A senior leader in Australia's nuclear-powered submarine program has become the first serving ADF officer to be awarded an Honorary Fellowship to Engineers Australia, recognising her decades-long service to engineering and the nation.
Rear Admiral Katherine Richards was awarded the Honorary Fellowship from the premier engineering professional body in Australia - a distinction limited to only 200 living people - in November as she prepares to retire from active military service in late December.
Rear Admiral Richards said: "I am humbled to receive this level of national professional recognition and wish to acknowledge the extraordinary work of the other recipients."
With more than 35 years of service in the Royal Australian Navy, Rear Admiral Richards has played a pivotal role in reshaping the engineering profession and expanding opportunities for women.
She is a former Head of Naval Engineering and has previously commanded HMAS Cerberus. She currently leads the design of a new independent statutory regulator for Australia's nuclear-powered submarine program.
Leading by example, Rear Admiral Richards is qualified to assess nuclear regulatory matters after graduating with a high distinction from the Australian National University with a Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Technology Regulation.
