Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
- School of Architecture and Built Environment
(Architecture, Construction Management, Industrial Design) - School of Engineering
(Chemical, Civil, Environment, Mechanical, Mining, Surveying) - School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
2011 Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment Achievers
Dato’ Ir Dr Abu Bakar Jaafar
Environmental Scientist and Maritime Expert, Malaysia
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) 1973
2011 RECIPIENT – CONVOCATION MEDAL FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
A mechanical engineer by profession, an environmental scientist by specialisation and a maritime expert by current pre-occupation, Dato’ Dr Jaafar has had a long and influential career in the Malaysian Public Service. Over a stellar career of 22 years, he was the Director-General of the Department of Environment, Deputy Director-General (Planning), Senior Controller (Engineering and Processes), Managing Director of Alam Sekitar, and Group Director of Technology.
The Malaysian Government has recognised his achievements with numerous awards for Excellence in Public Service at both State and Federal levels. Since his retirement as Director General, Dato’ Dr Jaafar remains instrumental in setting the environmental agenda for Malaysia through his current work at the United Nations. He is the Adviser to the Malaysia National Committee on the Continental Shelf and is Secretariat to National Security Council of the Prime Minister’s Department.
He was nominated by the Government of Malaysia in (1997, 2002, 2007) and elected member (1997-2002)(2002-2007) (2007-2012) of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, one of the three organs established by the State Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982.
He also remains a Senior Adjunct Fellow of the Maritime Institute of Malaysia, a Director of UMT, a Member of the Malaysia’s National Council for Scientific Research and was appointed Chairman of its Environment Committee in April.
Footnote of interest: Dato’ is a Malaysian title awarded by the Malaysian Royal Family, similar to Australia’s title of “Sir”.
Ms Denise Goldsworthy
Managing Director
Dampier Salt Limited; and,
Managing Director, HIsmelt Corporation.
Rio Tinto, Western Australia
Bachelor of Metallurgy (Hons Class 1)
and University Medal 1989
2011 RECIPIENT – ALUMNI AWARD FOR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP
As Managing Director of two of Rio Tinto’s major companies, Denise is responsible for more than 500 employees and a large global customer base. Since her appointment to Dampier Salt Limited, record earnings of $129 million have been posted. Denise attributes the success of this world-leading exporter of solar salt, to her style of leadership and her strong motivation of her management team.
Denise has held a number of senior positions within Rio Tinto’s minerals group including Vice President, Operations, Rio Tinto Minerals – Asia Pacific (2006-2008) accountable for operational performance delivery in the Group’s solar salt, gypsum and talc businesses in Western Australia and Japan; and General Manager, Salt Operations (2003-2006) accountable for operations, engineering, HSE and human resources aspects of the salt business.
As the Director of Major Projects in Rio Tinto’s Iron ore business, Denise was responsible for a team in excess of 1,000 people with projects values of around US$3 billion. Denise was awarded the Hudson Australian Private and Corporate Sector Award before being named the Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year in 2010.
Dr Awni Al-Otoom
Inspector, Senior Industry Officer
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (PCW),
The Hague, Netherlands
PhD - Chemical Engineering 2001
2011 FINALIST – ALUMNI AWARDS FOR INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP
In his work at PCW, Dr Al-Otoom evaluates different chemical industries and assesses their relevance and risk to the purpose and objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention. By using local seminars to deliver his message Dr Al-Otoom has been able to promote both regional cooperation, and the safe use of chemical weapons. Dr Al-Otoom’s role in orchestrating physical inspections of targeted facilities has done much to increase the security and confidence of the 188 countries that are signatories to the Convention.
Prior to working as an inspector for PCW, Dr Al-Otoom was an Assistant Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department of the Jordan University of Science and Technology.
