communications Coordinator Sharryn Fensom: P: (08) 8202 7140 E: sfensom@engineersaustralia.org.au

Go online to register online today: www.tinyurl.com/EEA13

www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa

MLEI FIRST IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA TO ADOPT PPIR PROTOCOL MLEI Consulting Engineers is the first South Australian and the first SME practice in Australia to adopt the PPIR protocol. PPIR (Professional Performance Innovation and Risk) is a program developed by The Warren Centre, an industryfunded think tank, which undertakes projects targeting improvements in Australian engineering practice. The Warren Centre was established in 1983 within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney. The key focus of the program is the PPIR protocol, a new initiative defining the eight elements of performance expected of professional engineers in Australia. Information on the program can be found on the website www.ppir.com.au. Adoption of the PPIR protocol can lead to the creation of a better understanding by clients, professional peers, government and the community of how to gain the best advantage from the application of the engineer’s skills, knowledge and experience. The focus on professional performance, innovation and risk will lead to greater recognition of engineering issues and engineering innovation. It will lead to improvement in the relevance and quality of engineering expert advice. Widespread adoption will lead to innovation becoming a driving force in Australian engineering practice. The PPIR supports the profession’s ethical codes and competency standards. The protocol defines performance, articulating how individual tasks address ethical and competency issues. It acts as a road map for professional engineers and will set standards for how work is delivered. It assists engineers facing increasing challenges in their work as a result of the changing commercial, risk management and legal context in which they are required to work. Improvement in the performance of individual engineers will lead to an improvement in the performance of the engineering industry. As a pioneering engineering practice, MLEI Consulting Engineers have been the first to adopt the PPIR as they can see the importance of the program, and in particular, the benefits to clients. MLEI's Managing Director, Nicholas Murphy MIEAust CPEng, stated that “The PPIR is a great incentive to improve the standard of performance of engineering across the board. Our industry has changed and although Engineers are skilled in providing technical aspects, we need be proactive and introduce changes to align ourselves more closely with the commercial expectations of the procurers of our services.” As an Adelaide base mid-tier firm MLEI are dedicated to the built environment of South Australia and hence see the need for SA companies to be innovative and at the forefront of industry. Mr Tuan Nguyen, a senior civil engineer with MLEI says “The protocol is of immediate benefit to myself as an individual engineer but also to the profession as a whole. The focus on innovation and risk management is very timely.” MLEI Consulting Engineers

ENGINEERING SOUTH AUSTRALIA

MEMBER PROFILE Dr Josh Smith MIEAust CPEng is currently the Engineering Delivery Manager on the North South Interconnection System Project and Waterlink Joint Venture Manager at Parsons Brinckerhoff. Josh will be one of the three speakers at the Generation to Gender Exchange (Gen2X) event, “Engineers Never Stop Learning” - But do they get more out of postgraduate study?. This event is being held Thursday 11th April 2013 at The Lion Hotel. More information can be found online: www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa/events

Dr Josh Smith MIEAust CPEng

Why are you an Engineers Australia member?

Membership with Engineers Australia provides me to with information on events, products, and projects of interest on a local and national level. The Engineers Australia publication provides updates on latest My father was a motor body industry developments and activities in addition to builder by trade and I grew seminars, presentations, and events which provide up working with cars and with great networking opportunities. Many clients and a fascination with anything employers are showing a strong preference for ‘mechanical’. Having spent Chartered Professional Engineers which is strongly many hard working hours in supported and promoted by Engineers Australia to my father’s workshop as a ensure we are represented and valued as professionals youngster, I truly understood that maintain high ethical standards. the definition of ‘hard work’ If you could take a year off to study anything, and was intrigued to understand how and why. what would it be? What do you like the most about the engineering I would love to learn how to fly an aircraft (A childhood profession? fascination probably inspired by Top Gun the movie). Diversity. In my relatively short career I have worked in Aerospace, Defence, Shipbuilding, Consulting, and What do you feel is the engineering professions major infrastructure projects in transport, mining and strongest asset? water. I believe that the engineering profession has The people. I have worked closely with engineers more to offer than any other because of the number from all over the world and I have met some amazing of different opportunities available across so many people with some vastly different skills and abilities. Irrespective of where they are from, or what they industries. If you could have worked on any engineering do, there is a consistency. Engineers in general have project, throughout history, what would you strong values and can be trusted to do what is right. Why did you decide become an engineer?

What are your hobbies?

choose?

The United States space program in the 1960s would These days I spend most of my free time with my wife and two children pottering around our property always most certainly be up there for me. What do you see as one of the biggest issues improving, building or repairing something. facing the engineering profession?

What is your motto?

I envisage that the demand for local engineering professionals will become more variable over the next few years. The attraction of ‘offshore’ engineering will continue to grow due to the strong local currency and the relatively high costs of local engineering professionals compared to that of overseas resources.

Family comes first. What would be your ideal working holiday?

So many opportunities! I spent four marvellous years working and living in Germany where I made some great friends and travelled extensively. Whilst I consider it would be hard to beat, Top Gear test What is the greatest piece of technology released engineer or counting cocktails in the Bahamas would in the last decade? also be great. We are currently in the middle of a mobile computing Who would you most like to meet? revolution. Tablet and smartphone technology has Sir Jack Brabham or Yuri Gagarin progressed significantly and I think the greatest changes are yet to come. Personal and laptop computers will become a thing of the past. I however still struggle with SMS.

ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA

GENERATION TO GENDER EXCHANGE

Hosted by the Centre for Engineering Leadership & Management, Young Engineers South Australia and Women In Engineering

Thursday 11th April 2013 | 6.00pm to 8.30pm The Lion Hotel, North Adelaide

Prices Member:

$50.00 (inc GST)

Non-Member:

$65.00 (inc GST)

Student Member: $40.00(inc GST) Student Non-Member: $65.00 (inc GST)

“Engineers Never Stop Learning” But Do They Get More Out of Postgraduate Study?