Hello,
It is with great pleasure that I share the news that I have formally been appointed to the role of General Manager Tasmania for Engineers Australia. I have been acting in the role since November 2018 following Vicki Gardiner’s relocation to Canberra with her family.
I believe strongly in the role of Engineers Australia as an organisation for our members, and I have spent the last four months connecting with members around Tasmania and your representative groups to strengthen my understanding of your needs. This includes working with the Division Committee under the leadership of President David Finnigan and the various groups and sub-committees that are active in Tasmania, who provide valuable insights into member views and also have essential roles in delivering local activities.
For many members I am a familiar face, having been an active member in Tasmania since 2001, but for those who don’t know me well, I am a Materials Engineer (UNSW) and my engineering career started in the oil and gas sector before my passion for renewable energy and Antarctica led me to do a PhD in sustainable energy technology systems implementation at UTAS (hydrogen systems for Antarctic stations).
After this I led a project in the international development sector, living in Copenhagen, and supporting Nordic communities to introduce sustainable energy solutions. After a rewarding five years I returned to Tasmania with my wife Sharon (a native Tasmanian) and babies Charlotte and Hugh.
Engineers Australia has been an enduring part of my professional life and I’ve been a proud member for 20+ years, joining as a student when studying at UNSW, and am now a Fellow member, Chartered in leadership and Management, and hold the Engineering Executive (EngExec) credential.
I’ve been involved with Engineers Australia Tasmania as a member since 2001, and personal highlights include being Chair of the Young Engineers Tasmania group and contributions to the Tasmania Committee and STEM outreach activities.
When I returned to Tasmania in 2011 I reconnected with the Engineers Australia Tasmania as a volunteer. As is the way of such things in life, I soon unexpectedly found myself working for Engineers Australia in a role to drive STEM and industry engagement in Tasmania (versions of the role now done so well by Darren Beattie). I’ve since held numerous roles in the organisation, including three stints as acting Director/General Manager for Tasmania, but have always been based out of the Hobart office. I’ve also had an enduring relationship since 2011 with the University of Tasmania School of Engineering and the Australian Maritime College as a casual lecturer, teaching elements such as Project Management, ethics and design.
I’ve now worked at Engineers Australia for 8 years, most recently leading our national program of support for student and graduate members and relationships with the 35+ universities around Australia, before stepping into the role of acting General Manager for Tasmania in November 2018.
What is my role as General Manager for Tasmania? I lead the operations of our staff team and member community in providing value to our Tasmanian members and in achieving Engineers Australia's mission of ‘advancing the science and practice of engineering for the benefit of the community’.
Key elements of my role include being a representative and voice for our members and for the profession to audiences such as government and the community, to support members in developing their knowledge and professional capabilities, to stimulate and enable connections between our members, and to support members in gaining recognition (such as through Chartered, Fellow status, project awards or the Engineers Australia Awards.
I work in partnership with our excellent local staff team of Gaylene Taylor and Darren Beattie, and with your nominated representatives including Tasmanian President David Finnigan, the Tasmanian Committee and our various groups and sub-committees; including Northern, North West and Southern regional groups, and groups focused on Diversity & Inclusion, Young Engineers, Engineering Heritage, and the Energy Industry Working Group.
I’m really excited and honoured to be taking on this role - my membership of Engineers Australia has been an enduring element of my professional life and has given me a lot of pleasure, opportunities, value and support. Becoming one of the key leaders of our community (others being member-centred roles such as the President) is a career-defining challenge and I welcome the opportunity to provide the same value and opportunities to you, and I’ll strive to do so.
Please feel welcome to get in touch with any questions, comments, feedback or thoughts that you have - our office is in Hobart but I am also regularly travelling around Tasmania and very keen to connect with you. I’d also encourage you to connect with me directly on LinkedIn, and to follow our Twitter account and Young Engineers Australia Tasmania's Facebook account if you’d like to see more informal updates on my activities and others in our community.
Kind regards,
David