e n g i n e e r s

News and information from the Canberra Division career, know just how important they have of Engineers Australia been. The relationship with our mentors helped us to develop our self-confidence and esteem and gave us guidance and help June 2007 in mapping our careers. The relationship, in From the President my case, was not just a workplace, technical Canberra Division, Engineers Australia teaching/learning relationship but one which 11 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 The Young Engineers Group organised involved ethics, respect, futures and families. PO Box 6038, Kingston ACT 2604 an Inter-generation luncheon on 18 June to I still keep in touch with one of my mentors in Phone (02) 6273 1314 which members of the Young Engineers and the USA whom I first met 50 years ago. Fax (02) 6273 2051 Women in Engineering Group were invited Nathan pointed out that the advantages Email: [email protected] together with Canberra Division Fellows. This of mentoring relationships to both Web site: www.engineersaustralia.org. was held at the Royal Canberra Golf Club and individuals are obvious, but the advantages au/canberra was well attended. to their company or Department are The two speakers were inspiring. Nathan substantial as well. Effective mentoring In this issue ... Munroe, our 2006 Canberra Young Engineer means that people are better trained and of the Year, spoke first and focused on the are better able to navigate their work place Technical presentations .... 3 attitudes of Young Engineers in the workplace and careers, are likely to stay longer and be and the need for mentoring to help them Women in Engineering happier. fulfil their ambitions. Rebecca Russell, a Dinner ...... 4 There seems to be no magic formula VicRoads Young Engineer Award winner, from for successful mentoring. Mentoring Canberra Women in the Victorian Department of Infrastructure, relationships are personal and involve Engineering group ...... 5 was the second speaker and focused on the trust, respect and frankness. They cannot meaning, value and management of diversity. Award nominations be thrust upon people but must grow out now open ...... 6 Those of us who have been fortunate of a workplace culture that respects the enough to have had effective mentors in our individual. A mentor needs to be able to continued page 2 >

Nathan Munro, Guest speaker (left), and Callum Heinrich, Young Engineers Canberra Chair, at the Gen2X Luncheon. < from page 1: From the President identify a person’s strengths and weaknesses and develop a relationship which is aimed to get the best out of them. The young engineer needs to recognise that their own knowledge has to bloom with experience and be willing to be prompted by a more senior colleague. Respecting the individual is part of managing diversity, because diversity means valuing the attributes that make people different from each other and how these differences can contribute Rebecca Russell addressing the guests at the Gen2X Luncheon. to team building, better decision making and innovation. Rebecca drew attention to many of the human characteristics that make for diversity – age, gender, race, religion and culture – and pointed out that they lead to different perspectives into which we can tap if our workplace is sensitive to them. Both speakers showed that perhaps the most diverse situation

The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull with (Left to right) Ian Noble, Colin Kish, National President Rolfe Hartley and Bob Nairn.

that needs to be bridged in the Recycled Water for Drinking” workplace is the very substantial commissioned by the National difference in attitudes to work Water Commission. He spoke about and family life between different the importance of having a variety age groups. This gave a poignant of options for future sustainable meaning to our inter-generational water and energy resources and the luncheon, which was a great substantial role engineers have to success and our thanks go to play in developing them. Callum Heinrich and the Young The attendance showed that Engineers Group, together with the a bright and eminent speaker, on Women in Engineering Group, for an important and topical subject, organising it. can attract a large audience. Our On Tuesday, 19 June, around 85 National President thanked the members and guests attended a Minister and presented him with presentation by The Hon. Malcolm a couple of momentos of the Turnbull, Minister for Environment occasion. The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull and Water Resources, at which Bob Nairn addressing members. he released a report on “Using President, Canberra Division

Engineers Canberra | June 2007 | 2 ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA CANBERRA DIVISION TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS All presentations will be held at “Engineering House”, 11 National Circuit, Barton unless otherwise specified. For catering purposes please RSVP for all meetings to [email protected] or phone 6273 1314. Full details of each meeting can be found at www.engineersaustralia.org.au/canberra under Technical Program.

