Engineering experts to descend on Melbourne

Engineering experts across all disciplines will debate the future of Australia’s manufacturing sector, climate change and the role of nuclear energy and more at Convention 2014 - the largest engineering event ever in the Southern Hemisphere.

Convention 2014, organised by peak professional body Engineers Australia, will be held in Melbourne from 24-28 November.

Keynote speakers include retired NASA astronauts Colonel Chris Hadfield and Dr Andrew Thomas; International Space Station Operator and Operations Engineer, Andrea Boyd; and Nobel Prize winner Rajendra K Pachauri.

Engineers Australia CEO Stephen Durkin said the line-up of speakers at Convention 2014 is the equivalent of the ultimate TEDx for engineers. “Delegates attending Convention 2014 will hear from the world’s leading thinkers in science, technology, engineering and math. People who are at the top of their profession, inspiring and challenging the way we live, work and interact,” Durkin said.

Expected to draw around 5000 delegates, Convention 2014 is made up of six conferences covering defence, applied mechanics, climate change, complex projects, telecommunications and leadership.

The event will deliver a range of technical conferences and seminars, more than a dozen workshops, symposiums and forums, and site tours. Durkin said the five-day program would tackle key issues and topics affecting engineers including energy generation, transport and infrastructure, innovation and sustainability.

Keynote speakers at the leadership conference include former prime minister John Howard and former deputy PM Tim Fischer discussing how the past has engineered our future. Former journalist and 2013 Australian of the Year Ita Buttrose will moderate the session. “Engineering has such a wide impact on society and that is reflected in the range of speakers at the event. The program includes keynote addresses from astronauts, politicians, humanitarians, scientists and leading engineers from Google, Siemens and BAE Systems.”

To register, please visit the packages and prices page at www.convention2014.org.au. Discount registrations are available to members of Engineers Australia.