Eleanor leaves a legacy of scaling EWB’s work and bringing big-picture thinking to our organisation. Under Eleanor’s leadership, EWB doubled down on its in-country presence overseas and embarked on ambitious new projects in Australia, and in its training programs. She also steered the organisation through the challenging years of COVID-19.

We wish Eleanor all the very best for her next chapter and thank her for the energy, dedication and leadership that she brought to EWB over the last six years.

“After six years at the helm of Engineers Without Borders Australia, I have made the decision to step down on June 30.

 

With the 2030 strategy guiding us, we have matured as an organisation and focused on increasing our impact, inspiring hearts and minds, showcasing the possibility of engineering as a catalyst for critical change, and we have delivered important outcomes in communities in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region.

 

I am still as much in awe of the deep devotion that everyone associated with EWB has to make a tangible impact. We don’t do things by halves and we don’t stop because it’s too far, or too hard, or too new. Our commitment to no-one being left behind runs deep.

 

We’ve stepped up to deliver large infrastructure projects, responded to emergencies, woven First Nations engagement and two-way knowledge sharing across all our programs in Australia, provided socio-technical consulting services, built teams of national engineers, and linked our engineering work with our university partners through project based learning and strategic research programs.  

 

We have matured and we have stepped up and I couldn’t be more proud of the organisation that I’m handing over in June.

 

Warmly

Eleanor”

Engineers Without Borders Australia will be seeking applications for the role of CEO shortly. As the leader of a dynamic innovative non-profit at the forefront of socio-technical engineering, the CEO will drive transformational change for communities, in Australia and internationally.

Follow us on LinkedIn and sign up to our newsletter to be notified when applications open.

The post EWB CEO Announcement appeared first on Engineers Without Borders Australia.

Dan Lambert is the CEO of WaterStart and an Adjunct Professor of Humanitarian Engineering at UNSW. His previous roles include Arup’s water business in Australasia, and as an Officer in the Royal Australian Engineers. Daniel’s leadership in engineering has been recognised by Engineers Australia as ‘Sir John Holland Civil Engineer of the Year’, Professional Engineer of the Year’ and as one of Australia’s ‘Most Innovative Engineers. His impact in WASH has been recognised by the Australian Water Association: as winner of the ‘Kamal Fernando Mentoring Award and the Water Professional of the Year. Daniel is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders. His industry roles include Chair of Carbon8 Fund, Chair of Australian Water Partnership’s Expert Review Panel, International Advisory Committee member of the Global Water Institute, Steering Committee member of the Humanitarian Engineering Community of Practices and Operation Water’s Advisory Board.

Sheena Valenti is a climate change consultant with Energetics. As a Senior Consultant and Manager, she has advised ASX5oo clients across energy, resources and commercial sectors. She has worked as an engineer and project manager with Ekistica, an Aboriginal-owned company in Alice Springs, specialising in renewable energy and operating the Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre, and Perdaman Advanced Energy, delivering solar to Perth-based industry. An EWB alumnus, Sheena held roles as Regional Chapter President (WA) and University Chapter President (UWA), championing EWB and its values in 8+ years of volunteering. She spearheaded PCs for Refugees (Connectivity) in WA, travelled to Cambodia on the DEE (Dialogues) 2010 and participated in Murray Darling Dialogues 2013, the Mickey Sampson Leadership Program 2013-14 and multiple National Council events. She completed her thesis on power theft in India and graduated with First Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering / Arts (Philosophy).

Congratulations to Dan and Sheena, and many thanks to all of the nominees. We are thankful for your support and hope to work with each and every one of you in the future.

Outside of the EWB board elections, we are also pleased to welcome Grant Maher to the EWB Australia Board. Grant brings to the EWB Board his extensive experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and his experience as a leader within the engineering and construction industry. Alongside running a successful engineering consultancy, Grant is also the Chair of Engineers Australia’s Indigenous Engineers Group, CEO/Executive Director of Deadly Coders and more recently, worked with EWB to reimagine and pilot the Pathways Program. We look forward to working with Grant as an EWB Board Director to create an equitable reality for communities.

We also farewell Shane Kennelly who will be attending his last board meeting as an EWB Director this December. Shane has made major contributions to the Board and EWB’s strategic direction since joining in 2017. During his tenure, EWB launched our 2030 Strategy, embarked on strategic projects such as Dili Water, and reaffirmed EWB’s commitment to reconciliation through our recent Innovate RAP. We wish him well in his new role as co-founding Director on QIBN and future endeavors. Thank you Shane!

