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ingenuity ingenious genius ge genesis engineer generate enge ingenious e ingenuity genuine genes engineer ingenuity ingenious genius ingenuity genuine engineer ingenuity ingenious genius ingenuity genuine engineer ingenui ty ingenious geniu e e engender gen engineering g in gen ú i ty ISSUE 2, MAY 2012 A UQ engineering publication inside the C-SUITE from BE to boardroom

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UQ Ingenuity Magazine - For graduates, alumni, industry and studentsof Engineering at The University of Queensland.

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Page 1: Ingenuity

ingenuity ingenious genius ge genesis engineer generate enge ingenious e ingenuity genuine genes engineer ingenuity ingenious genius ingenuity genuine engineer ingenuity ingenious genius ingenuity genuine engineer ingenui ty ingenious geniu e e engender gen engineering g

in•gen•ú•i•tyissue 2, MAY 2012

A uQ engineering publication

inside the c-suitefrom Be to boardroom

Page 2: Ingenuity

i AM DeLiGHteD tO Be BAcK iN MY ROLe As eXecutiVe DeAN OF tHe FAcuLtY, AFteR A tHRee MONtH secONDMeNt tO tHe OFFice OF tHe QueeNsLAND cHieF scieNtist.

engineering underpins the Queensland economy and it is essential that we continue to build strength where there is competitive advantage. tasked with reviewing the current status and potential future of engineering in Queensland, i have had extensive involvement with many people from across industry, government, education and the research communities. the aim was to develop a vision and a plan that will create a cluster of engineering expertise in Queensland; position the state as a global centre of engineering education, research, design and services; and improve collaboration between industry, engineering researchers and engineering educators. this will require that we draw upon the expertise, experience and leadership of our alumni.

As leaders of global organisations, our “c-suite” alumni are all too aware of the challenges facing engineering and the engineering profession. Our “c-suite” feature shares insights into the careers of some of our key alumni, and focuses on the challenges they’ve faced on their professional journey.

We look forward to your continued involvement and support in 2012.

Professor Graham schafferexecutive Dean Faculty of eAit

it is A PLeAsuRe tO WeLcOMe YOu tO tHe secOND eDitiON OF iNGeNuitY.

For the past two years i have chaired the executive Dean’s strategic Development council. the council consists of a group of government and industry leaders from engineering, architecture and information technology who provide advice and guidance to the executive Dean, Professor Graham schaffer, on the strategic direction of the Faculty.

We are excited by Graham’s vision for the Faculty. it aims to be the national leader in engineering and architecture, and in the world’s top 100 universities in engineering and information technology. to achieve this vision the Faculty must work hand-in-hand with government, industry and alumni. Building new networks, identifying collaborative opportunities, encouraging new research and education directions, and supporting philanthropy is where the strategic Development council can assist.

throughout my engineering career i have found it very rewarding to remain engaged with the university; for my own continuing development and, more importantly, for the opportunity to contribute to the profession through providing what assistance i can to my alma-mater and the higher education sector. i encourage you to play a part in this exciting future.

Mrs else shepherd AMBe (electrical) 1966Former chair of the Board Powerlink Queensland

w e l c o m e

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ingenuity cONteNtsingenuity

04 NewsWhat’s been happening at uQ engineering in 2012?

08 civil engineering heats up at uQProfessor José torero shares his plans for the future of civil engineering at uQ

10 energy gets a boost at uQHow uQ is answering the need for sustainable, reliable and affordable energy

15 engineering Olympic glorycivil engineer Jane Moran sets her sights on an Olympic gold medal

16 inside the c-suiteuQ engineering alumni tell us why leadership matters

26 uQ biomedical engineering research addresses global issues

How engineering is playing an important role in the fight against pneumonia

28 talkin’ ’bout my generationthe uQ school of chemical engineering continues its history of innovation and leadership in teaching and learning

30 student spotlightR.J. ‘Gus’ Wiles scholarship provides a transformative educational experience for Maddalena Gabrielli

31 start your enginesuQ Racing revs up for 2012

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ingenuity A uQ eNGiNeeRiNG

PuBLicAtiON

editorial teamJonathan cosgrove

claire corones Madelene Flanagan

contributing writersclaire corones

Madelene FlanaganGraham schaffer

else shepherdJosé torerochris Greig

udantha Abeyratnesandeep Biswas

Malcolm BroomheadAndrew Buckley

christa Davies edwin KhewDes Whybird

designWendy Oakley

photographyMarc treble

Bernard Yamsophie Kellenberger

publishing informationPrint Works

[email protected]

cRicOs Provider Number 00025B

Printed on recycled paper

correctioningenuity issue 1, 2011: Women in Power (p.14)

– else shepherd was stated as the first uQ

female engineering graduate. this was in fact Deirdre Mary Vance who

obtained her Be civil in 1955. We apologise for

this error.

cover image

Page 4: Ingenuity

students following in the footsteps of the engineering class of 2011 will benefit from their pioneering efforts thanks to the university’s first ever graduating class Gift.

supported by 2011 engineering graduates, the class Gift raised funds for a keynote engineering address on 17 May, which focused on the topic of leadership and allowed current students to network with alumni. the address was delivered by three significant industry leaders - David Barbagallo (ceO, endeavour Foundation), Andrew Buckley (Managing Director, cardno), and terry effeney (ceO, eNeRGeX) – all of whom are uQ alumni.

Graduate engineering student Julie Hazzard said the 2011 class Gift “was a great way to say thank you to the university”.

students were encouraged to donate $20.11 or variations of this figure to symbolise their graduation year, raising a total of $3,909.37.

to view photos from the keynote address, visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/eAitalumni

uQ representatives took out awards in four of the eleven categories (including the prestigious chemeca Medal) in the 2011 Awards of excellence in chemical engineering.

n e w s

engineering a better future for those that follow

uQ research aims to prevent pandemics

Professor Anton Middleberg and Dr Linda Lua from uQ’s Australian institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology have signed an agreement to develop a pilot study in vaccine development for pre-pandemic avian influenza (H5N1).

As part of a uQ delegation that signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pasteur institute in Ho chi Minh city, Professor Middleberg and Dr Lua are working to develop a vaccine that uses bacteria to create virus-like particles (VLPs), which are shells of the virus but do not contain any viral genetic material.

it is hoped the VLP technology can be tailored for any infectious disease and potentially deliver vaccines in weeks, preventing pandemics from occurring.

