Committees

Peter Godfrey is a civil engineer with extensive management experience. He worked across diverse industries throughout Australia before establishing his own practice in 1997. BAS Consulting provides senior management support to engineering oriented organisations, particularly in the areas of operational analysis, change management, risk management and project delivery. Peter has had a rich involvement with Engineers Australia. He has held numerous honorary positions within the professional body and was the 2009 national president. He was a national judge of the National Engineering Excellence Awards from 2010 to 2014 and is currently a judge for the Australian Constructors Association Awards.

Professor Doug Hargreaves was awarded an AAUT Citation for Outstanding contribution to student learning in 2015. In June 2014, he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for outstanding and significant contribution to engineering education and to the community. He has published over 200 scholarly papers, about 50 of which are related to engineering education.
He retired from full-time work as an academic at the Queensland University of Technology in December 2014 where he spent about 28 years in a variety of roles. He was the Head of School of Engineering Systems for seven years overseeing very significant growth in research output as well as teaching and learning quality. There was about 135 staff under his leadership. During this time, he developed and co-authored a book based on his own leadership style “Values Driven leadership” in which he emphasises the criticality of developing a sense of Belonging, a sense of Identity and a sense of Purpose in all personnel.
During his last three years at QUT, he chose to teach and coordinate over 1000 first year engineering students a unit that is really about developing professional practice skills such as communication, teamwork, ethics, sustainability, project management, cultural diversity all in the context of a real engineering `{`humanitarian`}` project. This unit provides a tremendous transition from secondary to tertiary education and allowed students to appreciate ‘what engineers do in the real world’
He was National President of Engineers Australia with about 100 000 members in 2010, a position that clearly demonstrates his wide and accepted reputation in the profession.
He is currently the Executive Officer for the Australian Council of Engineering Deans (ACED), a role that calls on his extensive range of contacts both nationally and internationally, for example the Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC). His extensive knowledge and understanding of teaching and learning provides valuable insight into potential research projects in engineering but also in the areas of STEM `{`Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics`}`. He also represents Engineers Australia on the Federation of Engineering Institutions in the Asia Pacific (FEIAP)

Dr. Marlene Kanga is Chair of the Advisory Committee of WEC 2019. She is President of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations and was National President of Engineers Australia in 2013.
Marlene is a chemical engineer with extensive experience in the oil, gas, chemical and related industries with respect to risk and safety engineering.
Marlene is a non-executive director of Sydney Water Corporation, Australia’s largest utility, serving Greater Sydney, Air Services Australia and a number of other boards involving science, engineering and innovation. She has been a board member of Innovation Science Australia which has oversight over the Australian Department of Industry and Science programs to support entrepreneurial development, commercialisation of research and venture capital investments. She is a Director of iOmniscient Pty Ltd which has developed patented software technology for intelligent video analytics systems and is an international leader in this field.
Marlene is an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia, a Fellow of the Academy of Technology Science and Engineering and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Marlene was the FEIAP (Federation of Engineering Institutions in Asia and the Pacific) Professional Engineer of the Year in 2014 and listed among the Top 100 Engineers in Australia in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and the Top 100 Westpac Women of Influence in 2013. She received an Australian national recognition in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2014 for her contributions to engineering and as a role model.

Tony Marjoram is a specialist in engineering and technology for international and humanitarian development, engineering education, innovation, S&T policy and planning. He managed the UNESCO Engineering Sciences programme from 2001 to 2011 and was responsible for the UNESCO Report “Engineering: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities for Development” – the first international engineering report and top UNESCO publication, and award-winning Daimler-UNESCO Mondialogo Engineering Award. He is Guest Professor at Aalborg University UNESCO Centre for Problem-Based Learning in Engineering Science and Sustainability. He has worked at the universities of Melbourne, the South Pacific, and Manchester, and has degrees in mechanical engineering and S&T Policy, and PhD in technology and international development.