The post EWB Board Update appeared first on Engineers Without Borders Australia.

Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB Australia) recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the first engineers and scientists of this nation and engineering a better world starts with YES to the Voice.

EWB Australia’s vision for a healed country is that through Voice, Treaty and Truth we can achieve reconciliation. We believe that through our projects and co-design approach with communities we can have a positive impact on the way Engineering is conducted in Australia. We do this by listening and giving communities a voice in the decisions that affect them.  

EWB acknowledges all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the need for constitutional recognition, which is not just symbolic but provides the opportunity to make meaningful change in their lives.  We are grateful for the relationships we have with communities across Australia and we will continue to forge new relationships with communities to heal Country and create a better future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  This referendum is a critical opportunity for the truth of First Nations people living and engineering in Australia for 60,000 years, to be recognised in Australia’s constitution and given a Voice in decisions that affect them.

We recognise the importance and complexity of the matter of having a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament, as called for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and that the views of the communities we work with are not homogenous, nor do we wish them to be so. In the months leading up to the Referendum we acknowledge that significant pressure can be felt by First Nations people and we are committed to providing an environment which is open to knowledge sharing through conversation and contemplation.

EWB Australia will enable all staff, our volunteer networks and our partners to make an informed decision in the referendum. 

The post EWB Australia supports an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament appeared first on Engineers Without Borders Australia.

We have heard the message of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders of the Uluru Statement From the Heart seeking Voice, Treaty, Truth and we stand with the hundreds of thousands of First Nations people that are calling for this simple and modest reform. 

As the Prime Minister said today:

“Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in our Constitution is the best

chance this country has had to address the injustices of the past and move Australia

forward for everyone, and the best way to do this is to give people a voice.”

The recommendation of the working group with agreement of the government is to ask Australians to amend the Constitution to include:

In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia: 

• there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;

• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and
• The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.   

By answering this question:

A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice

Do you approve this proposed alteration?

The answer needed from a majority of Australians, in a majority of states, is Yes. 

This is a simple proposition for Recognition and Consultation. The Allies for Uluru believe this is a good proposal that will bring First Nations Voices into the heart of our national dialogue and support the practical changes that we all hope to see.

Our organisations stand together with the many First Nations peoples on the path to a successful Referendum and beyond – we support Yes.

For media inquiries contact: 

For more information or interviews with Oxfam, please contact Lucy Brown on 0478 190 099 or lucyb@oxfam.org.au  

For more information or interviews with The Fred Hollows Foundation, please contact Danielle Buckley on 0400 325 065 or dbuckley@hollows.org  

For more information or interviews with ANTAR, please contact Phaedra Engel-Harrison on 0481 093 139, or phaedra@antar.org.au  

For more information or interviews with ACOSS, please contact Olivia Greenwell on 0419 626 155 or olivia@acoss.org.au 

The Allies for Uluru Coalition:

Fred Hollows Foundation

ANTAR

Oxfam Australia

ACOSS 

Reconciliation Australia

Infoxchange

The Australian College of Nursing

Perinatal Wellbeing Centre

Adara Group

Greenpeace Australia Pacific

University of Divinity

Anglicare Australia

Simply Helping

Not-for-Profit & Charity Community Consultants (NFPCCC) First Nations & LGBTIQ+ Charity

Diverse Communities & Social Services (DCSS) First Nations & LGBTIQ+ Charity

ActionAid Australia

Tearfund Australia

Transparency International Australia

Our Community

Reconciliation Victoria

Buddhist Council of NSW

Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education

Adult Learning Australia

Financial Counselling Australia

Youth Off the Streets

Australian Democracy Network

Uniting Vic.Tas

Australian Council for International Development (ACFID)

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC)

UnitingCare Australia

Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility 

Diversity Council Australia

ACTCOSS

Family Advocacy 

The Benevolent Society 

Beyond Blue 

International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA)

Human Rights Council of Australia (HRCA)

Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)

Caritas Australia

St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia

Catholic Social Services Australia

The Salvation Army Australia

QCOSS

Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council 

Reconciliation NSW

Sydney Peace Foundation

Australian Lawyers Alliance

Brotherhood of St. Laurence

Community Mental Health Australia

Engineers Without Borders Australia

The post Allies for Uluru Coalition endorse First Nations Voice Referendum question appeared first on Engineers Without Borders Australia.

The centrepiece of the partnership is the EWB Innovation Challenge – an annual STEM outreach event that brings together high-school students and emerging engineers, to explore and showcase the opportunities possible in STEM careers and how engineering skills can contribute to positive community outcomes.

