Several Australia Day Honours went to engineers from across the country in recognition of their contributions to sectors ranging from infrastructure to mining, education, agriculture and more.
Engineers representing several disciplines have received Australia Day Honours this year, including the day’s highest recognition.
The late Emeritus Professor Patrick Troy was posthumously named a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), the highest honour, for his contributions to urban and regional planning, environmental sustainability and social justice policy.
Troy had a prolific career spanning several sectors. He worked as an engineer and planner in state and local government before beginning work as a research academic. He held roles with the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society, was an Adjunct Professor at Griffith University, and was a Visiting Professor with the City Futures Research Centre at UNSW. Troy was previously appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1989.
Malcolm Broomhead was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). He studied engineering at the University of Queensland. This set him up for senior leadership positions in the engineering, industrial and resources sectors, where he currently serves as the Chairman of Orica and Director of BHP Billiton. He was recognised for distinguished service to business and mining.
Member of the Order of Australia
The list of appointees to Member of the Order of Australia (AM) turned out more engineering connections.
Dr James Harvey was recognised for service to technological engineering, particularly for his work on microwave telecommunications design. Recent appointments include positions with Macom Technology Solutions and Mimix Broadband, with a CV listing telecommunications and electrical engineering experience back to the early 70s.
Bruce Judd was recognised for service to civil engineering, particularly major transport infrastructure projects. That includes work on WestConnex Sydney, Kingsford Smith Airport, M2 Melbourne Citylink and Bolte Bridge, the M1 Sydney Harbour Tunnel and the ANZAC Bridge. He is also a Fellow of Engineers Australia.
Another Fellow of Engineers Australia to be appointed AM is Thomas Wilmot. He was recognised for contributions to soil stabilisation and road recycling. He currently works as the Co-Director of Stabilised Pavement of Australia, and lists developing sustainable principles for road construction and conservation of natural resources as two of his professional passions.
Joining them is Honorary Fellow Professor Judy Raper, who was awarded an AM for service to higher education and to engineering. A chemical engineer by training, Raper was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at the University of Wollongong until late 2018. She recently became the Founding Lead, PLuS Engineering at the PLuS Alliance in London. She adds this to a long list of accolades, including the 2018 Ada Lovelace Medal and the Engineers Australia Chemeca Medal. She also has an award named after her: the Judy Raper Award for Leadership.
Peter Kelly earned an appointment as an AM for his mechanical engineering nous, particularly as it relates to innovative farm machinery. His inventions include a pea harvesting machine and the eponymous Kelly Tilling System. A 2012 Questacon exhibition even listed his Diamond Harrow as one of five recent Australian inventions of global significance.
Medal of the Order of Australia
Several engineers were awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to engineering. Appointees include:
- Geoff Fowler, Director, Fowler Engineering Consultancy and member of Institute of Public Works, Engineering Australasia (a technical society of Engineers Australia).
- Frank Grigg, who in addition to serving as Managing Director and CEO of his own engineering consultancy, consults as a forensic engineer. He also serves as a board member of several technical societies.
- Carmel Krogh, Director and Head of Shoalhaven Water. She is also a national board member of the Australian Water Association and was the NSW Water Professional of the Year in 2017.
- Stuart Lister, who has served as an electrical engineer in a range of roles throughout his 50-year career. He is the Judging Panel Chair for Engineers Australia Queensland Engineering Excellence Awards, an Honorary Fellow and inductee into the Queensland Engineering Hall of Fame.
- Robert Porter, a mechanical engineering graduate from University of Sydney, received his OAM for services to the community.
- Captain Darren Rae, Royal Australian Navy, received an OAM in the military division for service in the field of naval aviation engineering.
And last but not least, civil engineer Kevin Flanagan received a Public Service Medal (PSM) for his work with local government in Queensland. He’s credited with facilitating several water infrastructure projects in Toowoomba, as well as helping educate the community about the importance of water security.
This year 1127 Australians were recognised – the largest list in the history of the Order of Australia. All together there were 19 Companions (AC), 71 Officers (AO), 282 Members (AM) and 755 Medals (OAM) awarded.
The full list of Australia Day Honours recipients can be found here.