Carla Cher is an electronic engineer, specialising in microfluidics and nanofabrication, and a patent attorney. With many years of experience in consulting, engineering research and development as well as in intellectual property protection and strategy Carla currently works in the innovation sector at RMIT University as their Intellectual Property and Commercialisation Manager. She has a keen interest in assisting Australian companies and organisations innovate, grow and connect with companies and organisations globally whilst ensuring Australian technology ``comes to life``.

Carla is also passionate about making a difference, promoting STEAM by developing programs for students to discover engineering, science and technology and supporting students to take up careers in these fields, in addition to encouraging a greater diversity within the engineering and innovation professions. She has over 20 years of experience in organising conferences particularly related to engineering and science. In 2013 and 2014, Carla served as the youngest member elected to the Council (Board) of Engineers Australia.

Dr Cruickshanks-Boyd is currently a part-time National Director for WSP Australia. WSP is a global infrastructure professional services firm with approximately 40,000 personnel worldwide, and 2600 in Australia. David has 26 years of experience in the infrastructure industry, and over 40 years of professional experience in both the UK and Australia.

In 2015, Dr Cruickshanks-Boyd was National President and chair of the board for Engineers Australia (EA), the professional body for engineers in Australia, with over 100,000 members. He was formerly the deputy chair of the Engineers Australia’s national board for the Centre for Engineering Leadership and Management. In 2011, he was the President of Engineers Australia in South Australia and was a member of several national committees including the Code of Ethics Committee, Reconciliation Plan Steering Committee, Audit and Risk Committee.

Dr Cruickshanks-Boyd is a Member of the South Australian Ministerial Minerals and Energy Advisory Council, and was a previous board member with the South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy, which represents nearly 400 companies operating in the mining and energy sectors in South Australia.

He is the current chair of the judging committee for the national Australian Construction Achievement Awards, which selects the overall best completed construction and engineering infrastructure project for 2018. David and his team have evaluated major construction projects across Australia, representing examples of industry best practice.

David also chairs the SA Governor’s Aboriginal Employment Infrastructure Cluster, which has recently examined Aboriginal employment practices across major South Australian infrastructure projects, and made recommendations to DPTI and the Office of the Industry Advocate for improved procurement policies to facilitate Aboriginal employment and participation on South Australian government infrastructure projects.

David was Director for the South Australian government owned company Scope Global Pty Ltd from 1999-2017, and chair from 2015 to 2017. He was formerly deputy chair of the SA Environment Protection Authority; and chaired the Steering Committee for the 2003 State of the Environment Report.

Ms Madeleine McManus was the first female Chairman of Engineers Australia Victoria and is a Fellow of Engineers Australia. In this role, she was actively involved in the rebuild of the bushfire affected areas in 2009 and was the lead driver in growing the Victoria Division to be the largest in the country, which included the highest number of female members. In 2011 she was elected as a National Director for Engineers Australia, the youngest ever to be appointed to the National Board. She has recently been awarded Engineering Executive (EngExec) by her peers in recognition of her contribution in Engineering Management and Leadership.

Double degree qualified in engineering and commerce, she has had extensive senior engineering management and consulting experience in Australia and France. She has delivered large scale global multi-discipline projects, and has been involved in significant restructuring of global organisations and multi-layer cultural change programs.

In addition to the Engineers Australia roles, Madeleine has been appointed to a number of industry and community boards, including Chairman Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Director National Board for Centre of Engineering Leadership and Management (CELM), Board Director Monash Engineering Foundation and Director Timberline Ski Lodge. In Since 2012, she was appointed to the Victorian Minister of Innovation Panel for Veski – to award Victorian Postdoctoral Research Fellowships. She is an extremely active participant within her local community and has assisted in establishing a number of community sporting groups and associations.

She has also served on a number of advisory boards for government, academia and industry which have dealt with a range of issues including increasing the uptake of girls studying STEM, the future direction of engineering and the sustainability of the profession.
Madeleine is passionate about working with engineers of the future, raising the profile of engineers in the wider community and encouraging further diversity within the profession.

Adrian Piani is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, and is Chief of Engineering for ACT. Adrian has worked on a diverse range of local, regional and national projects across the engineering and environmental sectors. This includes including water resource management, water supply engineering, resource efficiency, resilience, and the built environment. Adrian is passionate about the role of engineering in improving social, economic and environmental outcomes.

