Archived News for Engineering Professionals
Engineering, infrastructure and project management consultancy, Meinhardt Group, has announced the appointment of Peter Galvin as Director of Strategy and Operations in Australia.
The move signals the Group’s committed ambition to significantly grow the business in Australia and globally both by revenue and by size.
Peter brings on board 25 years’ relevant experience having worked on iconic projects across the globe, from the Darwin Waterfront redevelopment (Aus$1B) and Nakheel's retail and mixed use portfolio (A$15B) to Westminster Abbey’s refurbishment in London. His reputation and passion for growing professional services businesses in the areas of property, capital works and infrastructure is well known within Australia and the overseas markets.
LNG industry hamstrung by skills shortages
Australia’s skills shortage is a major constraint on the growth of the liquefied natural gas industry, according to Macquarie Private Wealth.
FMC Technologies to supply subsea systems for Shell's Prelude Project
FMC technologies has been awarded a contract to supply subsea production and associated topside systems to Shell’s Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility at the Prelude Gas Field off Australia’s north west coast.
Independent Project Performance Office set to monitor Defence acquisitions
The Defence Department’s new Independent Project Performance Office (IPPO) has begun operating to monitor all major Defence capital acquisition projects.
Academy to promote women in technological sciences and engineering
The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) has undertaken to elect a target of one-third women among its annual election of new Fellows from 2012.
The Academy adopted a Gender Equity Policy in November last year which “recognises leadership is needed to address the gender imbalance both within the Academy membership and its activities as well as more broadly in promoting women in senior level in technological sciences and engineering in Australia.”
ATSE has also endorsed the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles and the development of a Program of Action to back its Gender Equity Policy (including implementing the gender targets for membership) by an ATSE Gender Equity Implementation Group.
ATSE Fellow and Director, Professor Susan Pond, has been appointed to lead the initiative in conjunction with the ATSE President, the Board and the ATSE Chief Executive Officer.
Under the Gender Equity Policy, ATSE will promote women within its own organisation, engage with other organisations on gender equity issues, and promote of women in technological sciences and engineering and career development of younger women.
In reaffirming its commitment to the importance of the full participation of women in technological sciences and engineering in Australia, ATSE’s Gender Equity Policy highlights that women constitute a wealth of talent and creativity. Both the private and public sectors need to adopt mechanisms that enable women in technological sciences and engineering to actively contribute to Australia’s prosperity and productivity.
More information is at http://www.atse.org.au
Parsons Brinckerhoff achieves A+ for sustainability report
Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Australia-Pacific operations have achieved an A+ rating for its third annual sustainability report.
Downer EDI wins $50 million Rio Iron Ore contract
Downer EDI has won a $50 million contract for work at Rio Tinto's Warramboo project in the Pilbara.
Adelaide Desal Project reaches milestone
Adelaide’s $1.83 billion Desalination Project has reached a milestone with seawater flooding the plant via the 1.4 km intake tunnel, connecting ocean and land for the first time.
Innovative coal to diesel plan announced
Petroleum and minerals explorer, Central Petroleum Ltd, and Allied Resource Partners (ARP) have announced agreement to undertake a feasibility study on a $7.5 billion plan to convert coal deposits in the Pedirka Basin in Central Australia to diesel by gasification.
Queensland targets biofuels technologies
Researchers in Queensland are preparing to make a bid to provide the US Navy with biofuels for ships and planes by 2020.
Queensland Government announces Smart State fund allocations
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has announced how the Queensland government will allocate $100 million in a new round of Smart State funds.
DSTO works on innovative personal battery technology
The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) is helping advance an innovative power generation and harvesting system, as part of the Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Program.
Smart Grid Newcastle trial to get under way
NSW energy distribution company, AusGrid, is gearing up for its first trial under the Australian Government’s $100 million Smart Grid, Smart City project, inviting 250 selected households in the Newcastle area to be part of the project.
Infrastructure NSW legislation passed
Legislation to establish Infrastructure NSW has been passed in the NSW Parliament, and the former Premier, Nick Greiner, has been appointed as its chair. Paul Broad, currently chief executive of AAPT, has been appointed chief executive of the new body.
Mechanical pressure to electricity breakthrough
A co-operative team from RMIT University and the Australian National University (ANU) have developed a method that will allow mechanical pressure into electricity.
300,000 workers needed in resource states
Queensland and Western Australia are set to experience a massive demand in skilled labour over the coming years, with 300,000 workers required to continue economic growth.
Oakajee port and rail in strife as skills shortages loom
Western Australia’s Oakajee iron ore port and rail project has taken another serious blow after one of the two main developers announced it was struggling to raise the required funding for the site’s construction.
Roundtable addresses engineering skills shortages
Victorian Minister for Manufacturing, Exports and Trade Richard Dalla-Riva has chaired a roundtable forum of engineering industry leaders aimed at developing a national strategy to address the sector’s increasing skills shortage.
Rio speeds up Pilbara development with $637.8 million
Rio Tinto has announced a $637.8 million investment in its Pilbara expansion plans, aimed at fast tracking the development of the company's iron ore production capacity.
Leighton Contractors and GE to build Geraldton windfarm
A Leighton Holdings Ltd and GE consortium has been awarded a $130 million contract to build the Mumbida wind farm south-east of Geraldton in Western Australia.
$750 million for solar power stations
The Federal Government will provide more than $750 million to help build two of the largest solar power stations in the world.