JULY 2007 DATE BRANCH/GROUP TOPIC SPEAKER/NOTES Tues 3 Risk Engineering Society An intelligence led approach to risk Richard Jones, 5.30 for 6.00pm management Chief Scientist at the Distillery 1 CPD point Wed 4 Transport Branch Road Safety: What Next? Ken Ogden 12.00 for 12.30pm (see below) 1 CPD point Wed 4 ASDE A brief on Network Centric Warfare Graham Eveille, Director General, 5.30 for 6.00pm Electronic Systems Integration, DMO 1 CPD point Tues 17 ITE&E Branch, IEEE & IET Evolutionary Product Testing Ashley Fox, Global Security Solutions, 5.30 for 6.00pm CSC Australia 1 CPD point Tues 24 WIE Dinner Australian War Memorial 7.00 for 7.30pm (Full details on page 4) Wed 25 Civil/Structural Branch Authorities / Agencies, Consultants and Peter Middleton, Woden Contractors, 5.30 for 6.00pm Contractors’ Forum Max Bomben, Browns Consulting & RTA 1 CPD point (See details on page 6) expert

AUGUST 2007 DATE BRANCH/GROUP TOPIC SPEAKER/NOTES Thur 2 WIE How to Attract and Retain a Diverse Workforce Duncan Smith, 9.00am to 1.00pm A Professional Development Workshop for Principal of ADC Associates 3 CPD points Engineering Managers (See details on page 5) Registation essential - costs apply. Tues 7 Management in Climate Change & Energy – Engineers Andre Kaspura, Policy Analyst, 5.30 for 6.00pm Engineering Australia’s position Engineers Australia 1 CPD point Tues 14 Civil/Structural Branch The technical aspects of the Sydney To be confirmed 5.30 for 6.00pm desalination plant and the Kyeemagh and 1 CPD point Kurnell pipelines Tues 21 ITE&E Branch, IET & IEEE Network Centric Warfare – An Operational LTCOL Marcus Thompson 5.30 for 6.00pm Overview 1 CPD point

Transport Branch Presentation Wednesday 4 July 2007 – 12.00 for 12.30pm Engineering House, 11 National Cir, Barton ROAD SAFETY: WHAT NEXT? Dr Ken Ogden Nearly half the reduction in road trauma will be the result of a safer road and traffic environment, according to the National Road Safety Strategy, and another quarter will be due to safer vehicles. Engineers thus deliver the great bulk of road safety benefits. Are we performing as well as we might? What more needs to be done? And how can the benefit of our initiatives be maximised in the context of the overall systems approach to road safety? These and similar questions will be posed by Dr Ken Ogden, the Engineers Australia National Committee for Transport Eminent Speaker for 2007. Dr Ogden is author of “Safer Roads: A Guide to Road Safety Engineering”, and has recently retired from his position as General Manager Public Policy with the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria. In his former role, he was responsible for RACV’s public policy and advocacy roles, in particular in the areas of road safety, the environment, transport and traffic, and consumer advice. Prior to joining RACV in 1996, Ken was Professor and Head of the Institute of Transport Studies at Monash University. Ken is an international authority on road safety, traffic engineering and transport policy. He is author or editor of numerous technical papers and several book. Ken is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and was the recipient of its 2004 Transport Engineering Medal. He will challenge us to think about the next steps in road safety policy, including safer roads, safer vehicles and safer road user behaviour. RSVP: [email protected] or phone 6273 1314

Engineers Canberra | June 2007 | 3 WOMEN IN ENGINEERING DINNER

TUESDAY 24 JULY 2007 – 7.00 for 7.30pm Anzac Hall, Australian War Memorial Cost $85 per person (includes GST) Guest Speaker: Julie Hammer AM, CSC, FIEAust EngExec, FRAeS, GAICD National Deputy President, Engineers Australia

“Spells, Elves and White Magic – the Pioneering Days of the Air Force’s Electronic Warfare Squadron”