Geoff leads the ENGENEOHS Alliance to deliver on safety and risk related projects specific to client needs in the key areas of Engineering, Enterprise, Environment, Or Health & Safety.

Geoff is a well-qualified OHS and Risk Engineering professional with expertise in the development of safety and risk management frameworks, embedding & developing effective Health & Safety Management Systems, workplace wellness programs, and implementing workplace cultural change in a variety of settings.

Geoff has a depth of experience from a broad range of opportunities including: manufacturing, construction, local government, entertainment, transport & logistics, service and education sectors.

Geoff is an acclaimed leader in his profession. He is a teacher, lecturer, presenter and an interactive workshop facilitator specialising in effective adult learning experiences. He designs and facilitates workshops that are needs specific, practical, fun and highly involving in areas ranging from Communication, Team Development, Technical Risk & Safety, Emergency management, FRAM, Safety II, SiD, HazOp and Safety Leadership.

Hugh is a Senior Executive and Chartered Professional Engineer, with a diverse career in engineering consultancy, primarily in the transport sector. Hugh currently leads probity for AECOM across NSW & ACT across all end markets. Hugh has a strong focus on adding value to clients and stakeholders, through quality, innovative and timely service delivery. Hugh has a passion for leading his teams to excellence through collaboration, mentoring and enabling all involved excel to their full potential.

Hugh is the current Australian representative on FIDIC’s Young Professionals Forum and the Immediate Past Chair of Young Engineers Australia Nationally.

Lara was Chair of the SENG National Board in 2011 and 2012. She is a Civil Engineer with 20 years of experience in the water supply, sewerage and environmental industry. She has undertaken considerable work relating to Environmental Management Systems developed to ISO14001, including numerous internal, and second party audits and construction management plans. Other environmental and civil work includes detailed design, strategy/feasibility studies and environmental assessments. As project manager, she has coordinated and managed technical specialists on a large number of projects, along with successful experience in community/stakeholder consultation and environmental impact studies. Lara has served on the local QLD chapter of SENG in various positions since 2003 and has been involved on the National Board since March 2006.

Lara served on the Environmental College Board in 2011 and 2012 as the SENG Chair and is serving as an invited member in 2016. She is committed to sustainability and strongly believes that we are all responsible for solving the problems of today’s society. We can do this by walking our talk and actively contributing to solutions where we are capable of doing so.

Melissa is a CPEng with more than 30 years’ experience in strategic planning, design, and program/ project management of railway and infrastructure projects. Her experience includes high-speed, heavy and light rail systems on a wide range of programs and projects within Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Her passion is High Speed Rail and she worked on HSR projects in Europe in the UK.

Currently, she is leading the Faster Rail Sydney to Newcastle project development. She holds Master degree in Civil Engineering, System Engineering Professional Certificate MIT Boston, EA Executive Engineer and Fellow status and she graduated Company Directors course at the AICD. She has been the WIE National Committee Chair for 2017 and 2018

Nee Nee Ong has over twenty years of electrical engineering experience and is a Fellow of Engineers Australia. Currently, Nee Nee is working as an Electrical Engineer and Project Manager, designing and managing projects ranging from providing electrical power supply solutions to designing communication and control systems. She is very actively involved with professional organisations, being a member of Engineers Australia Congress, Electrical College Board and Women in Engineering National Committee. She is a Council Member of the University of Western Australia Convocation and has been part of the Accreditation Panel assessing university engineering degrees.

Jaswant has over 35 years’ experience in the Northern Territory in various capacities that include Construction, Manufacturing, Engineering, Project Management and Dispute Resolution. Jaswant’s under graduate qualification is in Mechanical Engineering. Jaswant is also a Dispute Resolution Consultant for Lands Mining and Planning Tribunal, Department of Justice and with Northern Territory Work Safe Department.

