ENGINEERING AUSTRALIA NATIONAL AWARDS
Two local Newcastle identities take out Engineers Australia National Awards
Newcastle Professor awarded the Prestigious Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal
The Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal is the most prestigious award made by the Institution of Engineers Australia. It perpetuates the memory of Sir Peter Nicol Russell, a Sydney industrialist during the latter half of the 19th century, who made major donations to the cause of engineering in Australia.
Emeritus Professor Alan Roberts is one of the most respected researchers and research leaders in the field of Bulk Solids Handling worldwide. Having worked in this field for nearly 50 years, he is particularly known for his pioneering work in mechanical handling which has provided an analytical approach to the design of bulk solids handling equipment. He is regularly invited to speak as a keynote speaker at major international conferences and is acknowledged as the elder statesman in this field. Alan celebrated his 80th birthday this year and was honoured by an invited international conference with delegates attending from 12 countries including the US, Canada, UK, Germany and the Netherlands. Professor Roberts is still very active in the field and continues to research, teach, publish and travel widely. It is no exaggeration to state that Australia leads the world in this field and this is largely through the leadership of Professor Roberts over a lifetime contribution to the science and practice of bulk solids handling. His contribution has been acknowledged through the numerous awards and honours that have been bestowed on him by Australia and the International Community.Engineers Australia Past National and Newcastle Division President awarded the status of Honorary Fellow.
Honorary status may be awarded to Fellows of the Institution, who have been nominated by their peers in recognition of their contributions to the profession and the community along with their significant career accomplishments. There can only be 150 Honorary Fellows at any time.
Peter Cockbain commenced his career in mining as an apprentice electrical fitter-mechanic at Caledonian Collieries (later Coal and Allied) Aberdare Extended underground mine in Cessnock in 1957.In 1968 he and three other electrical engineers decided to form their own electrical manufacturing company Ampcontrol after Crompton Parkinson was sold to Hawker Siddley who immediately announced they would cease all manufacturing in Australia within two years and fully import all of their electrical equipment.
Peter is proud of the fact that Ampcontrol now provides employment for nearly 1,000 families in Australia and overseas and has been in the vanguard of developing advanced electrical and electronic equipment which has contributed to the productivity and safety of Australian mining enterprises for over 40 years.
He is a board member of Standards Australia, Engineering Education Australia, the University of Newcastle and Engineers Australia’s representative on the Prime Ministers Science, Engineering and Innovation Council and the Future Manufacturing Industry Innovation Council. Peter became actively involved in Engineers Australia at the Newcastle Division in the mid-1990s, initially on the Division Committee and culminating in the Division Presidency in 2001.He was elected to the national Council in the same year as vice-president for marketing and communications and to the position of deputy president in 2004. He went on to become the National President of Engineers Australia in 2006. The Division proudly acknowledges Peter’s achievements and commitment to the organization.