“We believe VLPs have the potential to tackle emerging diseases in a safe and effective way,” said Professor Middleberg.

the awards were presented at the Australasian conference on chemical engineering in late september 2011, with uQ’s senior Deputy Vice-chancellor Professor Max Lu presented with the chemeca Medal.

the chemeca Medal is the most prestigious award in the chemical engineering profession throughout Australia and New Zealand, and is awarded to a prominent chemical engineer who has made an outstanding contribution to the practice of chemical engineering, in its widest sense, and who continues to serve the profession.

Other awards to uQ’s school of chemical engineering staff were the caltex teaching Award to Professor ian cameron; the Freehills Award to Professor John Zhu; and the Graeme Jameson Award for the best particle technology student, to PhD student Ms Li Wang.

uQ scoops national chemical engineering awards

4 ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012

Page 5: Ingenuity

the future of chemical production is potentially cheaper and more environmentally friendly thanks to technology developed by uQ spin off company Bilexys Pty Ltd.

Announced as the Pre-Revenue track winners in the san Francisco based imagine H20 2011 Prize, Bilexys was recognised for the commercial viability of their project.

uniQuest commercialisation manager and Bilexys Business Development Manager, Dr Paul Barrett said this achievement would allow the company to further develop and commercialise their technology.

“Bilexys approaches wastewater treatment as an opportunity to biologically convert the organics within wastewater into high-value chemical products, including sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide,” Dr Barrett said.

“chemicals produced by the Bilexys method are potentially less expensive and have a lower cO2 footprint relative to traditional chemical manufacturing techniques, providing a significant economic and environmental driver for the commercialisation of the technology.”

2011 uQ Mechanical engineering graduate, Ms Yassmin Abdel-Magied, has proven that it takes more than knowledge and skills to make a great engineer.

Announced as the 2012 international ‘speak Out for engineering competition’ winner in singapore recently, Ms Abdel-Magied proved that great communication is an integral part of an engineer’s skillset.

“As part of the ‘speak Out for engineering competition’, entrants must present a topic which relates to mechanical engineering. i presented my final year engineering thesis, which was on the design of the uQ Racing Formula sAe spaceframe chassis,” Ms Abdel-Magied said.

“it was an interesting topic to make stimulating for listeners; the audience was a

Research centre to answer community questions on csG

uQ has announced the world’s first dedicated coal seam gas research and education facility.

Academics at the $20m centre for coal seam Gas will undertake research into water, geoscience, petroleum engineering and social impact. More than 50 academics have been involved in identifying research projects, with plans to draw on the capabilities of 16 uQ schools and centres.

interim centre Director Professor chris Moran said it would provide detailed csG information for the community, rigorous research for government policy, and technology that supported best-practice activities for industry. the centre will also prepare students for csG careers; courses include a Masters in Petroleum engineering offered in partnership with the uK’s Heriot-Watt university.

mix of engineers and non-technical professionals so i looked at presenting it in a way that would be beneficial to all.”

this competition was originally established in 1964 to challenge young engineers to improve their communication skills.

imagining a future of cLeANeR WAteR

Mechanical engineering graduate sPeAKs Out FOR eNGiNeeRiNG

ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012 5

Page 6: Ingenuity

uQ alumnus named 2011 Professional engineer of the Year

epitomising the role of a professional engineer, uQ civil engineering alumnus Dr David Finch has been selected as Queensland’s 2011 Professional engineer of the Year.

the judging panel believed Dr Finch was worthy of the award due to his professionalism, competence, notable engineering outcomes, leadership, innovation and service to the profession and community.

Director of technology and Risk for the Australia and New Zealand operations at AecOM, Dr Finch heads both the Office of Risk Management and the innovation and technology council for the ANZ region.

Dr Finch is passionate about education in schools and universities and has had a continuing association with uQ since completing his undergraduate and Doctoral studies.

Dr Finch is currently employed as an Adjunct Professor in uQ’s school of civil engineering and has recently been appointed to the school’s Advisory Board.

Fighting crime through innovative uQ technology uQ academics have been awarded the prestigious information and communications technology (ict) Research and Development prize at the Asia-Pacific ict Alliance Awards for their face-recognition technology that improves the speed and accuracy of identifying faces for law-enforcement.

the academics, working in collaboration with National ict Australia’s (NictA) Queensland Research Laboratory and the Queensland government, created NictA’s Face search engine to improve face recognition in grainy, low quality video footage, potentially saving precious police time.

NictA’s Advanced surveillance Project Leader and uQ academic, Professor Brian Lovell said the Face search engine is the product of five years research by a committed and dedicated team.

engineering a sustainable future

the Dow chemical company and uQ have committed to securing a smarter engineering future through the establishment of the Dow centre for sustainable engineering innovation.

“this is a lighthouse initiative – hot housing innovation at the urban energy, water and carbon nexus, which will attract international attention to the issues of sustainability and position Dow and uQ as leaders, achievers and contributors to society,” said uQ chemical engineering alumnus, Andrew Liveris.

this initiative brings together cutting edge research in energy, water and sustainability with world-class science and engineering education.

the new centre will pursue a program of research and collaboration aimed at confronting the big sustainability challenges of the 21st century.the centre will be funded through a Dow gift worth $10 million over the next six years.

n e w s

less grainy

6 ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012

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changing the face of eNGiNeeRiNG eDucAtiONA significant gift from engineering consulting company, GHD, is literally changing the face of engineering education at uQ and providing students with improved educational facilities.

supporting uQ’s state-of-the-art Advanced engineering Building (AeB), GHD has gifted $2.5million to help construct the centrepiece of the AeB, which will become known as the GHD Auditorium.

“this is a wonderful gift, not only does it underpin an exciting new teaching and learning facility, we hope it will inspire others to follow their lead in giving,” Acting executive Dean of the Faculty of eAit, Professor David st John said. “Gifts such as the one from GHD are helping to ensure that engineering education in Australia is world class, and as such are making engineering at uQ an attractive career choice for both Australian and international students.”

the gift was established under the leadership of recently retired GHD ceO and chair, Des Whybird – himself a uQ alumnus.

“GHD hopes that future generations will enjoy their university education in this world class facility,” Mr Whybird said.

Leading the future of engineering for Queensland

Developing a vision and plan to position Queensland as a smart engineering state, executive Dean Professor Graham schaffer has spent the past three months acting as the special Advisor to the Queensland Government for the smart engineering state initiative.

seconded to the Premier’s Office through the Office of the chief scientist, Professor schaffer’s appointment took advantage of new opportunities from the growth in the minerals and energy sector, development of infrastructure, and demand for engineering services.

throughout his secondment, Professor schaffer was involved with fostering collaboration between industry, engineering researchers and engineering educators.