All members and guests are invited to the dinner to awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross for that command. celebrate the 2007 Year of Women in Engineering. She served for three years from 1996 to 1998 as one of the While pre dinner drinks are served, enjoy a sound and Prime Minister’s representatives on the Governor General’s light show and then the unique experience of dinner beneath Australian Bravery Awards Council. She was awarded the the wings of G for George. 2001 Sir Memorial Medal by the Air Vice-Marshal Julie Hammer, an electronics engineer, Royal Aeronautical Society and in 2002, she was appointed served in the Royal Australian Air Force for over 28 years in the by the Government to be one of Australia’s Honouring Women fields of aircraft maintenance, technical intelligence, electronic Ambassadors. The named her the warfare, and information and communications technology 2003 Alumnus of the Year and she was appointed a Member of (ICT) systems. She was the Commandant of the Australian the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2004 Australia Day Honours Defence Force Academy during 2002 and 2003. At the time of List. She was the 2005 ACT Australian of the Year. Julie is a her transfer to the Reserve in August 2005, she was the most Director of the .au Domain Administration Ltd. senior woman in the . She was the Within Engineers Australia, Julie was one of the inaugural first serving woman to achieve One Star rank in 1999 and is the Board Members of the Centre for Engineering Leadership only woman in the history of the Australian Defence Force to and Management (CELM) and took over as Chair of the CELM have achieved Two Star rank. She holds a Bachelor of Science Board in November 2005. She has led the development of with Honours in Physics, a Masters degree in Aerosystems advanced competencies for leadership, management and Engineering and a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies. business skills. She is currently the National Deputy President Julie was the first woman to command an operational for Engineers Australia and will become National President in unit in the RAAF, the Electronic Warfare Squadron, and was November 2007.

REGISTRATION – Women in Engineering Dinner – Tuesday 24 July 2007 Please register by 17 July 2007 – Cost $85 per person Fax to: (02) 6273 2051 or Email details to [email protected] or Post to: Engineers Australia PO Box 6038 Kingston ACT 2604

Name(s): ......

Phone: ...... Fax: ......

Email: ......

Cheque enclosed (payable to Engineers Australia) or Debit my credit card for $......

Visa MasterCard Amex Diners Club Card number ______Expiry Date ____ / ____

Name on Card ...... Signature ...... This form becomes a tax invoice upon payment -- Engineers Australia ABN 63 020 415 510

Engineers Canberra | June 2007 | 4 Canberra Women in Engineering group

It has been a busy month As part of the “Girl Talk” The breakfast was attended for the Canberra WIE group as program, the WIE group will be by around 50 guests, and the “Girl Talk” program was hosting a workshop for high featured a panel of four women rolled out to schools from the school students in years 10-12 at with significant leadership, beginning of May. “Girl Talk” is a Engineering House on 23 August. management and professional flagship activity of the Canberra The day will comprise of guest achievements – Shireane WIE group consisting of a school speakers, information sessions McKinnie (DMO), Merrilyn presentation aimed at young and a whole heap of fun. Here McPherson (Former Executive women in their senior school students can meet other students Director, Dairy Adjustment years and includes several female with similar interests and make Authority), Leanne Close (AFP), guest speakers profiling their own contact with female and male and Faye Powell (GHD). The next personal engineering experiences. engineers working within the WIE Breakfast will be in held The presentation has already Canberra region. Registration October. been delivered to various schools forms for the Girl Talk engineering In addition the group has also around Canberra including Lake workshop are available from the been attending career expos at Ginninderra College, Daramalan Canberra WIE group webpage schools, and continue to organise College, Canberra Girls Grammar within the Engineers Australia monthly social get-togethers. and Lyneham High. The program website. Meetings are conducted every first has been welcomed with much The group also organised a Monday of the month from 6pm at enthusiasm from both students successful first formal Women Engineering House, Barton. and teachers, and will continue in Engineering professional Please contact Kat Ng at being presented to other presentation series breakfast [email protected] for more information interested schools until the end for the year on 30 May at the on the Canberra WIE group activities or to of July. Boathouse by the Lake. subscribe to the group mailing list.

