Engineering South Australia, December 2010

Engineering

December 2010

South Australia

YOU VOTED YES!

A ballot was recently conducted to determine support for a proposed new Royal Charter and By-laws. The ballot closed Monday, 15th November 2010. The Ballot was conducted in accordance with the Bye-Laws and Regulations of Engineers Australia. 33% of eligible Corporate Members voted which was about double the outcome in 2005. The result was: YES - 7,830 votes; NO - 4,680 votes; informal - 7.

This means that the proposal to adopt a new Royal Charter and By-laws for The Institution of Engineers Australia was supported by a substantial majority of the eligible voters who chose to vote. Action will be taken to prepare the documentation for Vice-Regal assent.

Contents A Message from the President . . . . . . . . . . 2 News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6 Membership Profile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Your Professional Development †. . . . . . . . 8

www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa

A Message From The President Sponsors Division Partner

Division Supporters

This is my first message to you, the members of Engineers Australia in South Australia, as the South Australia Division President for 2011. I would like to start by saying how privileged I am to represent you all. South Australia has a proud engineering heritage.

South Australian engineers have made major contributions to the quality of life for all South Australians, and one of my ambitions for my Presidency is to showcase these contributions to the wider community.

As I take on this role, I am humbled by the challenge of following in the footsteps of our outgoing President, Doug Gillott, who has made a major impact in the two years he has been President. Of particular note is his development of the Parliamentary Fellows Program (PFP) which is providing the opportunity for senior members of Engineers Australia to support and influence the politicians elected to govern our state.

The PFP is a bold move, and is the first such program in Australia. It responds to the stated needs of Engineers Australia members to be more influential.

A little bit about myself. I was born in the UK, and migrated to South Australia with my wife and three children in 1982. I have five sons, ranging from 33 to 23 years of age, and one grandson. Two of my children are environmental scientists but none are engineers! My wife Tina is a mental health nurse, and she has taught me a great deal about people, which has been a much needed counterbalance to my typical right brain engineering bias!

Division Executive President Dr David Cruickshanks-Boyd FIEAust EngExec Deputy President Gerry Doyle MIEAust CPEng Immediate Past President Doug Gillott FIEAust CPEng Executive Director Caroline Argent 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 2

My day job is as the Regional Director for Parsons Brinckerhoff in South Australia. In this role I am responsible for developing and maintaining the quality of our client relationships, and I am also responsible for the development and maintenance of a collaborative high performance culture amongst our staff. I am particularly interested in the development of our people, and in the promotion of diversity as a major contributor to successful business performance.

As I take on my new role, I look forward to working with our Executive Director Caroline Argent and her dedicated team, who work tirelessly to provide high quality services to you, the members of EA in South Australia.

I also look forward to working with the new South Australia Division Committee, and the various technical Committees, who are the driving force behind the services provided to members in South Australia. If you are not involved with your technical Committee, I strongly encourage you to get involved.

Our technical Committees will provide the opportunity for you to share with your colleagues and learn from them, which is one of the core qualities of being a professional.

2011 is the Year of Humanitarian Engineering, and I am excited at the opportunity this will provide to showcase the impact that engineers can and do have on those less fortunate than ourselves, whether these are in Australia or overseas. A strong motivation for all engineers is to improve the world we live in for the benefit of the wider community.

I invite you, our membership, to let me know about those engineers amongst us who should be recognised for the humanitarian contributions they have made to others. I hope to be able to showcase their contributions in the various Engineers Australia activities being planned for 2011. Please email me at sapresident@engineersaustralia.org.au.

As many of you will be aware, 2010 saw the launch of the Make it so campaign, aimed at engaging with the wider community about who engineers are and what they do for society. Since its launch in February, the community submitted over 7000 ideas to Engineers Australia to ‘Make it so’, and the winning idea pleasingly was from an undergraduate student in South Australia.

‘Make it so developing communities can reuse their natural waste to create energy for cooking and heating’.

