Engineering: Leading the Community

Community Leadership and Engineering Skills

Bill Marmion B.E. FIE AustPARLIAMENTRY SECRETARY TO THE PREMIER AND MINISTER FOR STATE

DEVELOPMENT

My Topic

• How engineers can use their skills in the broader community and

• How I have used my engineering skills in a variety of jobs

Engineering SkillsVery broad range of skills developed even at university

• Analysis/Problem Solving• Communication

– Report writing– Orally

• Teams • Course Presentation

• Delivering/Working under Pressure– Exams– Project Deadlines

• Engagement with Community– University Clubs– EA Student– Eng vs Law ‘Tug of War’

• Practical Experience– Vacation Employment

Skills Developed in Early Professional Years

• Project Management– Cost Control– Options Analysis– Planning– Detailed Design– Documentation– Procurement– Contract Administration– Post – Project Evaluation

• People Management

• Letter Writing

• Presentations

Consider Other Professions

• Law• Teaching• Accounting• Research• Economics• Information Technology

Arguably

– “Engineering Provides A Broader Set of Skills to Solve Community Problems”

– “We under-sell ourselves”

Some of My Other Past RolesCommunity

– UWA Tennis Club - President (‘75/’76)

– St George’s College Club -Treasurer (‘76)

– Derby Tennis Club - Treasurer (‘79)

– St George’s College Council – -Board Member (‘89-’91)

– YMCC Hockey Club - President (‘04-’08)

Engineering Australia Service– South West Division – EA –

Secretary (‘77-’78)– Management Panel

Chairman (‘88)– Society for Engineering Mgt

National Board (‘89) - Member– Divisional Committee

• Member ( 2 periods)• President (‘99)

– Centre for Engineering Leadership and Management

WA Chairman (‘07)– Engineering Excellence Awards

Chairman (‘06-’08)

Selected Career Roles• Engineer (Planning, Design, Construction)

– Day Labour– Contract Supervision

• Commissioner's Technical Aide– Main Roads

• Value for Money Auditor (Auditor General)• Quality Management Coordinator (Main Roads)• Chief of Staff – Minister for Health• WA Govt Rep

– Standing Committee on Treaties (SCOT)– Inter-Government Committee on Ecological Sustainable Development

(ICESD)• Director Capital City Development Committee• Chairman Graffiti Taskforce• Director Premiers Office – Acting Chief of Staff for Premier.• Deputy Chairman – Australian Honours Selection Committee For WA

Some Personal Career Challenges

• Main Roads Auditor General (1988)• Main Roads Chief of Staff for Min.Health (1993)• WA Position – Senate Inquiry s.53(xviii) of the

Constitution (1995)• President of WA Division of Engineers Aust.(1999)• Public Servant Private Sector (2001)• Private Sector Politician (2008)

Role as Politician

• Member for Nedlands – local issues• Member of Parliament – Govt issues• Parl. Sec. To Premier

– Min Council International Trade

– Foreshore Development Committee

– Northbridge Link Committee

• Parl Sec Minister for Mines & Pet.– Mining Legislation

– Fisheries!!!!!!!

• Chairman Freight & Logistics Council WA

Lessons Learnt

• Don’t Take the Easy Road

• Accept Challenges

• Trust Your Own Instincts

• Someone Has To Do It – Why Not You?

• Life Isn’t Always Comfortable

• Learn to Say “NO” or Learn to say Yes

WA Engineers in Public Service• Leaders in WA Government

• Kim Taylor (Dept of Water)

• Sue Murphy (Water Corporation)

• Menno Henneveld (Main Roads)

• Doug Aberle (Western Power)

• Richard Mann (Major Projects Office)

• Govt Boards• Phil Harvey (GESB)

• University Leaders• Jim Gill (Curtin University)

• Government of WA• Ken Michael

• Infrastructure Australia• Sir Rod Eddington