Qualifications and Appointments

- Chartered Member of Engineers Australia
- Fellow of Engineers Australia
- Engineering Executive of Engineers Australia
- President of Engineers Australia Northern Division 2014 to 2015
- Member of Mechanical College Board of Engineers Australia 2013 to 2016
- EA Northern Representative of College of Leadership and Management 2017 to present
- Panel Member of the Professional Conduct Committee for Engineers Australia in 2017
- Chair of Consult Australia Northern Division 2010 to 2013
- Certified Practicing Project Manager
- Member of Australian Institute of Project Management
- Member of Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air conditioning and Heating
- Member of Society of Fire Safety
- Member of Course Advisory Board of School of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) Charles Darwin University
- Nationally Accredited Mediator NMAS
- Member of Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia (now known as Resolution Australia)
- Qualified Arbitrator
- Registered Adjudicator for Construction Contracts Security of Payment Act

Paul is the current Chair of the Civil College board of Engineers Australia and has some 40 years’ experience in the infrastructure sector. He acts as client adviser particularly in terms of strategic planning, business performance and critical project delivery. He has a particular interest in assisting companies to improve operational performance through a structured approach to business process change. He has successfully delivered process improvement projects including new service delivery models, for clients including Airservices Australia, Lion, Simplot, Bluescope Steel, Coliban Water, Unitywater, SA Water and Melbourne Water. He has also undertaken operational performance and capital program reviews for utility clients in SA, Queensland and Victoria and, as audit team leader, has completed more than 30 Regulatory Audits and Review of Expenditure Forecasts for the Essential Services Commission.

Peter Hitchiner has over forty years of experience in the telecommunications industry including roles as Director and State Manager for six years with a leading telecommunications consulting business and as General Manager for four years with a telecommunications project management business.

During much of his career Peter has been engaged in infrastructure engineering (including radio, satellite and optical fibre systems) in both strategic and tactical roles. Peter has consulted extensively to Commonwealth and State Governments including on mobile/wireless and cellular radio matters. Peter has particular skills in strategic and business planning of public carrier and private telecommunications systems including project funding, project and contract management, communications networks planning and design.

Peter’s recent experience includes planning of a major fibre optic infrastructure investment in Australia; commercialisation of research for Smart Internet Technology Cooperative Research Centre and commercial support in the formation of Smart Services CRC for research, and its commercialisation, in electronic services for the finance, government and media sectors; and implementing a new procurement model for telecommunications services for a State government to provide a more competitive environment (including legal and technical issues). Peter is currently advising local government entities in their implementation of Smart City services including the implementation of sensor (Internet of Things) networks and the implementation of public WiFi.

Peter is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia and served as a member of the Board of the Information Telecommunications and Electronics Engineering College including as chair for 6 years and is a past President of the Sydney Division.

Dr Tom Goldfinch is a Senior Lecturer in Integrated Engineering at the University of Sydney, and President of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education 2016-2018. Tom is a Mechanical Engineer with a PhD in Engineering Education. His area of specialisation is engineering education with a particular focus curriculum design and the social and cultural aspects of engineering education and practice. Tom has published numerous papers and lead several federally funded projects in engineering education with colleagues from around Australia and overseas.

With over 40 years of experience as a civil and structural engineer, Merv Lindsay has earned an impeccable reputation in the engineering industry. This is evidenced by his election to National President of Engineers Australia in 2011. He continues to be a highly sought after speaker and consultant.

Merv has built up an impressive portfolio of projects as a structural and civil engineer, with a strong client focus and track record for the delivery of innovative and cost effective solutions to clients locally, and throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

His areas of expertise include civil engineering, assessment of existing civil and structural infrastructure, mining and materials handling, light to heavy industrial and heritage engineering consulting services. Merv’s experience in the design of civil structural assessment of existing buildings and facilities is extensive.

Just a small selection of projects from Merv’s vast portfolio includes:
- The Newcastle Harbour Foreshore Redevelopment
- Ballina/Byron Bay Gateway Airport Expansion NSW
- Caves Beachside Ecotourism Development, Caves Beach NSW
- Designed & Managed Over 60 Public Housing Projects Throughout NSW
- BHP Coke Ovens Operating Floor Refurbishment, Newcastle, NSW (Winner of Engineers Australia – Newcastle Division, Engineering Excellence Award)

Throughout his career, Merv has been heavily involved in promoting and developing the engineering profession, both throughout the Hunter Region and Nationally, and has served on committees for various industry bodies.