Women in Engineering presents HOW TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN A DIVERSE WORKFORCE A Professional Development Workshop for Engineering Managers

Thursday 2 August 2007 – 9.00am-1.00pm Auditorium, Engineering House, 11 National Cir, Barton. RSVP by Thursday 26 July 2007 – Numbers are limited. RSVP essential. Cost: $220 Early Bird, $275 Members, $330 Non members. Further details and Registration Form at www.engineersaustralia.org.au/canberra under Technical Program.

Workshop Facilitator Duncan Smith, Principal of ADC Associates With nearly 20 years in the diversity field and a to technical organisations, including multi-year broad range of international business experience, contracts with Mobil Oil and Hewlett Packard, Duncan has an impressive record of enhancing work with BP, Caterpillar, Ericsson, Shell, Stanwell the performance of organisations, groups and Corporation and Textron Fastening Systems among individuals. Formerly with Digital Equipment many others. Corporation, much of his consulting work has been www.adc-assoc.com

Engineers Canberra | June 2007 | 5 Nominations now open for the following Individual Awards: Professional Engineer Engineering Technologist Engineering Officer of the Year of the Year of the Year Made annually, the Professional Inaugurated in 2002, the Inaugurated in 1995, this award Engineer of the Year Award is Engineering Technologist of recognises the contribution that made to a practising professional the Year Award recognises Engineering Associates make to engineer, judged against the the contributions Engineering the community. It is awarded criteria below Technologists make to the annually to an Officer member of community, and judged against Engineers Australia, and judged the criteria below under the criteria below

Criteria: • Competence and significant achievement in community affairs • Demonstrated understanding of the role and purpose of the engineering profession within society • Proficiency in the use of communications skills in engineering projects • Effective communication with the media

Nominations, addressing the above criteria and including a current CV of the nominee, need to be submitted by 20 August 2007 to the Canberra Division, PO Box 6038, Kingston, ACT, 2604 or by email to [email protected] . Winners will be announced at the Canberra Engineering Excellence Awards in September. For further information, please contact the Canberra Division office on 6273 1314.

Young Professional Young Engineering Young Engineering Officer Engineer of the Year Technologist of the Year of the Year

These awards apply to practising engineers under the age of 35 years. They seek to acknowledge and reward young professional engineers, young engineering technologists and young officers who have: • Realised competence and significant achievement in community affairs • A demonstrated understanding of the role and purpose of the engineering profession in society • Proficiency in the use of communication skills in engineering projects • Effective communication with public media. Nominations, addressing the above criteria and including a current CV of the nominee need to be submitted by 20 August 2007 to the Canberra Division, PO Box 6038, Kingston, ACT, 2604 or by email to [email protected] . Winners will be announced at the Canberra Engineering Excellence Awards in September. For further information, please contact the Canberra Division office on 6273 1314.

Civil/Structural Branch Presentation Wednesday 25 July 2007 – 5.30 for 6.00pm Engineering House, 11 National Circuit, Barton AUTHORITIES/ AGENCIES, CONSULTANTS AND CONTRACTORS’ FORUM “The challenging engineering issues involved in the use of CAD and electronic documentation of civil projects within the ACT and its wider implications for other engineering disciplines” The forum will deal with the challenges and problems of The discussion will focus on: accurate, adequate and timely transfer of information from • review of the relevant documentation standards; the design intent to the construction/ fabrication phase • the challenges and problems of hard copy and through hard copy and electronic documentation. electronic documentation; The Presenters are: • how electronic data is best handled to provide • Peter Middleton – civil contractor from Woden the necessary, accurate and adequate information Contractors; without document information overload; • Max Bomben – consultant from Browns Consulting; • advantages and disadvantages of electronic design • RTA expert from the regional RTA Wollongong office. and of hard copy and electronic documentation.

Engineers Canberra | June 2007 | 6