At the end of the appointment, Professor schaffer submitted recommendations to the Government through the Queensland chief scientist, Dr Geoff Garrett.

centre answers national need

co-funded by uQ, Golder Associates, Rio tinto, Anglo Gold Ashanti and BHP Billiton, the new uQ centre for Geotechnical engineering will answer the nation’s demand for Geotechnical engineering graduates.

the Geotechnical centre will support the new civil and Geotechnical engineering, and the Mining and Geotechnical engineering Dual Major Degree Programs, which are unique in Australia.

the dual major degree programs will produce graduates with a strong specialisation in Geotechnical engineering to meet the high demand in Australia and overseas.

the centre will promote research in the Geotechnical engineering field, providing enhanced research opportunities and facilitate the growth of continuing Professional Development and Postgraduate courses.

the centre will also offer enhanced capacities for high-level consulting.

ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012 7

Page 8: Ingenuity

Born and raised in Lima, Peru, Professor José torero’s diverse career in fire safety has been intriguing to say the least. As he embarks on his latest challenge as the incoming Head of school of civil engineering, José fills us in on what attracted him to uQ, his plans for moving forward, and why alumni are the key to defining the future of the profession.

civil engineering HeAts uP at uQ

p r o f i l e

8 ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012

Page 9: Ingenuity

“ the school of civil engineering at uQ is on the rise. the staff are of the highest quality; the student body is at its highest numbers; the facilities are being drastically improved; and the university administration is deeply committed to invest whatever is necessary to see the school of civil engineering recognised as one of the top civil engineering schools in the world. to me, being asked to lead the school through this process represents the best job in the world.

existing excellencein moving the school of civil engineering forward, i hope to capitalise on existing excellence. the school has a combination of leading academics that have excelled in their own areas, representing the biggest asset possessed by the school. Leadership is not achieved by trying to follow trends but by showing excellence.

Going forwardMy main plan is to coordinate the school’s areas of excellence through access to resources that will enable further and greater achievements. this in turn will contribute to further growth within the school, allowing us to continue to provide the best education possible.

Future leadersthe ultimate role of an academic in an institution like uQ is to educate the future leaders of the field. these individuals that are our future alumni will, through their leadership, define the directions of the profession. it is our responsibility to embrace the achievements of our alumni so that we can utilise these in the classrooms of the next generation. Our alumni have a responsibility to ensure that the

same quality education which enabled them to become leaders in their field is

delivered to future generations. this is most important in a discipline like civil

<< the ultimate role of an academic in an institution like uQ is to educate the future leaders of the field. these individuals that are our future alumni will, through their leadership, define the directions of the profession. >>

1989 Bsc, Pontificia universidad catolica del Peru

1991–92 Msc & PhD university of california, Berkeley usA

1993–95 Joined Laboratoire de combustion et Detonique

Directed research programmes in spacecraft fire safety, polyurethane foam fires, compartment fires and tunnel fire spread and smoke control

Placed experiments in three space shuttle Missions, two sounding rockets and the international space station

1995–2001 Department of Fire Protection engineering at the university of Maryland

2001–04 Appointed Reader in Fire Dynamics

2004-2012 BRe trust/Royal Academy of engineering Professor of Fire safety engineering

Director of the BRe centre for Fire safety engineering at the university of edinburgh

2008-2011 Head of the institute for infrastructure and environment, university of edinburgh

2009 elected Fellow of the Royal society of edinburgh

2010 elected fellow of the Royal Academy of engineering

2011 Appointed uQ’s incoming Head of school of civil engineering 2012

JOsÉ tOReRO: A sNAPsHOt

ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012 9

engineering where the field, by its mere nature, requires continuity of thought and leadership.

continuing partnershipsthe school and alumni must work as a single entity to help define the future of the profession. A strong relationship is thus essential. As a school, we need to understand the needs of our alumni as much as our alumni need to understand what we need to continue to excel.

A multidisciplinary approach i believe modern civil engineering is multidisciplinary. the integration of complex and diverse knowledge is the only mechanism that enables optimised design. this occurs in all areas of civil engineering and often the expert knowledge does not reside within the discipline. Nevertheless it is the civil engineer who has to serve as the integrator of the knowledge.

throughout my career within the area of fire safety i have brought knowledge from aerospace, chemical and mechanical engineering as well as material science into the design of safe infrastructure. this knowledge has been embedded within the civil engineering framework to allow for its integration into the design process.

On civil and fire safety engineeringin the past, civil engineers have delegated design tasks to architects and fire protection engineers through the use of codes and ignored their role as engineers. the sustainable design of infrastructure does not allow for a “one size fits all” approach and requires the explicit involvement of engineers in the design process.

embedding the responsibility of leadership in this process into the civil engineering community has been my biggest challenge.

José torero, Head, school of civil engineering

Page 10: Ingenuity

ANsWeRiNG tHe NeeD FOR sustAiNABLe, ReLiABLe AND AFFORDABLe eNeRGY HAs BeeN AcKNOWLeDGeD As ONe OF tHe GReAtest cHALLeNGes tO FAce OuR GeNeRAtiON, AND Quite POssiBLY GeNeRAtiONs tHAt FOLLOW. tHe DeVeLOPMeNt OF uQ’s eNeRGY iNitiAtiVe WiLL POsitiON AND DeVeLOP uQ’s eNeRGY ReseARcH cAPABiLitY ON tHe iNteRNAtiONAL stAGe.

energy Gets A BOOst at uQ

r e s e a r c h

10 ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012

Page 11: Ingenuity

ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012 11

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Almost 92% of our nation’s electricity is derived from fossil fuels including

approximately 77% from coal. this means around 8% of Australia’s power demand is satisfied by renewable resources. this situation has created an urgent need to transform Australia’s electricity generation both by deploying more renewable energy and reducing the emissions from burning fossil fuels. that is the grand challenge facing not only Australia but the entire world.

Recognising that the supply of sustainable, reliable and affordable energy is arguably the number one issue facing the planet this century has led to the development of uQ’s energy initiative. Appointed as the Director of uQ’s energy initiative in september 2011, Professor chris Greig has been tasked with establishing and leading this new initiative.