The outreach initiative was initiated in Victoria by the EWB Australia University of Melbourne Chapter and engages Year 9 and 10 students, primarily from backgrounds under-represented in STEM, in a series of hands-on socio-technical design challenges.

“We know how much of an impact this type of engagement can have on students, especially those who will soon be making decisions about their future vocation,” said Eleanor Loudon, EWB Australia CEO.

“Ongoing commitments are crucial to unlocking these opportunities for young people and scaling the program’s impact. We’re grateful to have Bentley Systems’ continued support, which will enable the Innovation Challenge to continue to inspire future engineers who work towards creating a sustainable, equitable world,” Eleanor added.

For more than 37 years Bentley Systems, an infrastructure engineering software company, has provided innovative applications to engineers and other professionals responsible for designing, constructing and operating sustainable infrastructure that is essential to the quality of life for everyone, everywhere. Bentley’s partnership with EWB Australia truly aligns with Bentley Education’s core values to help students from all backgrounds rise to the challenges of becoming a world-class talent to improve quality of life and support infrastructure growth and resilience worldwide. 

Katriona Lord-Levins, Chief Success Officer, Bentley Systems, said, “Our partnership with EWB Australia plays a very significant role, as together we empower students to create systematic change in society and give everyone access to engineering knowledge. Initiatives like the Innovation Challenge spark curiosity in young minds and encourage them to explore STEM subjects. It is very important to tackle misconceptions of engineering, and help them understand what real engineering is and what conscious engineers can do.” 

The 2022 Innovation Challenge will be the second delivered with Bentley Systems’ support. The new partnership will see the initiative reach more young people in the coming years, with the Innovation Challenge expanding into other Australian states in 2023 and 2024.

About the Innovation Challenge

The Innovation Challenge brings together Year 9 and 10 students for learning and collaboration through a series of design challenges, so that program participants leave with a broader perspective of engineering career paths and the humanitarian nature of the profession.

Participants are drawn from schools across the state with a focus on cohorts that are under-represented in the engineering sector; schools in regional and lower socio-economic areas, girls and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

In teams, students engage with a multifaceted engineering challenge which tests their ingenuity and provides a platform for exploring the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of engineering. Throughout the program students are given guidance and support from EWB-affiliated university engineering students, who act as socio-technical design mentors.

Having been delivered virtually due to pandemic restrictions in 2021, the 2022 years event will be hosted at the University of Melbourne campus. The event also provides opportunities for students to learn more about what a future in engineering could look like for them, with guest presentations and a panel discussion with industry professionals.

About Bentley Systems (Nasdaq: BSY): Bentley is an infrastructure engineering software company that provides innovative software to advance the world’s infrastructure – sustaining both the global economy and environment. Bentley’s  industry-leading software solutions are used by professionals, and organisations of every size, for the design, construction, and operations of roads and bridges, rail and transit, water and wastewater, public works and utilities, buildings and campuses, mining, and industrial facilities. These offerings include MicroStation-based applications for modeling and simulation, ProjectWise for project delivery, AssetWise for asset and network performance, Seequent’s leading geoprofessional software portfolio, and the iTwin platform for infrastructure digital twins. Bentley Systems employs more than 4,500 colleagues and generates annual revenues of approximately $1 billion in 186 countries. www.bentley.com

About EWB: Engineers Without Borders Australia was established in 2003 to create social value through engineering. EWB inspires a movement of engineers and the engineering community to be Technology Stewards and mobilises engineering to develop equitable, scalable and sustainable technology for all.  www.ewb.org.au

The post Multi-year partner ignites interest through innovation appeared first on Engineers Without Borders Australia.

Firstly, we must thank two amazing contributors to EWB who are retiring from the board:

Gavin Blakey OAM has served for some eight years on EWB’s Board and has been Chair since 2016. Gavin has made an extraordinary contribution to EWB over this time, and has more recently taken a leave of absence, during which time he has been applying his engineering expertise to some of our projects on-the-ground. We thank Gavin for his incredible commitment to EWB – both on the board, and ongoing!

Peter McArdle has also been a board member for almost five years and has been a critical contributor in guiding EWB’s involvement in humanitarian response work as well as being a core part of EWB’s Reconciliation Working Group. Whilst retiring from the board, Peter will still remain close in supporting EWB – thank you Pete!

