Engineers Australia would like to welcome Skefos Tsoukalis, Sonja Bertotto, Brian McDonough and Hooman Mehdizadeh Rad to the Northern Committee for 2023.
Elected committee members, headed by President Jacinta Kelly, will work together across the year volunteering their expertise and time to provide leadership in key areas including the overall governance and strategic direction of Engineers Australia in the Northern Territory.
This year, some of the committee’s top priorities will be:
- Support of skilled migrant engineers, indigenous engineers and returning engineers to realise gainful employment in the Territory.
- Encouraging more students to study engineering through active involvement in STEM programs and activities.
- Increasing gender balance across membership, committees, forums and presentations.
- Raising the public profile of engineers, engineering and Engineers Australia so the profession is recognised, trusted and respected. The committee want to see a raised awareness of engineers being future focussed, creative problem solvers with a responsibility to society.
- Water and energy security for the Northern Territory.
Each new member has been appointed to serve the Northern Committee for 2023. You can find out more about each of the committee members below.
Brian has worked across Australia on energy, LNG and power generation projects. Brian joined the Northern Division Committee to ensure the next generation of young Territorian engineers have the necessary tools and pathways to become the authors of the Territory’s new energy story.
Hooman is full-time Mechanical Engineering Lecturer and Course Coordinator of Master of Engineering at the College of Engineering, IT and Environment of Charles Darwin University. His career goal is to contribute to the development of Northern Territory.
Skefos is a chemical engineer with more than 25 years’ experience in both the private and public sector. He is motivated in leaving positive and endearing legacies that contribute to the sustainability and growth of our community and our profession.
Having been part of the Alice Springs Committee, Sonja is aware of the challenges delivering CPD and networking events to our regionally based members. She keenly represents central Australia Engineers Australia members and believes having a regional voice on the committee enhances opportunities to grow member participation in the Northern Division.
Members returning to the Northern Committee for 2023 include:
Jacinta brings an enthusiastic and collaborative approach as President of the Northern Division and is known for her ability to bring stakeholders and teams together for the best outcome.
Simon Flowers is a chartered engineer and project delivery professional and has led an international team of engineers responsible for the delivery of projects of onshore LNG plant and offshore hydrocarbon production platforms.
Richard has over 27 years’ experience across government, private enterprise, industry and NGOs, in Australia and overseas. He has held numerous statutory board and committee roles across government and professional bodies.
A structural engineer currently leading the structural team in Aurecon’s Darwin office, Haydn is passionate about structural engineering and loves the lifestyle that comes with living in the Northern Territory. Haydn leads the work of the Buildings Working Group within the committee.
An electrical engineer with ten years of consulting industry experience Shilpa, originally from India, held a Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication before coming to Darwin. She then completed a Master of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Charles Darwin University. Being part of the Northern Committee is important for Shilpa as it provides an opportunity to be involved in community activities that showcase the value of engineering.
Shannon is passionate about promoting engineering and, in particular, inspiring young people to choose and contribute to our profession. She has been in leadership roles in volunteer outreach organisations such as EWB, Power of Engineering and various CDU student engagement bodies.
We would like to thank the committee members whose terms ended in 2022 for their exceptional work on the Northern Committee.
The 2023 committee welcomes members ideas on how to best serve the profession in the Northern Territory community. Please contact them at [email protected] with suggestions or discussion points.