“When the Vice chancellor contacted me with the idea, it was a bit like being presented with a blank canvas. this provided an opportunity to form a vision, strategy and approach to position and develop uQ’s energy research capability on the international stage. it was clear that within uQ, there is a very significant and diverse energy research portfolio, encompassing genuinely world-class capability and projects. However, what was also evident

was the fact that this capability is quite disconnected, and its full breadth and depth was, and is, not well recognised either internally or externally,” Professor Greig says.

since joining uQ, Professor Greig’s primary task has been to complete a stocktake of the capability, facilities and projects being undertaken at the university, and to engage both internally and externally with industry, government, NGO’s and the international research community. it is this engagement that provides the global and national context for the uQ energy initiative.

“A good understanding of the national and global context in which your business operates is crucial to ensuring the effectiveness and relevance of your strategy. One of the key lessons i have learnt throughout my 25 year career in business, is the importance of context strategy when driving forward business plans.”

Finalised in May, the uQ energy initiative is effectively an umbrella organisation, encompassing the entire university’s energy research capabilities, which will enable:• Asharedcontextandstrategic

framework for researchers;• Auniformapproachtothe

techno-economic evaluation of ideas, technologies and projects;

• Internalawarenessofthedepthand breadth of peer group

research capability and activities; and

• Awindowthroughwhichexternal stakeholders can readily see and appreciate the full extent of uQ energy research capability and achievements.“if we can effectively implement

this strategy, i expect to not only see increased engagement and collaboration internally but most importantly with government, industry, NGO’s and researchers globally. in turn, this will enhance the quality and relevance of our energy research and ultimately bring additional projects and strategic funding” says Professor Greig.

A multidisciplinary approach is a critical feature of uQ’s energy initiative. in the modern world, any transition is multi-dimensional, and this approach does not differ with the transition to a more sustainable energy future.

“the effectiveness and pace of the transition will be as largely focused on economic, socio-political, legal, regulatory, and even human health issues as it will on technologies for harvesting, converting and utilising energy sources,” comments Professor Greig.

“Fundamentally, we know the increases in atmospheric cO2 will warm the planet. What is uncertain and quite contentious is how much warming will be caused by anthropogenic cO2 emissions and

<< Within uQ, there is a very significant and diverse energy research portfolio, encompassing genuinely world-class capability and projects… but its full breadth and depth was, and is, not well recognised either internally or externally. >>

12 ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012

Professor chris Greig, Director – uQ energy initiative

Page 13: Ingenuity

Framework illustrating the high level scope and content of energy research at uQ. this diagram provides a high level overview representation of research activities at uQ. it is important to note that the activities are not necessarily formally organised in this manner, nor have they, to date, been represented to the external world as such.

ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012 13

what the direct and indirect consequences might be.

“Personally, i think the scientific evidence presented means there is at least the possibility that consequences could be extreme and therefore our generation may be contributing to dangerous climate change that could put our planet at risk within the next few generations. i believe the developed and emerging economies can and should continue to grow and that our challenge is to urgently refocus and invest in the redesign of systems and processes that will support sustainable growth. that means research and more specifically, multidisciplinary research across the full suite of energy options is going to be critical.”

the uQ energy initiative reflects this ‘portfolio approach’ and focuses on transforming traditional energy resource technologies and systems, while simultaneously supporting the development of renewable energy technologies and other emerging solutions. this means that the

uQ is committed to a cleaner, sustainable future, and is a global leader in the development of tomorrow’s energy solutions. the st Lucia campus is home to Australia’s largest flat panel solar array, which reduces the university’s reliance on fossil fuel energy.

Page 14: Ingenuity

<< Our sustainable energy future is a truly global challenge that is multidimensional. the environmental consequences must be considered in conjunction with social and economic imperatives. >>

research undertaken at uQ deals with key renewable resources such as solar, geothermal and bioenergy, along with key enabling technologies that can allow these renewable sources to more readily meet base load and peak energy needs as well as become more affordable.

the research projects undertaken at uQ look to improve the harvesting and conversion efficiency of sustainable energy sources and develop new construction materials and production methods. it is also hoped that these projects will optimise the integration of renewable energy sources into existing power and transport systems.

“some renewable energy resources such as wind and solar have intermittent availability, and uQ’s extensive research in electrochemical energy storage could hold the key to these resources providing base load power,” explains Professor Greig.

Looking to the future, Dr Greig believes that we will need to exploit both renewable energy sources and fossil fuels to meet the world’s energy needs.

“Our sustainable energy future is a truly global challenge, that is multidimensional. the environmental consequences must be considered in conjunction with the social and economic imperatives. Whatever our preference might be, i believe coal use will continue to increase

under virtually any foreseeable scenario for decades to come, because it is cheap and abundant. expansion of coal fired power in many Organisation for economic cooperation and Development (OecD) countries may be uncertain but china is building the equivalent of some fifty 1,000 MW plants each year. that’s about the equivalent of Australia’s total installed power generation capacity. Meanwhile, Australia is likely to remain an important supplier of coal to china (and india and the rest of Asia) providing significant, mutual economic benefit. in effect, the fastest growing countries in the world are “locking-in” significant cO2 emissions for future decades.

the uQ energy initiative is well placed to play a key role in shaping the energy future. Our World class research programs range from more sustainable extraction and utilisation of coal and gas, to carbon capture and storage, to helping enhance the efficiency, availability and cost of renewable electricity and liquid biofuels. Finally, we must not overlook our crucial role in energy communications to ensure policy makers and the public are well informed.”

For more information about the uQ energy initiative please contact at [email protected] or on +61 7 3346 0656.

14 ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012

Generous trust supports female education and advancement

Professor chris Greig has established the Genevieve Greig Memorial scholarship for Women in chemical engineering in honour of his late wife and her desire to ensure that female students are able to obtain a tertiary education. supporting a financially disadvantaged student to study chemical engineering at uQ, the scholarship will be awarded for the first time in 2012.

“the scholarship reflects her passion for female education and advancement and will provide an enduring tribute to Genevieve”, Professor Greig said.

Genevieve died of breast cancer in March 2011 and sadly will miss seeing her own daughter, Georgie Greig, graduate in chemical engineering later this year.

if you are interested in supporting student scholarships please contact Jonathan cosgrove, Director of Faculty Advancement: +61 7 3365 4302 or [email protected]

Page 15: Ingenuity

W ith the 2012 London Olympic Games almost upon us, civil engineering graduate Jane

Moran has her sights set on a gold medal.

“i grew up in Northern NsW and was always a swimmer. i went to state and National championships in pool and open water swimming. i was introduced to water polo in year 8 at stuartholme college and haven’t looked back. My first representative team was the Metropolitan West team as a twelve year old. i then went on to state and national representation through my schooling and university years. since then i have competed at Junior and senior World championships and the World cup, and am aiming for a spot in the London Olympic team,” she said.

