BIODATA OF SPEAKER

Merv Lindsay is an accomplished Civil and Structural Engineer, with a firm belief in the contributions of engineering to social equality and economic prosperity, and a passion for inspiring young people to join the engineering profession. He has been a practicing engineer for over 35 years and, since 1980, he has directed and managed his own company, Lindsay & Dynan Consulting Engineers, a mid-sized firm with offices in Sydney and Newcastle. Lindsay & Dynan specialise in mining infrastructure, material handling, industrial, civil and multi-story buildings, and have specialist expertise in vibrating structures and building over challenging mine subsidence sites. Career highlights include the growth and continuing success of Lindsay & Dynan. His particular highlights have been success in Engineering Excellence Awards over a number of years; the first being for the Newcastle Harbour Foreshore Redevelopment Project over 20 years ago, and the most recent being in 2009 for the Wambo Skyline Conveyor. The latter also received an Award for Excellence in Research and Development. Throughout his career, Merv has been significantly involved in the promotion and development of the engineering profession, and the country’s future ability to produce engineers to drive economic growth. He has served on professional bodies throughout the Hunter Region and nationally as well. Engineers Australia has been an important part of Merv’s commitment to the practice of engineering, serving in numerous roles, both locally and nationally, including: President of Division Committee, Civil College Representative, Congress Representative, Member of Code of Ethics Review Committee, and Division Engineering Excellence Awards Convenor and Chair of Judging.


SYNOPSIS

Engineers Australia is proud to nominate 2011 as the Year of Humanitarian Engineering. Our goal is to promote the significance and importance of humanitarian engineering to both the engineering profession and wider community so that humanitarian engineering receives the necessary support in Australia and abroad –and continues to make a difference. Engineers play a huge role in improving the quality of life of people beset by disadvantage as well as helping communities recover from floods, earthquakes and other disasters as quickly as possible.  Some of the key areas of focus as a profession include: water supply, sanitation, energy, waste disposal, transportation, communications and support for disabled people. Throughout 2011, Engineers Australia will demonstrate the importance of engineering in resolving humanitarian issues in the following ways:
EDUCATE and build awareness on the enormous need for humanitarian relief, and what engineers can make a difference;
ENGAGE more engineers and engineering organizations/companies to get involved, either individually or work with humanitarian groups; and
CELEBRATE the positive contributions that humanitarian engineering makes towards the community.