Secondly, we welcome two new members to the EWB board:

Rebecca Watts: Rebecca is no stranger to EWB and has been involved with EWB for over a decade. While at university, Rebecca participated in School Outreach, Design Summits in Cambodia and
completed her engineering thesis on rural electrification through appropriate technology with EWB. Rebecca began her career with a year-long field placement with EWB as Project Facilitator in Cambodia, which stemmed from her thesis and saw dozens of solar home systems installed in rural households, providing access to electricity. More recently, Rebecca was awarded the MECCA M-Power scholarship which aimed to increase the representation of women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in STEM. The project included a series of school outreach workshops in the Torres Strait, cross-cultural awareness training and the creation of an animation video which detailed the experience of a woman in a world that wasn’t designed for her. Rebecca’s corporate career has focussed on investment and business transactions across venture capital and
investment banking. From this, Rebecca has expertise in financial resourcing and cash flow management as well as business models and scaling up operations. Rebecca’s previous committee experience includes the Vice Curator WEF Global Shapers and committee member of Young Engineers Australia. Rebecca aims to contribute to the board by combining her long-term knowledge of EWB’s programs and philosophy with financial literacy and governance, while also bringing a sustainability mindset.

Abhishek Singh: Abhishek brings over 25 years’ experience of leading technology-enabled transformation programs in asset-intensive organisations operating is a highly regulated and safety critical environment. Abhishek has a track record of building organisational capability, realigning management of assets to service delivery outcomes, leading initiatives to transform the business, and enhancing people, process, and technology capabilities. Abhishek has made practical the concepts of digital transformation for organisations where it matters most, reinventing the way they delivery services and the impact they have on the planet. He is also a strong advocate of inclusion and diversity and has contributed immensely to shaping the culture of the organisations he has worked for. Abhishek has an Executive MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management (UNSW) and a Master of Technology from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT, Delhi). He is also the Vice-Chair of Engineers Australia’s College of Leadership and Management committee (Qld).

The post EWB Board Update appeared first on Engineers Without Borders Australia.

Each year, voting members are invited to nominate and elect individuals to the Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Australia Board of Directors (“The Board”). This is an important opportunity to have your say and elect individuals who can make a valuable contribution in shaping the direction of our organisation.

The post Help shape EWB – nominate for the EWB Australia Board appeared first on Engineers Without Borders Australia.

EWB Australia, in partnership with Holding Hands Under Ground (HHUG), is mobilising professional engineers to volunteer their expertise to support flood-affected communities in the Northern Rivers region.

Following an outpouring of support from the EWB network, EWB Australia is now in the process of onboarding over 30 engineers and specialists to assist with flood recovery in the Northern Rivers region. Volunteer engineers will offer their technical expertise in a range of areas including civil, structural, geotechnical, environmental and water engineering. 

EWB on the ground

EWB’s volunteers will be deployed in the coming weeks and months as we work with flood-affected communities to identify projects that require engineering support. Volunteers will assist residents with geotechnical assessments, advice on waterway crossings, and structural assessments of buildings, so people can return to their homes sooner.

Long-term EWB Australia volunteer, Gavin Blakey, is assisting with technical coordination across the region as the project’s Field Lead Engineer. Gavin is currently working with our community partner, Holding Hands Under Ground (HHUG), volunteer engineer Cav and volunteer Bea Duffield to identify and assess projects and build relationships with local councils and flood-affected communities. 

“I stepped up for this project because I saw the devastation that had occurred in the Northern Rivers as a result of the floods. I look forward to working with other engineers to share our skills and experience to help communities to recover and prosper,” says Gavin. 

 

“This work is only possible because of the generosity of our engineering volunteers, engineering firms providing pro bono services and funding provided by supporters of EWB. Donations to cover our expenses for this important work are greatly appreciated.”

Partnerships for recovery

HHUG is a registered not-for-profit association, with a mission to design, deliver and support projects for regenerative full system change. HHUG is hosting and coordinating the Community-Led Flood Crisis Operations in Mullumbimby and Northern Rivers.

Ella Rose Goninan, director of HHUG and Renew Fest, HHUG’s annual festival, initiated a partnership with EWB in the early days of the flood crisis via long-term contributor to Renew Fest, Danny Almagor, who founded EWB in 2004.

“HHUG loves collaborating with awesome organisations and change makers to bring care to our community in the context of crisis, climate change and regeneration. We are super grateful for partnerships like this one with EWB as they are vital if we are to survive the trauma of mega disasters and, ultimately, heal and thrive. It’s a partnership that pays tribute to the many ways people have come together locally and nationally to help wherever help is needed, and is an affirmation of the enduring power of community despite all odds. We are only strong together,” says Ella.