A fitting idea for the Year of Humanitarian Engineering. I look forward to keeping you informed during the year of the progress of the engineering team in turning this idea into reality.

Finally, I wish you all a wonderful time with your families and friends over Christmas and the New Year. Most importantly, be safe and look after those nearest and dearest to you, your family. I look forward to sharing with you in 2011 the excitement and satisfaction of being a member of the great profession of engineering.

Dr David Cruickshanks-Boyd FIEAust EngExec President Engineers Australia South Australia Division

2011 SA Elected Division Committee The following positions have now been filled as follows: Division Committee 2011 - Elected Members •

Tim Browne MIEAust

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WGCDR Tobyn Bearman FIEAust CPEng

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Michelle Shi-Verdaasdonk MIEAust

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SQNLDR Fernando Gonzalez MScMESE(EW) MIEAust CPEng BEng MSc

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John Olson RFD FIEAust CPEng EngExec FAICD

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Mark Brooking MIEAust

National Congress Division Delegate 2011/12 •

Phil Campbell FRAeS CEng FIEAust CPEng

Civil College Board 2011/12 •

Gerry Doyle MIEAust CPEng

Biomedical College Board 2011/12 •

David Hobbs MIEAust - no election required, awarded uncontested

Electrical College Board 2011/12 •

Anthony Mew MIEAust - no election required, awarded uncontested

We also give our thanks to all unelected candidates as they have shown great interest in contributing to the South Australia Division and the engineering profession.

For those interested in statistics - 11.5% of the eligible membership voted.

A full introduction to the 2011 Division Committee will be included in the next available newsletter once appointed members are also finalised.

Dr David Cruickshanks-Boyd FIEAust EngExec President Engineers Australia South Australia Division

ITEE College Board 2011/12 •

Dr Antoine Larchez GradIEAust

Fast-Tracking Your Career – It’s Up To You! “Ensure your career is heading in the direction you want it to go,” he said. “The key to this is believing in yourself – if you don’t, how can you expect others to? This then leads to you absorbing new responsibilities.

“When I first started, this was how I ensured I got exposed to work that allowed me to challenge and extend myself.”

The second point was gaining the respect and backing of your team.

“The best opportunity to do this is in the way you conduct yourself day to day and share responsibility within the team.

Tim Nicholls MIEAust CPEng with Women in Engineering Committee Member Niki Robinson MIEAust

“Thirdly, communicate effectively – which allows you to identify problems early and be actively involved in their resolution.

Want to fast-track your career to take a lead role on award-winning projects like the ASC Shipyard development? Plan your strategy, look for opportunities to take responsibility, work as a team, learn to communicate effectively, and be accountable.

“Be accountable. This shows that I care and that I am committed – providing value for the company and our clients. And this doesn’t go unrewarded. KBR is particularly good at making sure those who show commitment are given more opportunity to step up.”

That’s the key message from Tim Nicholls, a young engineer who graduated 7 years ago and is now the Structural Group's Industry Lead for one of SA’s largest engineering firms, KBR.

About KBR

Tim was one of three speakers at the recent Gen2X event, organised by Women in Engineering and Young Engineers Australia, with support from the Centre for Engineering Leadership and Management.

About 77 prominent members, young professionals and engineering students attended the annual event, which KBR was pleased to sponsor.

“If you want to fast-track your career, get involved!” Tim advised the group.

He outlined key steps that had led him to be given the chance to design one of the largest and most complex buildings in the ASC Shipyard redevelopment, which recently won the Building Projects category of the Engineers Australia 2010 South Australian Engineering Excellence Awards.

KBR has a comprehensive graduate development program, which provides career path planning, training and support. The company aspires to be an employer of choice, with employee friendly programs such as rostered days off. These are core to the culture of the work environment at KBR, a culture that has been built up over 50 years since KBR’s predecessor, Kinhill, was founded by the renowned engineer Malcolm Kinnaird and his colleagues.