Abdul Menhem Alameddine is a Vice President of WFEO and Chair of the WFEO Standing Technical Committee on Engineering Education (2011-2019). He is an Electrical Engineer. He obtained his BS and MS degrees from the University of Southwestern, Louisiana, Lafayette, LA (USA).

He has been a Lecturer for the University of Balamand in Lebanon since 1994, and is a member of the Senate at the University of Balamand since 2006, as well as a member of the planning committee of the University.

He was President of the Order of Engineers and Architects in Tripoli, Lebanon 2005 – 2008, Vice President of the Federation of Lebanese Engineers 2005 – 2008, Member of the Higher Council of Urban Planning for Lebanon 2005 – 2008, Representative of Lebanon in The Federation Of Arab Engineers – the permanent Bureau between 2005 and 2011.

Abdul Menhem has his own private Electrical Engineering Consulting Bureau in the City of Tripoli, Lebanon since 1988.

Mr Barry J Grear AO HonFIEAust FIPENZ was President of WFEO from 2007 to 2009 and the President of Engineers Australia in 1997/98. He has attended meetings of WFEO since 1997 and had shown a continuing interest in the work of WFEO and all the committees. In the earlier years he was a key person in the Engineering Education Committee and had a particular interest in the recognition of qualifications internationally. He believes the 2019 event will be an important one and is proud to be involved in helping to make it a time when the Engineers of the world can share important contributions about their experience and knowledge for all engineers in the WFEO family.

Academician Dato’ Ir. (Dr.) Lee Yee Cheong, is an electrical engineer and the Honorary Chairman, Governing Council, International Science Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation under the auspices of UNESCO (ISTIC), Kuala Lumpur.

He is a Member of the National Science and Research Council, Malaysia; Pro-Chancellor, Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur; Chairman Global Council InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) Science Education Program; Vice Chairman, UN Sustainable Development Solution Network (SDSN) Malaysia and a member and leader of various Committees and Boards in Malaysia and internationally. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, UK; the Institution of Civil Engineers, UK; Engineers Australia; Myanmar Engineering Society and the Institution of Engineers, Mauritius.

He was President and now Distinguished Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia; Chairman and now Honorary President of Commonwealth Engineers Council (CEC), Past President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) 2003-2005.

He is founding Secretary General and Senior Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia; the founder President of the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology; Foreign Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering; and a Corresponding Member of the Pan-American Academy of Engineering.

He was Co-author of the UN Millennium Project Science Technology and Innovation Task Force Study Report “Innovation: Applying Knowledge in Development”, 2005. He published his autobiography “Think Malaysia, Act Global” September 2010.

He was awarded the UN Office for South-South Cooperation 2014 Triangular Visionary Leadership Award; the Jiang YoungSil Grand International Science and Culture Prize, Korea; the Malaysian State Awards of DPMP and KMN and the Honorary Officer in the Order of Australia (AO).

Professor Gong Ke is the President elect of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations. He has been a Vice president of WFEO and Chair of the WFEO Committee on Information and Communication (CIC).

He has been President of Tianjin University, a professor of electronics engineering at Tsinghua University, Beijing, Director of the State Key Laboratory on Microwave and Digital Communications Dean of the School of Information at Tsinghua University and Director of Tsinghua National Laboratory for Information Science and Technology (2005).

Professor Gong Ke has been Vice President of the Chinese Institute of Electronics, Vice President of China Institute of Communications and has been a as a member of standing committee of the China Association for Science and Technology since 2006.

Professor Gong Ke is an electronics engineer who graduated from the Beijing Institute of Technology. He obtained his Doctorate from the Technical University Graz (Austria).

