Leading engineers and scientists to converge at Convention 2014

Thousands of engineers from all disciplines are coming to Melbourne for Convention 2014 - claimed to be the largest engineering event ever held in the Southern Hemisphere.

Organised by Engineers Australia, the event will be held from 24-28 November at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. It has attracted leaders from the world of science and engineering, with keynote speakers including 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.

“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,” said Engineers Australia CEO Stephen Durkin.

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. Keynote speakers at the leadership conference include former prime minister the Hon John Howard OM, AC, SSI and the Hon Tim Fischer AC, 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,” said Durkin. “The program includes keynote addresses from astronauts, politicians, humanitarians, scientists and leading engineers from Google, Siemens and BAE Systems.”

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

“Convention 2014 will be the most comprehensive event ever held for Australian engineers and it’s the first time that all disciplines of engineering will come together under the one roof,” he said.

To register for the event, visit www.convention2014.org.au. Discount registrations are available to members of Engineers Australia.