Dr Andrew Mears
Principal Consultant
Majority World Technology Ltd
New South Wales, Australia
Bachelor of Electrical Engineering 1987
Master of Engineering 1993
2011 JOINT RECIPIENT – ALUMNI AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Dr Mears is a climate change, energy and sustainable development specialist with an impressive record of international achievement across the private sector, academia, non-government organisations and key international agencies - including the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme.
With a total of 15 years resident in a dozen countries spanning the Pacific, Southern and East Asia, Dr Mears has been influential in international policy development. Dr Mears’ focus has been on alleviating poverty through the strengthening of micro and small enterprises via the promotion of low-carbon, climate-resilient development.
His work with the United Nations saw him establish the US$10 million Cambodia Climate Change Alliance Trust Fund and Support Programme, and roll out a renewable energy-based rural energy services in Botswana - changing the daily life and future of the people in these countries.
Mr Peter Tay
Corporate Advisor
Singapore
Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial) (Hons) 1972
Bachelor of Arts (Economics) 1973
2011 JOINT RECIPIENT – ALUMNI AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Peter Tay was Singapore’s CEO to emulate during his 17 years at the helm as President and CEO of Singapore Food Industries Limited. He was the subject of a documentary and many media forums due to his success in transforming the business from a Singapore-centric food distribution enterprise to an international powerhouse with multi-domestic characteristics in the many countries in which the group operated. This culminated with a very successful listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange in 1999.
Focussed as much on people as on commercial success, Mr Tay became an icon not only of commercial enterprise – but led the way in shaping human resource and industrial relations policy. In 2006, the Convergy’s Group (a global enterprise for human resource and customer service) awarded him the Convergy’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Human Resources.
Mr Tay is now a Director on a range of international boards, and consults broadly in business development and mentors budding business leaders. He also writes on management issues in Pan-Asian international food publications advising on food security and the importance of human resources.
Mr Ryan Andriessen
Associate
Ove Arup & Partners Ltd
London, United Kingdom
Bachelor of Engineering - Civil (Hons) 2001
2011 FINALIST – YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD
One of five top young leaders selected in the Australian Construction Industry in 2008, Ryan received the Australian Construction Industry Forum’s Leadership Scholarship. Joining Arup in 2002, Ryan’s promotion to Associate in 2008 made him part of their senior management as their youngest Associate in Australasia at that time.
Since taking a lead role, Ryan’s projects have accrued profits to Arup in excess of AU$8 million. Working on infrastructure projects in the USA, he led a team of 150 professionals made up from 30 technical disciplines located in New York, Toronto and London.
Ryan was a key member of the Arup team that won the International Project of the Year Award for China’s National Aquatic Centre (the Beijing WaterCube) from both the Australian Institute of Project Management and also the UK Association for Project Management.
Ms Tara Mallie-Hutchinson
Project Architect
New Future Alliance
Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Master of Philosophy 2009
Bachelor of Architecture 2004
Bachelor of Arts 2001
Bachelor of Design (Architecture) 2000
2011 FINALIST – INDIGENOUS ALUMNI AWARD
As one of only a handful of leading practising Indigenous architects in Australia, Tara has spent the last 12 months working on the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.
In 2007 Tara received an Australian Research Council Indigenous Discovery Grant for her Masters research, which enabled her to present papers on her research in Tunisia, USA, New Zealand and Melbourne.
While working as an Architect Graduate with the Government’s Architect Office, Department of Finance and Services in Sydney, Tara was the Specialist Designer for the $350,000 Kempsey High School Aboriginal Resource Centre and the Designer for the $6 million Bowraville Central School Redevelopment Project. Tara’s interest in architecture stems from her desire to improve the built environment for indigenous building users, communities and organisations by using the combination of concepts and knowledge drawn from her architecture and Aboriginal studies, and Indigenous heritage.
2010 Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment Achievers
CHEONG-CHUA Koon Hean
CEO, Housing Development Board of Singapore and Deputy Secretary
(Special Duties), Ministry of National Development, Singapore
Bachelor of Architecture (University Medal) 1981
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Mrs Cheong-Chua is the recipient of the 2010 Convocation Medal for Professional Excellence.