A civil engineer in the transport group at Aurecon for the past seven years, Jane has recently qualified as a drainage engineer and is working on major road and rail infrastructure projects throughout Australia.

<< i’ve had the goal of winning an Olympic gold medal ever since i can remember and, with the 2012 London Olympic Games now only

months away, that’s all i can focus on. >>

engineering olympic glory

Jane’s ROAD tO GOLD- National League finals

26 – 30 April (Achieved second place)

- London test event 1 – 6 May (international tournament using the London Olympic facilities)

- World League rounds chiba, Japan. 7 – 12 May (annual international tournament)

- training camp shanghai, china. 16 – 28 May

- World League super Finals changshu, china. 29 May – 4 June

- OLYMPic teAM seLectiON 7 June

- training camp at the Ais canberra. 11 – 22 June

- training camp Montenegro. 9 June – 8 July

- training camp at the Ais (european Base) Varese, italy. 10 – 23 July

- LONDON OLYMPic GAMes 27 July – 12 August

“Aurecon have been a huge support to me throughout my sporting endeavours. i recently applied for 146 days of leave…and it got approved!!”

Jane’s love for a dynamic team environment in the pool has also translated across to her passion for engineering.

“i really enjoy the team environment. i am always dealing with different team members, which makes for interesting work days. i really enjoy seeing a project through from conception to construction – this allows me to develop a certain level of pride in knowing my involvement. i also like the fact that i’m not doing the same thing week-in, week-out. My tasks may range from developing proposals, to planning projects, technical work on pavements, traffic, rail, public transport, drainage, site inspections and contract administration,” she said.

this is Jane’s eighth year in the “Aussie stingers”, the Australian Water Polo team. Having narrowly missed out on making the Beijing Olympic team in 2008, she is more determined than ever to realize her dream. the university (and in particular uQ engineering) wishes Jane the best of luck as she puts everything on the line for selection.

Keep track of Jane’s road to gold on her Olympic blog at http://www.eait.uq.edu.au/jane-moran

a l u m n i p r o f i l e

ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012 15

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c - s u i t e

inside the c-suitefrom Be to boardroom

16 ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012

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tHe WORLD cANNOt DO WitHOut eNGiNeeRs. they create imaginative and visionary solutions to the challenges facing the planet to improve the world we live in.

As the leaders of global organisations, our “c-suite” alumni are all too aware of the challenges facing the engineering profession and, as they will attest, addressing these challenges requires good communication, collaboration and strategic thinking.

ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012 17

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c - s u i t e

MALcOLM BROOMHeAD is the Non-executive Director and chairman of Asciano Limited, Australia’s largest national rail freight and ports operator.

<< c-suite – a term used to describe corporate officers and directors. the term is derived from the use of the letter c in most high-level positions, such as chief Operating Officer (businessdictionary.com). >>

in any profession, it is the role of the leader to encourage, influence and lead by example; engineering is no exception. engineers not only have the responsibility to lead their respective organisations, they are also tasked with engineering better societies.

From studying a Bachelor of engineering at uQ to leading boardrooms around the world, our alumni (as ceOs, cFOs, Managing Directors and chairman) share insights into their careers and focus on some of the challenges they’ve faced in reaching the top.

How have our leaders managed their careers since graduation? What skills and abilities did they focus on developing as they moved into the “c-suite”? And what have been some of the key lessons they’ve learned along the way?

Be inspired by six uQ engineering graduates who have successfully made the transition from Be to boardroom.

ANDReW BucKLeY is Managing Director of the cardno Group, an integrated professional services provider delivering specialist expertise to create and improve physical and social infrastructure.

Des WHYBiRD is the former chairman and ceO of GHD, an international consulting company serving clients in the resources, environment and infrastructure markets.

sANDeeP BisWAs is ceO of Rio tinto’s Pacific Aluminium, an integrated aluminium business with operations in Australia and New Zealand.

cHRistA DAVies is the executive Vice President and cFO of Aon, a global provider of risk management services, insurance brokerage and human resource consulting.

eDWiN KHeW is chairman and ceO of Waztec Pte Ltd, a global environmental waste technology and management company with its headquarters in singapore.

18 ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012

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After graduating i intended to use my degree as a means to

work in a number of different countries, which i did do. i realised that i enjoyed the business side of the profession more than the technical side so in the early 80s i did an MBA part time at uQ. this qualification took my career in very unexpected directions and i joined Peko Wallsend in their treasury area and pursued a career in finance, rising very rapidly to the position of cFO. i then returned to an operations role before becoming chief executive Officer. the final move of my career was to a chemical company, Orica Limited where i was ceO until my retirement from full time work in 2005.

there have been a number of unexpected developments in my career normally as a result of takeovers of companies i worked for, whereby at least on one occasion i changed disciplines completely. For example, from engineering to finance to operations and on each occasion took a step backwards in seniority to advance further in the long term. i think this is

Malcolm BroomheadNON-eXecutiVe DiRectOR AND cHAiRMAN, AsciANO Be (ciViL) 1975; MBA 1984

<< the need to change careers a number of times in your life has become more common. sometimes it’s best to take one step back to take two steps forward. >>

an important lesson in today’s environment where the need to change careers a number of times in your life has become more common.

the most important challenge of leadership in an organisation in my view is to help change the culture of the entire group to enable all people in the organisation to feel empowered and committed to both their roles and the overall objectives of the group. this involves engaging them in the process of setting those objectives, listening to their views and incorporating those ideas into the desired values and behaviours of the organisation.

Philanthropy, i think is the most important way in which engineers can contribute to society but it’s also possible to get a lot of personal satisfaction from involvement in not for profit organisations.

i think that it’s important that engineers remember they are builders, not only of things but of a better society and improved standards of living for the communities in which we work and engineers should be very proud of this contribution.

ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012 19

© Newspix/Rebecca Michael

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<< if you want a career which will change all of the time, where you’re expected not only to move with the times and to different countries, but to shape what the future looks like, then i can’t think of a better profession than engineering. >>

sandeep BiswasceO, PAciFic ALuMiNiuM Be (cHeM) 1983

O rganisations across the world are crying out for capable young people. the

rate of change across the globe is faster than ever and who knows what the world will look like in 50 years’ time.

But as a young engineer that’s your opportunity. Because someone has to design new things, someone has to make sure everything works as it should, that it’s safe and passes various standards and requirements. then things have to get built and commissioned and proven to do what they’re supposed to do.

this is all being done in a world where standards are increasing, where quality and performance is just expected as the norm, and where innovation and challenges are coming at us all of the time. the people that do all of that are engineers. that’s us, it’s what we do.

