MEMBER PROFILE
PAST PRESIDENT
JOHN HAWKES
John initially commenced retirement in late 2009 after a 37-year career in public works engineering, which involved employment in the State Government, Local Government and private sectors. This included almost 18 years working as a leading engineer in a large Far North Queensland Council. After two years, he suspended his retirement for a three-year period to play an active role in the restoration of public infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Yasi in FNQ, including the foreshore and Bruce Highway at Cardwell. His retirement as a Trustee with the Qld Foundation in 2019 marked the end of 25 years of continuous active service to the Institute with time on both the State and National Boards, the QLD Foundation for PWE and the RPEQ Assessment Board. Over this period, John held the positions of NQ Branch President, State President, National Secretary/Treasurer and Conference Chairman for the 2007 National Conference. He was recognised for his service with the award of Emeritus Member of the Institute in 2009. Tell us about your career. I commenced my involvement in engineering in 1969 at the Townsville Campus of UQ as a bonded scholarship holder with the then Main Roads
Presentation of the Engineers Australia National Local Government Engineering Medal 2005.
Presentation of the Overall Winner Category of the 2004 IPWEAQ Excellence Awards with then-Council Manager Project Services Michael Kahler.
Department in Queensland. I completed my BE (Civil) in 1972 as a graduate of the newly established James Cook University of NQ. The subsequent nine years involved employment with MRD in Cairns, Brisbane and Barcaldine, primarily in a construction engineer and planning and design role. Over that period, I completed a graduate degree in Commerce studying externally with UQ. I joined Cairns City Council in late 1981 as Assistant Operations
Engineer and after progressive promotions and the acquisition of a Local Government Engineers Certificate, I was appointed to the statutory position of City Engineer in 1990. Except for a two-and-a-halfyear interlude in the late 90s as a private consultant, I remained in the role of senior executive engineer with the same organisation carrying different executive/corporate titles including Director and General Manager until late 2009.
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