KBR has about 1400 staff in Australia, and operates in Minerals, Transport, Water and Facilities. It is involved in landmark projects in Australia ranging from the $43 billion Gorgon Project in WA, to the $4.3b Regional Rail Project in Victoria. Key projects with which KBR has been involved in SA include delivery of the infrastructure and road closures for the Clipsal 500 since 1999, the award-winning Christies Beach Waste Water Treatment plant, the Moomba carbon storage project, and Olympic Dam Tails Leach project.

KBR 3

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The South Australia Division can advise that at 5pm Friday 29th October, 2010, the polls closed on the electronic elections conducted for the South Australia Division.

YEA-SA Engages Next Generation The Young Engineers Australia South Australia Group (YEA-SA) ‘Lamb on the Spit’ provided to the student body

by YEA-SA was a complete success. This was organised and run by Pyrros Radimissis StudIEAust, the University of South Australia’s Campus Coordinator for 2010, with the spit being provided by Paul Koufalakis StudIEAust.

The students were surprised to see something different to the usual YEA-SA sausage sizzles. The rotating lamb on the spit was a sight that rekindled the campus life at the University of South Australia.

University of South Australia student and Engineers Australia member Paul Koufalakis StudIEAust (left) with 2010 University of South Australia Campus Coordinator and University of South Australia student Pyrros Radimissis StudIEAust (right) were a driving force behind this successful YEA-SA event.

The BBQ was attended by YEA-SA committee members, including their current Chair, Ilan Sagi MIEAust and Industry representatives including James Redwood, Director of Norman Disney and Young. This provided excellent networking opportunities for the students to open doors into possible vacation experience with prestigious engineering firms in an atmosphere pumped with enthusiasm and motivation.

Pyrros Radmissis StudIEAust 2010 University of South Australia Campus Coordinator

Local Project Wins Global Accolade Fresh from its success at the 2010 Engineers Australia Excellence Awards, the $420M Jacinth- Ambrosia (JA) Mineral Sands Mine has now been recognised as Parsons Brinckerhoff’s (PB) global project of the year.

The project of the year competition aims to recognise PB’s most outstanding projects from around the globe.

The awards are judged in four categories (according to project size), with the J-A project winning the category for the largest project category - a first for PB in Australia.

The J-A mine located 200km North West of Ceduna is potentially the world’s richest zircon deposit discovered globally to date with the potential to supply 25% of the current global market.

Much of the project’s success can be attributed to the innovative alliance delivery model. An integrated team of Iluka (as the project owner) and Parsons Brinckerhoff (as the alliance partner) operated as one, developing their own values and culture to deliver the project not only under budget but also ahead of schedule and without a single lost injury time in over 900,000 person hours, and with no serious adverse environmental incidents. While alliance delivery is reasonably commonplace in urban infrastructure projects, it is rare for a mining project, and was a first for a mining project in South Australia.

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approval for triple road trains to operate on a B-double road, based on a new and comprehensive Performance Based Assessment

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The integrated team approach was one of many unique engineering and project management elements of this project. Other notable outcomes of the project include:

development of a water filtration system which delivered filtered water at twice the flow rate and for lower capital and operating costs, than ‘by the book’ solutions

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best practice stakeholder engagement with local and indigenous communities, and

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outstanding local employment indigenous workforce of 20%.

the first mine to be granted a licence to operate and to be successfully constructed in a Regional Reserve , without adverse environmental impacts

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the design and construction of a one kilotonne mining unit as a single mobile machine, a first for the mineral sands industry

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the re-use and refurbishment of an existing concentrator unit demonstrating sustainable engineering 4

outcomes

including

an

For more information please contact Regional Marketing Coordinator (SA) Ruth Saturno via RSaturno@pb.com.au or by phoning 08 8405 4300 Parsons Brinkerhoff

Innovation In infrastructure In this second installment, Jeremy Stone discusses the demand for infrastructure, some challenges to innovation in infrastructure, and requisite actions.