Our business is a global business with market forces working across all the continents. events in one part of the world, of which we have no control over, can have a profound impact on just about every aspect of what we do.

there’s an old saying that you cannot control everything which happens to you, but you can control how you react. Our challenge is to build a resilient business which can withstand all of the external shocks. therefore in order to do that, having a broad perspective of international market trends, is critical in being able to make the best decisions for Pacific Aluminium.

there have been a number of high points in my career but the major one for me has been taking on my current role. My job is to basically create a significant new independent company, separate it from Rio tinto, and lead it through a divestment process which may see us with a new owner or become listed as an entity of our own.

this must be done in what is a very challenging time for the industry, which means that we are taking steps to significantly improve the performance of the business. this must be done while changing the culture to one more appropriate for a medium sized company, rather than a multi-national giant, and ensuring that our people are inspired and motivated throughout this phase and beyond. Who could ask for a better job than that?

c - s u i t e

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<< Good leadership requires one to have high self-esteem, rather than ego, coupled with an understanding of one’s strengths and weaknesses. >>

i believe that we are entering a new age where the profile of the engineering profession is

on the rise. i think that companies like

cardno, being publicly listed, are playing a part in raising that profile and helping the community to see the high value that the profession delivers to society.

As a leader, it is your responsibility to develop a vision for the future of your organisation and communicate this effectively to your team. the organisation’s leader has to be able to make difficult decisions and take responsibility for the outcomes. in order to make tough decisions, it is essential that you balance consultation with decisiveness so that your team feel that they have been listened to. Leading an organisation requires one to have high self-esteem, rather than ego, coupled with an understanding of one’s strengths and weaknesses. self-belief and self-esteem are necessary to enable you to employ great people around you who help

Andrew BuckleyMANAGiNG DiRectOR, cARDNO GROuP Be (MecH) 1980

strengthen your capability. However, at the end of the day, a leader must have the confidence to take responsibility for the actions of all their team members.

As with every role, leading an organisation has many challenges. it is essential that during difficult times, you stay true to the organisational vision and ensure that this is upheld in all business dealings. Delivering results in difficult times is one of the big challenges, especially in a continuously evolving marketplace. in order to deliver these results, it is necessary to delegate tasks successfully to your team. Occasionally admitting that you don’t have the capacity to take on a major task can also be a challenge.

At the start of my career i didn’t really understand what the range of possible careers was for a graduate mechanical engineer. starting my career in bulk materials handling facility design, i certainly didn’t think i would end up where i am today, the Managing Director of a public listed company.

ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012 21

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t he biggest challenge in leadership is helping people succeed. the

fundamental piece to that approach is understanding the opportunity before you, understanding how your colleagues can meet those opportunities, and then helping them be successful in a way that they never knew they could be. You have to create a common vision of what you as a leader are trying to accomplish for your firm.

i believe that the more effective you are in driving a clear vision; the more effective you are in creating alignment and collaboration around that vision. similarly, the more effective you are in creating trust; the more effective you will ultimately be as a leader and the more effective your organisation will become.

A global perspective and international experience is extremely important. i do not believe you can succeed without it. i cannot do my job as cFO from my office in chicago. i have to get out

<< A global perspective and international experience is extremely important. i do not believe you can succeed without it. >>

and visit with my team, many of whom are located outside the u.s. Listening to them gives you a perspective that you cannot get from anywhere else, which is critical if we want to help the leaders of our business units make the right strategic decisions based on the most accurate and efficient financial information.

Leadership is about communication and establishing a work-life balance that works for your own individual needs. i have two small children, so i focus very hard on making sure i am home every night whenever possible to spend as much time with them as i can. For me, my personal brand helps me find the things that make me happy. the downside is that you have to understand there are trade-offs. Personally, this means coming into the office very early each day, and also giving up some other things in order to maximise my time with my children, but i have readily accepted those sacrifices as work and family are most important to me.

christa DavieseXecutiVe Vice PResiDeNt AND cFO, AON Be (MecH) 1992

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22 ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012

© AON

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B eing optimistic and persevering matters – things move in cycles and

what seems like a failure today can actually be a platform to launch a successful next phase of your career or project tomorrow.

For me, as an entrepreneur and as a leader, i’ve faced a few challenges in my career. the main ones have been establishing and sustaining a business to differentiate you from your competitors. Finding

edwin KhewcHAiRMAN & ceO OF WAZtec PtY LtD 2011 uQ iNteRNAtiONAL ALuMNus OF tHe YeAR Be (cHeM) 1973

<< the world cannot do without engineers. We are taught that there is always a solution to a problem and you can find that solution if you break it down methodically and systematically. Most importantly, even if you fail you should learn from the lessons on what caused the problem and make sure it does not happen again. >>

and attracting good people to help ensure your business grows matters hugely. And perhaps the most challenging has been closing down a business that you’ve started if it’s no longer viable.

continued success demands you have a global perspective. You have to look at businesses and business models which help you to grow beyond your own shores – ultimately this is going to mean you’re competitive in global resources – whether its materials, people,

components or new technologies. these all contribute to establishing a business which is both sustainable and on the cutting-edge.

A passion of mine is staying fit and healthy – i’ve been a fitness enthusiast since my student days in Australia. today, i regularly swim, workout in the gym, play golf and mountain bike on weekends. this all goes to support a sharper mind and provides the mental stamina to tackle challenges in leading any organisation.

ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012 23

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<< As a leader, and for those who follow, learning to communicate effectively is integral, as communication underpins all operations. >>

Des WhybirdFORMeR ceO AND cHAiRMAN, GHD Be (ciViL) 1974

Australia offers incredible opportunities and challenges for the

development of any engineering career. it is interesting though to discover the different approaches taken in other countries, as much can be learned from wider experiences in other parts of the world. Much can be learned from wider experiences in other parts of the world.

On any road to leadership, there are a number of lessons to be learnt. As a leader, and for those who follow, learning to communicate effectively is integral, as communication underpins all operations. the values of teamwork, respect and integrity were essential to my personal success, and as a leader it is important that you not only communicate these values, but espouse them too.

c - s u i t e

One of the major challenges i had to overcome throughout my career was learning to adapt to new environments and circumstances. throughout one’s career as an engineer, there will be a number of challenges that affect each individual differently. As students, engineers need to learn to embrace innovation in the way that they choose to address these challenges.

the engineering profession must continue to evolve with society and technological advancements. the challenge for future engineers is to seek practical and economic solutions consistent with the community’s evolving needs and standards. engineers need to remember that the development of concepts which arrive at the optimum solution come from our thinking minds, not from computers.

