Lumen Summer 2015 - Flipbook - Page 21
story by Connie Dutton
Recognising excellence
The James McWha Award of Excellence is named in honour
of Professor James McWha AO who was Vice-Chancellor and
President of the University of Adelaide from 2002 to 2012.
T
he award is made to outstanding
alumni who have graduated from
the University within the past
15 years and are making a significant
contribution as emerging leaders within
their profession or the community. Julian
O’Shea and Dr Kimberley Clayfield are the
2014 award recipients.
Life-changing engineering projects
Julian O’Shea has quickly become a
leader in the field of humanitarian engineering
since graduating with a Bachelor of
Engineering (Information Technology
and Telecommunications) in 2005.
Now the Director of the Engineers
Without Borders Institute, Julian heads
up the organisation’s education, research
and training section. The Institute aims to
inspire the next generation of engineers to
make a positive contribution to improving
the standard of life in developing regions.
Under Julian’s leadership, the institute
is contributing to life-changing projects,
from improving pipe design in landslideaffected areas of East Timor to designing
and installing rainwater harvesting
systems to secure safe drinking water
in Cambodian schools.
“Visiting our community partner
organisations in Cambodia each year and
seeing how simple technology solutions
like water tanks, prosthetic limbs and
ceramic filters can transform lives is
always inspiring,” Julian says.
He added that the award was a real
credit to the volunteers and team that
make all of the projects possible.
Engineering (Mechanical) in 1999 and her
PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 2005.
As Executive Manager of CSIRO
Space Sciences and Technology,
Kimberley is helping to guide the
development and implementation of
Australia’s space technology agenda,
including establishing a significant new
CSIRO earth observation capability.
In addition to her involvement with
key national space-related agencies,
Kimberley has been a volunteer with the
South Australian Space School and the
National Space Camp for the past 15
years. These residential programs aim
to inspire and encourage high school
students to pursue further study in
science and engineering.
“I love encouraging young people to
get interested in science and technology
and inspiring them through space and
its many applications,” Kimberley says.
“I am proud to have the opportunity,
thanks to these awards, to highlight
nationally and internationally some of the
many developments being made in the
Australian space sector.”
Do you know somebody
worthy of consideration
for a Distinguished Alumni
Award or James McWha
Award of Excellence?
Nominations for the 2015 awards
are now open. For more information
please contact Fiona Solente at
fiona.solente@adelaide.edu.au
or +61 8 8313 6356
Providing inspiration in space
Dr Kimberley Clayfield has contributed
significantly to the Australian space
industry since obtaining her Bachelor of
Above: Dr Kimberley Clayfield
Right: Julian O’Shea
|e University of Adelaide | Alumni Magazine 19