Need and action The current gap between the demand for infrastructure and the supply of skilled resources requires the Government and industry to work in partnership to find new and better ways of supporting and delivering projects.

Innovation provides one of the keys to unlock this potential by providing the opportunity to do more with less (increased productivity) and inspiring a greater number of students to follow a career in a technical profession (increased resources).

But what do we mean by innovation and how do we differentiate it from value engineering, where these terms are often used interchangeably?

Our definitions are: •

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“Value engineering” is project focused, whereby the idea can successfully be applied for the benefit of that one project. An example might be a reconfiguration of a road alignment to save significant amounts of earthworks allowing cost and time benefits.

“Innovation” is an idea (product, service, process, technology) that can successfully be applied to multiple projects throughout the industry ie. an industry-wide application. The introduction of membrane technology in the desalination process would be defined as an innovation and a more detailed review of this example communicates the benefits of successful innovation in infrastructure.

In the 1850s drinking water was extracted from saltwater by distillation (boiling water and passing it through various chambers using the principles of condensation and evaporation), when the concept was developed by an engineer from the sugar industry.

It was a slow, energy-intensive and expensive process, however proven to be useful in the shipping business.

In the early 60s, US President John F Kennedy once commented, “If we could ever competitively—at a cheap rate—get fresh water from salt water, that would be in the long-range interest of humanity, and would really dwarf any other scientific accomplishment.” After much research and development, primarily with US Government funding, the first reverse osmosis (RO) membrane process was commercialised in the 1970s.

Since 1985, there has been a five fold increase in installed capacity around the world, providing communities and industry with another choice in water supply.

This case study included two innovations in infrastructure.

Firstly the introduction of distillation in the 1850s, followed by the acceptance of membrane technology in the 1970s. It also highlighted the importance of leadership and focus as displayed by the US President.

The benefits of successful innovation in infrastructure are to: Achieve more with less resources.

Develop new approaches to overcome the challenges of climate change and ensure we focus our efforts on the areas of greatest importance and value.

Deliver infrastructure in a timely, sustainable and safe manner for a growing global population.

Extract additional value over and above the delivery of the project, such as commercialisation and positive reputation and legacy.

Encourage interaction and companies and geographies.

collaboration

across

industries,

Inspire more students to take up maths and science subjects in secondary school, leading them to professional technical qualifications, such as engineering and architecture.

Next month’s final piece will discuss Barriers to innovation in infrastructure, and GHD’s dual pipeline framework and its project applications.

Author: Jeremy Stone MIEAust CPEng GHD Pty Ltd

The 2011 Sir Eric Neal Address Announcement The Sir Eric Neal Address will be held early in 2011.

Further information regarding the 2011 Sir Eric Neal Address will be available in the January edition of Engineering South Australia, through the events section of the Engineers Australia South Australia Division website at www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa/events or by contacting Events Manager Caroline Holmes via cholmes@engineersaustralia.org.au or by calling 08 8202 7140.

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Our Opportunity, Our Need

The PDP In Practice

Parsons Brinckerhoff monthly Professional Development Program (PDP) meeting (pictures above) was enjoyed by their team of engineers, with fresh croissants to fuel the proceedings.

of Ewan. There was excellent participation and feedback, which should result in better understanding of CER's and the benefits from the guidance of PDP.

Chaired by Robert Considine BE (Civil) MIEAust CPEng NPER, the meeting was used to direct questions towards Engineers Australia's South Australia based National Assessor Ewan Hazeldine FIEAust CPEng and Jason Thornhill, Engineers Australia's new Industry Relationship Manager.

To organise a similar event at your work place, or to find out more about the PDP, please contact Jason Thornhill via email at jthornhill@engineersaustralia.org.au or by calling 08 8202 7120 (Tuesday - Thursday).

The team analysed an engineers Career Episode Report (CER) and combined forces to make constructive comments, under the guidance

Jason Thornhill Industry Relationship Manager Engineers Australia South Australia Division

Congratulations!