24 ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012

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Page 26: Ingenuity

P neumonia is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age in the developing

world. it has been estimated that over 1.6 million children die annually from the disease. these deaths are often a direct result of the difficulties in accurate and prompt diagnosis, and treatment of the disease in resource-limited regions of the world. Malnutrition and insufficient access to vaccines also play a significant role in childhood pneumonia.

the united Nations (uN) has recognised the urgency to reduce the mortality rate in children. By refocussing attention on childhood diseases such as pneumonia through its Millennium Development Goals1, the uN hopes to reduce the mortality rate of children under five. New, affordable technology capable of rapid and accurate diagnosis of pneumonia in disease endemic regions is crucial in the global battle against the disease.

Associate Professor udantha Abeyratne from uQ’s school of information technology and electrical engineering (itee) has several active research programs in the area of medical instrumentation and signal processing. After identifying the urgency to address this global issue, he is leading a team of researchers to develop low-cost, effective technology for screening pneumonia in remote areas. the work started in 2009 after receiving a $us100,000 grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, usA, under their prestigious Grand

challenges in Global Health exploration scheme.

“this funding allowed us to expand our long standing relationship with the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane. We also started new collaborations with the Royal children’s Hospital, Brisbane, and the Department of child Health, the universitas Gadjah Mada, indonesia. indonesia has a high prevalence of childhood pneumonia and our collaborators provided us with valuable data to develop our pneumonia screening technology for remote communities,” Associate Professor Abeyratne said.

“the stage One funding allowed us to explore an unorthodox idea and the outcomes provided the basis of our application for stage two funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is worth up to $us1million.”

Led by Associate Professor Abeyratne, the team have been analysing cough and breathing sounds to identify features that characterise the presence of pneumonia. the technology is automated and can be implemented on devices such as smart phones. stage One outcomes have led to uQ filing an Australian patent application. the team includes Dr craig Hukins from the Princess Alexandra Hospital and Professor Neil Bergmann from uQ’s school of itee.

“We have just submitted our application for stage two funding, so i am hopeful that in the coming years we will be able to further develop this technology, which we hope can be implemented on an international scale,” Associate Professor Abeyratne says.

uQ BiOMeDicAL eNGiNeeRiNG ReseARcH addresses global issues

<< it is a tragedy to see so many

children die each year due to lack

of effective diagnosis

technology and methods. it is

hoped that our research will not

only help to control

pneumonia, but help to increase diagnosis rates

for sleep apnoea as well. >>

r e s e a r c h

26 ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012

1 united Nations 2010

Page 27: Ingenuity

“Pneumonia is a treatable disease – all it requires is accurate and timely diagnosis, and proper treatment. it is a tragedy to see so many children die each year due to a treatable disease like this. it is hoped that our research will provide enabling tools to diagnose pneumonia in resource-poor regions and help prevent millions of untimely deaths.”

For the past 15 years, Associate Professor Abeyratne has also been leading a research effort in to the diagnosis and treatment of Obstructive sleep Apnoea. Approximately 25% of men and 9% of women are affected by Obstructive sleep Apnoea (OsA), 80% of which is left undiagnosed. Dr Abeyratne and his team have developed a non-invasive way of diagnosing this condition using fully automated technology that requires no physical contact with patients.

currently, OsA is diagnosed using Polysomnography (PsG) which requires the patient to spend the night in a specially equipped sleeping laboratory, where they are connected to 15-20 measurement channels.

“screening patients for OsA using the

PsG method is inconvenient, expensive and more often than not, there is a long waiting list,” Dr Abeyratne says.

“sleep apnoea is caused by the collapsing of the upper air passage while the patient is asleep. this sleep disorder affects hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. snoring is usually the first indicative nocturnal symptom of sleep apnoea,” explains Dr Abeyratne. However, the presence of snoring does not necessarily mean one has OsA.

“in diagnosing sleep apnoea, we record the patient’s snore sounds through non-contact recording devices and analyse them using a number of algorithms we have developed.”

“using this non-invasive method we are capable of screening patients for sleep apnoea with approximately 90% sensitivity and specificity in comparison to PsG technology.”

these results are unmatched in the world in terms of non-invasiveness and performance, illustrating the viability and commercial potential of the team’s research. Research outcomes have led to several patent applications in Australia and the usA. uniQuest, the research

ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012 27

commercialization arm of uQ has established a spinoff company, snoresounds, to commercialize this technology.

“i hope that our research can have a real impact on the world’s population and lead to the diagnosis and treatment of both these diseases.”

Associate Professor Abeyratne’s collaborators on the OsA research program are Dr craig Hukins from the Princess Alexandra Hospital and Professor Yohsuke Kinouchi from the university of tokushima, Japan. the work has received funding support from the Australian Research council (ARc) under its Discovery and industry Linkage schemes. Associate Professor Abeyratne also acknowledges previous and present research students without whom this research would not have been possible.

For more details on pneumonia and apnoea research programs, please contact Associate Professor Abeyratne at [email protected] or for further details on snoresounds please contact [email protected]

Page 28: Ingenuity

<< in offering a five year integrated Bachelor of engineering and Master of engineering (Be/Me) program,

we hope to produce graduates who are globally competitive for graduate and higher research degree positions, have the depth to be technical leaders in their

area of specialisation, and have the breadth and experience to lead multidisciplinary teams. >>

my generationtalkin’ ’bout

e d u c a t i o n

WitH AN iNcReAsiNGLY GLOBALiseD WORKFORce AND cOMPLeX cHALLeNGes FAciNG tHe WORLD, A ReVieW OF eNGiNeeRiNG At uQ HAs PROPOseD A NeW AND iNNOVAtiVe BAcHeLOR OF eNGiNeeRiNG AND MAsteR OF eNGiNeeRiNG (Be/Me) PROGRAM.

28 ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012

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B eginning this year, the school of chemical engineering is the first engineering school at uQ

to implement this new integrated five-year degree program, continuing a history of innovation and leadership in teaching and learning. the Be/Me program will be further rolled out across the electrical, Mechanical and civil engineering schools in the coming years.