Dr Jean Venables is a Vice President of WFEO and Chair of the WFEO Committee on Engineering and the Environment. She is a Past President of the Institution of Civil Engineers UK (2008-2009). She has had a distinguished career in the field of water and the environment including flood risk management, water level management, catchment management – having been, amongst other major appointments, Chair of the Thames Region Flood Defence Committee, Chief Executive of the (UK)Association of Drainage Authorities and Chair of the Nuclear Liabilities Fund, set up to provide the resources for the decommissioning of the fleet of eight EDF Energy Nuclear Power Stations in the UK. She has been involved in a wide range of consulting projects on engineering and the environment since the early 1990s and was part of the team that developed “CEEQUAL” for environmental management in the construction industry.

Jorge Spitalnik is a Past president of WFEO (20015-17). He is Executive Director of UPADI (Pan American Union of Engineers). He studied mechanical and nuclear engineering and has been Professor, Nuclear Reactor Physics and Nuclear Power Generation, Faculty of Engineering, University of Uruguay. He was previously Chair, of the WFEO Standing Committee on Energy and Chair, WFEO-UN Relations Committee. Vice-President UPADI South Cone-Brazil Region; Vice President of FEBRAE; President, International Committee of ANS; President, Special Nuclear Societies Cooperation Committee of ANS; Member, Executive Committee of the Environmental Science Division of ANS; Chair, INSC (International Nuclear Societies Council); Chair, INEA (International Nuclear Energy Academy); Chair, Latin American Section of ANS; IAEA, Alternate Governor; Member, IAEA 1st Safeguards Committee; Delegate, Tlatelolco Treaty Constitution. He is a Fellow, American Nuclear Society; Chartered Engineer and Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), U.K.; Member, Pan American Academy of Engineers (API); Member, International Nuclear Energy Academy (INEA); Member, Editorial Advisory Panel of “Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Energy”, U.K. he has more than 135 publications on Energy Generation and Economics, Education and Professional Qualification.

Eng. Kamel Ayadi is a Past president of WFEO and a Founding Chair of the WFEO Committee for Abti Corruption. He has been President of the Tunisian Order of Engineers. He is an International Consultant in Anti-Corruption strategies, ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility. He has successfully developed and implemented a number of capacity building programmes in Tunisia and African countries.
He has served as a Secretary of State in the Tunisian government from 2004 to 2006 and as President of the Tunisian National Regulatory Authority of Telecommunications from 2001 to 2004. In January 6, 2016, he was appointed Minister of Public Service, Governance and Fight against corruption in the reshuffle of government of Habib Essid. In October 20,2016, he was appointed by President Beji Caid Essebsi as President of the High Administrative and Financial Control Committee with the rank of Minister

He is the Founding Chairman of the World Leadership and Ethics Institute, and founding chair of the Tunisian Centre for Strategic Thinking on Economic Development in Tunisia. He is also the founding chairman of the Global Infrastructure Anti-corruption Centre’s regional bureau for the MENA region. He has been a member and chair of numerous international committees and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Infrastructure Anti-corruption Centre(GIACC). He has written more than 100 papers and lectured in more than 100 congresses in 80 countries. He chaired more than 40 international events on science engineering and technology, anti-corruption and social accountability. He is a recipient of the 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers Presidents’ Award for his leadership of the worldwide engineering community, his efforts to combat corruption and services to country.

Eng. Ayadi holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Tunisian National Institute of Engineers and a Post- Graduate degree in law.

María Jesús Prieto Laffargue was the President of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (2009-2011), and former President of the Institute of Engineering of Spain (2000-2004). She is a prominent figure in the international arena of Telecommunications Services and international business. She has an outstanding record as one of the first women to lead engineering institutions in Europe and internationally.

Maria is a telecommunications engineer and was Director General of SISTELCOM Consortium, SA which is a joint venture formed by the leading banking and utilities companies in Spain for diversifying business at the Telecommunication Sector. She was later appointed to lead the Instituto Nacional de Meteorología, an Agency of the Spanish Ministry for the Environment.