Mrs Cheong-Chua was the Chief Executive Officer of Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) from April 2004 until 1st August 2010 where she distinguished herself as a global leader in urban renewal, driving Singapore’s urban renewal plan.
She was in charge of the national land use planning of Singapore, the conservation of built heritage and the real estate market. Under her leadership, Singapore has been recognised for many of its planning initiatives, winning numerous international awards.
She set up the URA International Group in 2009 in response to the growing demand from overseas countries for access to URA’s expertise and shared the planning experience with numerous countries around the globe, publishing in her field and serving on a significant number of national and international bodies.
Mrs Cheong-Chua has received several Singapore National Day Awards over the years, culminating in the Meritorious Service Award from the President of the Republic of Singapore this year.
Mark Arkinstall
Australasian Regional Leader of the Advanced Technology + Research group at Arup, currently in London, United Kingdom.
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) Honours 1, 1994
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Mark was a finalist for the 2010 Newton John Award.
Mark has built an outstanding career and international reputation for structural design, project management, innovation and research in his many roles at Arup - a global firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants and technical specialists.
Mark was part of the design team for the Chep Lap Kok airport in Hong Kong and the Sydney Olympic venues; the RAS Exhibition Halls and the Dunc Gray Velodrome. He was Arup’s lead engineer for the structural design of the Beijing National Aquatic Centre, The Watercube, viewed by millions around the world.
In 2008, Mark accepted numerous top awards for the design and in 2009 received the highest award of the Royal Academy of Engineers, The MacRobert Award, for the innovative design of The Watercube. He has published many articles, presented at global conferences and has been featured in National Geographic and Discovery documentaries.
Yasser Hamed
Senior Technical Director
Walt Disney Feature Animation, Los Angeles, USA
Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), 2002
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Yasser is the recipient of the 2010 Newton John Award. At 29 years old, he is the youngest recipient of this award in its 35 year history.
After four years working in the USA and at only 29 years of age, Yasser Hamed has been granted permanent residence based on the category of ‘Alien of extraordinary ability in the arts or sciences’, reserved for the likes of Nobel Prize winners and the few who have reached the top of their field and international acclaim.
His Mechanical Engineering degree helped him in his work at Sony to develop new techniques for real life physics and fluid simulations for use in feature films. He was responsible for the research and development behind producing high end digital effects and animation for the feature films Beowulf, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Alice in Wonderland, Tangled (Rapunzel). He developed the animation software tools for use in the multi award-winning animated feature film Happy Feet.
He has worked directly with Academy Award winning directors, producers and artists and is part of the award winning team that has entertained millions around the globe with a series of hit animated films under Mr Ken Ralston, the five time Academy Award winner in visual effects. Yasser was responsible for ‘look development’ and new techniques to make digital effects more realistic.
Robert Nelson
Founder of the University of Newcastle Science and Engineering Challenge
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Robert is the recipient of the 2010 Alumni Award for Exceptional Community Service.
In 2000, Bob developed the Science and Engineering Challenge to change student perception about what a career in science or engineering entails. The only science program of its scale in Australia, the program received a $3M investment from the government for expansion across Australia and now involves over 20,000 students from over 700 schools.
He has supervised its expansion into Singapore, and in 2010 to England. Bob has worked tirelessly for the past 10 years to produce an outreach program of the highest quality and the resulting statistics regarding retention rates of students in physics, chemistry and mathematics have been exceptional.
Early success of the Challenge was recognised in 2002 when he was awarded jointly the Institute of Physics (UK) award for the Public Awareness of Physics, and in 2003 the Institution of Engineers’ highest engineering excellence tribute, the Sir William Hudson Award. Bob’s personal contribution has also been recognised by Rotary who have made him a Paul Harris Fellow which is their highest award.