While uQ will continue to offer the four-year Be program, we see the Be/Me program as bringing us into line with global best practice in engineering education, and delivering a more knowledgeable and industry-aware graduate, further strengthening the reputation of uQ engineering graduates as leaders and innovators.

surveys of uQ engineering students have shown an interest in an extended program if it involved useful, advanced course content, practical placements in industry or research, and improved positioning for them in the international graduate market. industry partners engaged with the school of chemical engineering – where the Be/Me is being first rolled-out – have given similarly supportive responses. it is this feedback from industry and students that has played a vital role in shaping the initiative.

therefore, a major feature of the Be/Me program has been to feature an industry or Research Placement. through these semester-long placements, students will undertake project work with industry partner companies or with research

institutions – both nationally and globally. the placement will place program content in context through providing students the opportunity to apply, develop and enhance their theoretical skillset in a more practical environment.

the final year of the Be/Me program sees students engaged with the Master of engineering Design Project – the capstone experience of the Be/Me degree. through this project, students will work in teams on a process or the development of a product in an area of industry interest. the Master of engineering Design Project will mean students engage in modelling and design more deeply, drawing on the skills gained from the Be/Me program.

We’re excited that the nature of the Be/Me program will mean students can pursue multidisciplinary designs, which is not possible in the current Be design program. this capstone experience will cover aspects of entrepreneurship, development of a business case and funding mechanisms for engineering projects – which the students will then be applying directly to their own projects.

ultimately, this is going to be the nation’s first five-year engineering degree that integrates a research or industry semester placement into a degree with Master’s level coursework. the school of chemical engineering is excited to be the first school within the Faculty to implement the program.

We expect to see the integrated Be/Me provide uQ engineering graduates with world-class knowledge, the ability to work in – and lead – multidisciplinary teams and most importantly, equip them with specialist skills that are unattainable elsewhere.

As we ensure the global competitiveness of our graduates, we expect to see a significant benefit to industry through graduating some of the country’s smartest and well-rounded young engineers.

if you are interested in partnering with the school of chemical engineering in offering an industry or research placement, please contact: Dr Linda Kotta, industry engagement Officer. email: [email protected]; phone +61 7 3346 9819

<< ultimately, this is going to be the nation’s first five-year engineering degree that integrates a research or industry semester placement into a degree with Master’s level coursework. >>

ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012 29

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chemical engineering student MADDALeNA GABRieLLi has the world at her feet thanks to the R.J. ‘Gus’ Wiles scholarship, a Fund that inspires voyages of discovery for young people who could otherwise not afford it. currently studying in France, as part of the prestigious Écoles centrales exchange program, Maddalena is adjusting to her new life and greatly benefiting from a transformative educational experience.

What is the Écoles centrales program? in the Écoles centrales exchange, uQ students spend two years at uQ followed by two years in France to complete undergraduate studies at one of the Écoles centrales. After this, we return to uQ to complete any outstanding subjects and undertake the Master degree, graduating with the Master of engineering from uQ and its equivalent, the Diplome d’ingenieur, from France.

What attracted you to this program? i was initially attracted by the opportunity to be able to spend two years of my studies overseas in France, especially given the reputation of the Écoles centrales Paris (ecP). Another point was that the approach to engineering in the Écoles centrales is complementary to that of uQ; it is much more theoretical.

What has been a major highlight of your time spent in France? it has been a year of highlights… from the orientation week where we explored Paris, to the week skiing at Valmeinier in February. then there was being a part of the ecP debating team in the French Debating Association competition, or the hockey competitions in Germany. Academically, there have been also been a number of opportunities, including subjects such as economics and quantum physics that i may never have otherwise considered studying.

How has the R.J ‘Gus’ Wiles scholarship assisted you? the scholarship has assisted with my move overseas, and it allowed me to spend time improving my French before i started classes. it has also enabled me to see more of europe– i have been to Germany with the hockey team, and i went sailing for a week in the south of France for the All saint’s holiday. thanks to the generosity of Gus Wiles and alumni, i have been able to experience a world of opportunities i otherwise would have missed.

Any plans for your future career? After i finish here in June 2013, i intend to take “cesure” – between 6 months and a year in internships in industry – before i return to uQ to finish my degree. there are an incredible number of opportunities here for students, to get involved with industry. After i graduate, i would like to work in europe, to continue travelling and improving my language skills.

s t u d e n t s p o t l i g h t

<< thanks to the generosity of Gus Wiles and alumni, i have been able to experience a world of opportunities i otherwise would have missed. >>

30 ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012

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start your engines… PRiDe AND GLORY ARe BOtH At stAKe As uQ RAciNG ReV uP tHeiR eNGiNe iN PRePARAtiON FOR tHe 2012 RAciNG seAsON.

scan this QR code with your smartphone to watch an interview with uQ Racing team member Yassmin Abdel-Magied.

t inkering with engines and chassis are all in a day’s work for the members of the uQ

Racing team. established in 2001, uQ Racing has not only served as a means for students to hone their engineering and mechanical skills, but has also provided an avenue for networking with industry, peers and academics.

Boasting a team of approximately 40 students, the uQ Racing team is open to all students – with its members studying a diverse range of programs. the students work together to design and build a Formula sAe (society of Automotive engineers) eligible vehicle each year, and also manage their own finances, marketing, sponsorship, administration and OH&s requirements.

2011 was an extremely exciting year for the team, as they worked relentlessly to develop a vehicle that would be eligible for entry into the Australasian Round Formula sAe competition. Held at the Victoria university Werribee campus in December, the Australasian Round Formula sAe brought together students from all over the world. teams competed in design and presentation categories as well as track events including acceleration, endurance and autocross.

two years of blood, sweat and tears marked uQ’s entry – the team finished 4th in the presentation event and 15th overall out of the 23 teams. team Manager Yassmin Abdel-Magied said they were one of only eight teams to finish all events without breaking down.

“it was an amazing experience and a fantastic year and outcome,” said Yassmin. “the team ran like a well-oiled machine; we were one of the most reliable cars on track – which in this competition, isn’t easy to achieve!”

• the uQ Racing team is seeking sponsorship opportunities with interested parties in 2012. For more information please contact uQ Racing Marketing Director Liam Montgomery at liam.montgomery @uqracing.com

ingenuity / issue 2, may 2012 31

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EvEryonE will lEavE a lEgacy.BE rEmEmBErEd for your passion.

cONtAct Jonathan cosgrove, Director of Advancement

phone +61 7 3365 4302 email [email protected]

web www.alumni.uq.edu.au/bequests

Making a charitable gift in your Will ensures that what you have valued

during your lifetime will continue to grow and be cherished through the lives

of others. A bequest to uQ’s engineering scholarships has the potential to

transform the life of a disadvantaged student, by providing them with

access to a world class education and a wealth of opportunities.