In 2000, Maria was elected President of the Instituto de la Ingeniería de España, which represents the whole Spanish engineering academia and profession. Having served on boards advising national and international companies and organizations in telecommunications, energy, aerospace and transportation, she was the Visitor Professor of the Universities of Madrid, Barcelona and Navarra

She was professor of the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Spain and regular Lecturer in Summer International Universities (Santander El Escorial). She was a Member of bards of many organisations in Spain, and of the Governing board of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation (ISTIC) under the auspices of UNESCO (2009-2014) Dr. Prieto Laffargue, has served in a group of select experts preparing the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development. In 2012, Maria received a Doctorate” Honoris Causa” from the Universidad Lérida, Spain. She is the author of numerous technical papers and is the recipient of many awards that recognise her contribution leading women in engineering and has published many academic papers.

Martin Manuhwa is a Vice President of WFEO and Chair of the WFEO Committee for Anti-Corruption. He is the President of the Federation of African Engineering Organizations and Chair of the Engineering Council of Zimbabwe (ECZ) the National Member of WFEO. He is the Past President of the Southern African Federation of Engineering Organizations (SAFEO). He is Past President of the Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers (ZIE). He is a member of the advisory board of the London based Global Infrastructure Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC). He is Co-founder and Director of GIACC-Zimbabwe.

Martin is an electrical and energy construction engineer. He is Managing Consultant of the Zimbabwe Africa Infrastructure Development Group (ZAIDG), a company that specializes in engineering procurement and construction projects. ZAIDG works with Hatch Africa (Pty) Ltd in Zimbabwe to deliver infrastructure solutions in the power industry, mining and public arena.

Marin is a member of various engineering faculty advisory boards in Zimbabwe and SADC. He was the chair of the Electrical and Mechanical Industry Sector Committee for NAMACO which he represented in the NAMACO Council. He has received numerous awards, including the SKF service to engineering award.

Eng. Marwan ABDELHAMID is a Past President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO). He is a graduate Civil Engineer from the University of Belgrade, and General Secretary of the General Union of Palestinian Engineers (GUPE) in Palestine. He has been devoted to the WFEO for over 36 years as a member of the Executive Council as well as Vice President, and has been awarded three times for outstanding services to the WFEO.
He served as President of the Federation of Arab Engineers from 1987 to 1989, and was involved in several Committees and task forces also as chairman of Standing Committee for the Promotion and Creation of Engineering Institutions in Developing Countries within WFEO.
He has held many positions such as, Director of Department in the National Company in Algeria, Advisor to the Algerian Minister of Housing, Member of the Council of Arab Ministers representing Palestine, Permanent representative of Palestine in the United Nations Organization for Human Settlements, Technical Advisor to late President Arafat, Deputy Minister of Housing in the Palestinian Authority, Ambassador of Palestine to Greece, Technical Advisor to President Abbas, and President of Palestine Mortgage & Housing Corporation and Consultant in Housing Policy and Strategy.

Mr Sam Grossman is a Vice President of WFEO and Chair of the WFEO Committee on Energy. He has been President of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), and still serves as Chairman on the California Society of Professional Engineers Education Foundation.
Mr Grossman has been a member of the NSPE Educational Foundation Board of Trustees, a member of various committees and task forces and has been president of the Diablo Chapter of the California Society of Professional Engineers (CSPE). He was the CSPE President from 2001-2003. He is also a recipient of the CSPE President’s Award and the CSPE Outstanding Leadership Award. In 2004, Sam was named a Fellow member of NSPE in recognition of his many contributions to the Society and the engineering profession.
Mr Grossman has more than 32 years of leadership experience in development, design, construction, consulting and operational aspects of industrial and commercial projects. Areas of expertise include: gas turbine combined cycle power plants under California Energy Commissioning jurisdiction, wastewater treatment, universities, refineries, food processing, electric and gas transmission. a graduate of the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California where he earned a B.S. in civil engineering. He has been a licensed professional engineer in California since 1990.

Professor Shahbaz Khan is currently Director of UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific. Professor Khan is a civil engineer with further qualifications in environmental law and environmental economics. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, Hon Fellow of the Myanmar Engineering Society and Fellow of the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand. Shahbaz is also a chartered engineer and engineering executive of Engineers Australia and was awarded Federation of Engineering Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (FEIAP) Engineer of the Year for 2016. He is currently Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra, Australia and Distinguished Professor at the National University of Science and Technology, Pakistan.