Amanda Bowden MIEAust CPEng, a Professional Development Program (PDP) participant at United Water, recently completed the PDP process and obtained her Chartered Status as well as registration on the National Professional Engineer Register (NPER).

The South Australia Division’s newest staff member, Industry Relationship Manager Jason Thornhill, recently visited Mandy at the United Water workplace to present her certificates for Chartered Status and registration on the NPER. We would like to extend our congratulations to Mandy.

For more information about the Professional Development Program please contact Jason via jthornhill@engineersaustralia.org.au or by calling 08 8202 7120.

Amanda Bowden MIEAust CPEng receiving her certificates

About Amanda Bowden MIEAust CPEng Mandy graduated in May 1990 and commenced working at the Engineering & Water Supply Department that same year. She then spent the majority of the next 10 years out in the SA Water Regions Riverland, Northern and Murray Mallee in construction.

Ten months into Mandy's career saw her first move to the Riverland to oversee the 15 man construction gang installing half of the Stage 2 pipelines on the Woolpunda SIS. Then progressing to the Waikerie SIS and moving into contract administration as part of a small team working on the Government Highland Irrigation Rehabilitation and Restructuring. Finally overseeing the whole of Mypolonga Rehabilitation during 1997 with one offsider; Mandy was involved in these projects from late 1990 through to early 1998 with a brief stint in the Northern Region as Services Engineer in 1994/95.

In late 2000, she took the opportunity to move to United Water where she was able to work part time 3 days a week and continue building her experience and career as a project manager and contract administrator.

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Mandy said, " I am fortunate to be able to take a project from the initial problem statement through the concept, design, delivery and handover stages."

In this role once again, she felt that she'd been fortunate with the variety of works ranging from construction or rehabilitation of water and wastewater pumping stations, PRVs, construction of pipelines, removal and replacement of large diameter valves eg. 750 -900mm in the Myponga and Barossa trunk water mains. Mandy project managed the small Holdfast Bay "pilot reuse treatment plant" for the Glenelg to Adelaide Parklands scheme, tunnelled under the railway lines at Blackwood to install a new 1050 concrete sleeve and larger section of 800mm MSCL water main. All projects are coordinated to be constructed in and around existing operating infrastructure.

Mandy finished by saying, "I love my job, I have met a variety of people along the way and many characters too, and it has certainly fulfilled my idea of not being stuck behind a desk forever."

Jason Thornhill Industry Relationship Manager Engineers Australia South Australia Division

Membership Profile Anthony Elder MIEAust

Why did you decide to become an engineer?

I was fortunate to know a civil engineer when studying in year 12 and he was really enjoying it. Plus I was fascinated with bridges and wanted to be a part of building them.

The greatest achievement is?

engineering

Digital electronics.

What are your hobbies?

What project are you working on now?

Triathlons, endurance events and catching up with friends, especially over a good meal and red wine with my wife.

Construction PM for the Christie Creek Upgrade, a $13m stormwater harvesting and distribution project for the City of Onkaparinga.

What do you think you will be doing five years from now?

What do you like the most about the engineering profession?

Having a long overseas holiday after managing another major infrastructure project within SA.

The diversity and challenges within the profession. If you choose to take a change, the profession is wide enough to generally accommodate. If you want a challenge, it is surprising just how much others are willing to let you have a go What do you see as one of the biggest issues facing the engineering profession?

The population debate brings with it challenges of meeting infrastructure requirements within relatively short time frames.

This I believe will be complicated by a lack of engineers, designers, drafters and project managers to complete the desired projects sustainably within time frames and budgets.

If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be?

Somewhere in Europe. It would be great to take weekend holidays in different countries and to experience their tunnelling engineering.

What is your motto?

Live life to the fullest; take every chance, every way possible.

Who would you most like to meet?

Steve Jobs.

Who has provided you with the greatest amount of inspiration in your career?

I have been inspired by many people, rather than just one individual.

