The integral role of the engineering profession in Australian society has been underlined in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, with recognition for Engineers Australia CEO, Dr Bronwyn Evans.
Dr Evans has been appointed as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) for significant service to engineering, to standards and to medical technology.
An electrical engineer by background, Dr Evans has been a passionate mentor of young engineers in all sectors.
She has spent much of her career contributing to innovation initiatives in the medical devices sector, including through establishing the Growth Centre for MedTech and Pharmaceuticals (MTPConnect) and in her executive role as Senior Vice President of Quality, Clinical and Regulatory at Cochlear.
She was the CEO of Standards Australia and on the President's Committee at the International Standards body, ISO, before taking on her current position leading the engineering profession's peak body.
Engineers Australia National President and Board Chair, Dr Nick Fleming congratulated Dr Evans on the recognition.
"Bronwyn is a tireless advocate for engineers and the benefits the engineering profession brings to our community, whether she's speaking to school children, to politicians or to corporate leaders," Dr Fleming said.
"Engineers Australia welcomes the recognition of the engineering profession in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours List and, in particular, the inclusion of Bronwyn.
"Bronwyn exemplifies the sort of well-rounded engineer that is so valuable in our community, one who combines a track record of technical excellence with skills in leadership, diverse interests and networks, and a thirst for learning."
Dr Evans said she is delighted to be recognised and that she hopes her award will help encourage others to forge a career as an engineer, particularly young girls and women.
"Australia needs engineers more than ever, in navigating the challenges of climate change, and succeeding in a global environment of rapidly-advancing technology," she said.
"The engineering profession is essential to enabling Australia to have a successful, sustainable and safe society, today and into the future.
"We need to draw on the talents of our entire community to develop the best engineering solutions.
"One of my ambitions is for women to make up at least 50 per cent of the engineering profession in Australia, as this currently only sits at 14 per cent."
The full list of Queen's Birthday Honours for 2021 can be found on the Governor-General of Australia website, www.gg.gov.au.
About Engineers Australia
With over 100,000 individual members, Engineers Australia is the profession's peak body. We are the voice of the profession and exist to advance the science and practice of engineering for the benefit of the community.
Our high standards, globally-recognised credentials and international agreements enable Engineers Australia members to live and work around the world – with our members currently in more than 120 countries.