Shahbaz has worked in Australia, France, Indonesia and Pakistan in various research, consultancy and policy positions. Before joining UNESCO in 2008, Shahbaz was Professor and Director (International Centre for Food Security) at the Charles Sturt University, Research Director at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Programme Leader, System Harmonisation for Regional Irrigation Business Partnerships at the Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures, Australia. His work has been widely recognised, for example, through receipt of UNESCO Team Award for Managing Hydro Hazards 2009, Land and Water Australia’s Eureka Prize 2007 and CSIRO Medal 2007. He has widely published in the area of water, environment and sustainable development and received several outstanding publications awards. From 2008-2012 as UNESCO’s Chief of Water and Sustainable Development, he was credited for stakeholder driven environmental policies that is now recognised as the world’s best practice through the Hydrology for Environment, Life and Policy (HELP) Program. He has helped build integrated water management capacities at Lestari to deal with ecologically sustainable poverty alleviation solutions in an era of climate change.

S S Rathore is a Vice President of WFEO and Chair of the Committee for Information and Communications. He is a Past President of The Institution of Engineers (India), the National Member of WFEO for India.
S S Rathore has had an illustrious career in the Department of Roads & Buildings of the Government of Gujarat, eventually becoming the Principal Secretary of the Department. His field of work includes construction and maintenance of road network and important Government buildings.
S S Rathore has been active in the Institution of Engineers India and served as the Chairman of the Gujarat State Centre of the Institution of Engineers (India). He was also the Chairman of Water Management Forum of the Institution and Vice President of the Indian Roads Congress in 2000.
Mr Rathore is the Chairman of the Gujarat Road and Infrastructure Company Limited and Director in Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation, Gujarat State Road Development Corporation, Gujarat Tourism Corporation and Gujarat Water Infrastructure Limited.
S S Rathore is a civil engineer and obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from L D College of Engineering in Ahmedabad in 1978 with a Gold Medal for at Gujarat University.

Valerie Agberagba is a Vice President of WFEO and Chair of the Committee on Women in Engineering.
Valerie Agberagba, a registered Metallurgical and Materials Engineer has her Engineering practice in Quality Control/Assurance in construction projects and in the Power Sector.
She is a Past President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) and a Past Vice President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
Valerie Agberagba is the Executive Director of Science, Engineering and Technology Development Network, SciEtech, a non-governmental mentoring organization.

Prof. Yashin Brijmohan is a Vice president of WFEO and Chair of the WFEO Committee for Capacity Building. He is Executive Dean of Engineering at Monash South Africa, based in Johannesburg. He was Chair of the Strategic Advisory Committee at the Engineering Council of South Africa, the national member for WFEO from South Africa.

Prof. Brijmohan has technical and management experience at the National Power Utility within South Africa, Eskom. He has led several committees within South Africa in the areas of capacity building, research, engineering education.

Eng. Zainab Garashi has been working in the Ministry of Electricity and Water for a good number of 8 years. Eng. Zainab is currently holding the position of Head of Computer Sector in the Ministry of Electricity and Water. She is a graduate Computer Engineer from Kuwait University.

Alongside her occupation with the ministry, she has been the first ever-youngest board member of the Kuwait Society of Engineers (KSE) in 2011 and had the opportunity to be re-elected as the board member of KSE in 2013 to 2015.

Eng. Zainab Garashi’s main role-play has mostly been within volunteering groups. She has been actively representing an international organisation, the World Federation of Engineering Organisation, in the role of Vice President as well as the Chairwoman of one of its Standing Technical Committees on Young Engineers Future Leaders. She also has the honor of being the founder and chair of Engineers without Borders (EWB) of Kuwait, as well as the founder and chair of Young Engineers in Kuwait Society of Engineers.

She has work experience with several volunteering groups in various GCC engineering teams for the youth and graduates within the engineering majors.