Those have included my family, friends, colleagues, teachers plus the occasional sporting elite, business leader and military leader.

Interviewers Needed

ENGINEERING HERITAGE CONFERENCE 2011

Professional Interviewers are required to assess the applications of Chartered Applicants.

13th - 16th November 2011

In particular engineers who have Chartered Status and experience in Computer Systems, Software Engineering, Environmental Engineering or Submarines would be particularly welcome.

The next Engineering Heritage Australia conference will be held in Hobart on 13th-16th November 2011. The venue is the Wrest Point Conference Centre on the shores of the River Derwent.

As well as giving back to the profession and experiencing new perspectives time spent assisting with Professional Interviews can be used towards Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.

Attendees will be welcomed at a social gathering on the Sunday evening. The three days of sessions will include a Tuesday afternoon breakout for a local tour. The 4 day preconference tour will take place from Thursday to Sunday, visiting the North and West of the State.

To register as an interviewer please contact Member Relationship Coordinator Nathan Jones via: Email:

njones@engineersaustralia.org.au

Phone: 08 8202 7170 Post:

The Call for Papers was issued in November 2010, and abstracts are due by 28th February 2011.

You can refer to the conference website www.cdesign.com.au/ehac2011 for additional information and contact details.

Level 11, 108 King William Street ADELAIDE SA 5000

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www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa

Anthony Elder was announced as the 2010 Young Professional Engineer of the Year at the 2010 South Australian Engineering Excellence Awards.

Your Professional Development Unless published otherwise all presentations are scheduled for the Engineers Australia South Australia Division Office. Event details are subject to change. Please check our website prior to event for current information and office location updates. Please note the South Australia Division has relocated premises. Our new address is Level 11, 108 King William Street ADELAIDE SA 5000 Online registration for many events is now available directly through the South Australia Division Website Events Section at www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sa/events

February 2011 Date

Time

Host

Event

Wednesday 2nd

12.15pm

IET Retired

Tuesday 15th

5.00pm

Thursday 17th

5.30pm

Monday 21st

5.30pm

Thermal Energy Hybrids - Opportunities and Challenges

JTP Electrical and

Technical Meeting

Electronic

Title: To Be Announced

Footings Group

Technical Meeting Title: To Be Announced

Australian Geomechanics

Technical Meeting

Society

Title: To Be Announced

Contact

Email

Paul Godden

pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Paul Godden

pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Paul Godden

pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Paul Godden

pgodden@engineersaustralia.org.au

Save The Date - 19th - 22nd July 2011 The 15th International Conference for Women Engineers and Scientists (ICWES15) The 15th International Conference for Women Engineers and Scientists (ICWES15) is jointly hosted by Engineers Australia National Committee for Women in Engineering and the International Network for Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES). This will be the first time that an international conference devoted to women in science, engineering and technology will be held in Australia.

For more information please visit the conference website - http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/icwes15/

Save The Date 16 September 2011

Christmas Closure Announcement

2011 South Australian Engineering Excellence Awards

The Engineers Australia South Australia Division will

The South Australian Engineering Excellence Awards program will be launched in early 2011.

If you have a project to show off why not get in touch? The Awards culminate in the presentation dinner which will be held on the 16th September 2011. The dinner sold out in 2010 so mark the date in your diary now!

9.00am Tuesday 4th January 2011.

th

More information can be obtained by contacting Events Manager Caroline Holmes via cholmes@ engineersaustralia.org.au or by calling 08 8202 7140.

be closed from 5.00pm Wednesday 22nd December 2010 and will re-open Should you require any information before this date we recommend contacting the Division office via: Email: sa@engineersaustralia.org.au Phone: 08 8202 7100 Post: Lvl 11, 108 King William St, Adelaide SA 5000

On behalf of all of us at the South Australia Division

Merry Christmas to all and we hope to see you in the new year!

Enter

8 The views expressed in Engineering South Australia News are not necessarily those of Engineers Australia South Australia Division.