Graduate electrical power engineer of the year

Blake Harvey, a 26 year-old professional electrical engineer from Rockhampton, Queensland, has been awarded Engineers Australia’s Graduate Electrical Power Engineer of the Year for 2009 award. Harvey graduated from the Central Queensland University (CQU) in 2005 with a first class honours degree.

In announcing the award, the Chair of Engineers Australia’s Electrical College Board, Albert Koenig, said that since graduating, Harvey had established his credentials as an outstanding achiever and also provided a role model for others in the engineering profession, as well as those contemplating an engineering career: “The combination of Blake’s excellent professional skills and his enthusiasm for taking on challenging issues has resulted in him delivering high-level competence in the workplace and, despite his young age, he is already contributing significantly to knowledge within the power generation field through his technical papers and presentations.”

Since commencing his career with electricity utility Ergon Energy, Harvey’s achievements have included the development of software to assess flicker from fluctuating loads, the development of embedded generation systems and network asset management plans for central Queensland, plus detailed modelling and technical analysis of three-phase low-voltage regulator trials.

Through the sponsorship of the award by NHP Electrical Engineering, Harvey will further develop his skills through an all-expenses-paid overseas trip to an electrical conference and visit major international electrical product manufacturing plants.

Harvey is closely involved with his professional organisation Engineers Australia as chairman of the local Rockhampton group, and tops that up with other activities, including part-time lecturer in engineering design at CQU, co-founding the Central Queensland chapter of Engineers Without Borders and working with Rural Integrated Development Services in Nepal to provide technical assistance in the development of rural electrification for villages in the Himalayas.

Harvey is a young engineer who is passionate about his work and the future, stating: “I wish to champion the development and expansion of electrical power engineering through the trial and adoption of alternative solutions, techniques and technologies and to expand the boundaries of the industry as a whole. I feel that, as power engineers, we do have the opportunity to make significant, positive impacts on society and it is my goal and my responsibility to do this.”