Eleanor Loudon, CEO of EWB Australia, says “The impact of the floods on the people of northern NSW is still very much evident. We are enjoying working with HHUG on developing the processes and pathways for this new avenue for our organisation. We look forward to complementing the activities of community groups, businesses and all levels of government who have been supporting their communities since the floods earlier this year. And we gratefully acknowledge the generosity of our engineering volunteers, engineering firms providing pro bono services and funding provided by supporters of EWB, along with the tireless work of local organisations.”

How to support our work

If you are a professional engineer with a background in civil, structural, geotechnical engineering and/or program management, please consider signing up as one of our recovery volunteers. We have opened expressions of interest for our next round of recruitment commencing in September. 

If you are a photographer or videographer based in Northern NSW, please consider volunteering your time to assist EWB Australia in telling the stories of communities impacted by the floods. Images and footage captured will be used in blog posts and social media. For more information and to apply, click here.

If you would like to support EWB’s work with communities in northern NSW, please donate here.

The post EWB Australia responds to the floods in northern NSW appeared first on Engineers Without Borders Australia.

It is expected that the candidate spends an extended period in Timor-Leste for data collection, field work and other collaborative activities. This project would suit a candidate with knowledge and interest in humanitarian engineering who also has experience working internationally or even in Timor-Leste. The project suits a candidate with experience in hydrogeology, water resource management or water engineering more broadly. The candidate does not need to speak Tetun but should be willing to learn. Bahasa Indonesia or Portuguese language skills would also be advantageous.

You can find out more and how to apply here. Applications should be submitted by 11:59pm (AEST) Sunday 21st August 2022.

The post PhD opportunity: Water services in Timor-Leste appeared first on Engineers Without Borders Australia.

Across the globe, four billion people lack access to clean modern cooking, and the majority of the people impacted are women and girls. Building on the success and impact of social enterprise ATEC – which provides clean cooking solutions to households across Cambodia and Bangladesh – FuturEcook aims to bring clean cooking to schools and institutions across Cambodia.

Driving the FuturEcook social enterprise is Dr Anh Tran, who worked and volunteered in Cambodia with Engineers Without Borders Australia over a decade ago. Since then, she has worked in partnership with the UN World Food Programme in Lesotho, Kenya and Armenia, as well as with the Modern Energy Cooking Service programme based at Loughborough University, UK. But for Anh, the social enterprise is more than just her professional calling. It’s personal.

“As the daughter of refugees, I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to give back and do more. Even though access to affordable and clean energy is one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the problem is that energy for cooking is not a priority, because cooking is seen as a woman’s role. There’s a massive gender divide,” explains Anh.

Dr Tran said that improved health and social outcomes are at the core of clean cooking. Smart electric cooking services  are key to breaking the dirty charcoal cooking habit in schools and institutional settings.

“Because cooking is often done with firewood, women are exposed to black carbon and fine particulate matter. And as the women mind the children, these already vulnerable groups are the most exposed. This is really detrimental to their health – especially to their lungs – and since COVID, the problem is only more severe.”

And of course, the other problem that comes from cooking with firewood and charcoal is the negative environmental impact.

Alongside Dr Tran is UQ researcher and FuturEcook co-founder Dr Andrew Pascale, as well as a team of volunteers. The plan is to provide a scalable product and service model, one that takes all considerations into account: operations, maintenance, delivery and disposal.

EWB Australia has had a long history with developing and delivering clean cooking solutions in Cambodia.  The ATEC* biodigester was born from an EWB University Challenge project, and is now a successful social enterprise of which EWB Australia remains a partner. The system converts animal, green and kitchen waste into biogas and organic fertilizer, providing clean, off-grid energy and appropriate sanitation. With a focus on household, it has the power to cover all household cooking needs and supply 20 tonnes of organic fertiliser for crops, per year, as well as improving day-to-day household life by removing the indoor pollution and labour associated with woodfuel cooking.

ATEC has raised incredible awareness of the importance of clean cooking. FuturEcook will leverage this award-winning work done at a household level, and will support expanding such systems into schools and institutions.

A joint fundraising campaign aims to raise $60,000 which will enable EWB and FuturEcook to commence a pilot with a school community in Cambodia. Make your donation here!

Listen to Anh speak more about the initiative recently on ABC Radio.

The post New social enterprise brings electric cooking to schools and institutions in Cambodia appeared first on Engineers Without Borders Australia.