RMIT researcher takes top spot at Engineers Australia awards

Professor Chun-Qing Li was awarded the 2024 Victoria Professional Engineer of the Year Award for his outstanding research and leadership.

The Engineers Australia awards recognise engineers who have excelled in their careers by driving research and innovation that benefit people and communities, and embodying the highest standards of the profession.

Multiple RMIT researchers were celebrated at the 2024 awards ceremony held on 12 September, with the highest honour – Professional Engineer of the Year – going to Professor Li, marking the first time an RMIT researcher has received the award.

The award was a professional highlight for Professor Li, whose 30-year career in structural engineering has recently seen him lead pioneering research to advance the carbon neutrality of physical infrastructure.

“This is a great honour. I am deeply humbled and grateful to the judges and Engineers Australia,” said Professor Li, who serves as Director of the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Carbon Neutral Infrastructure.

“To me, this award means more responsibility and more hard work to develop design methodologies and technologies for carbon neutrality. I hope this award will mobilise the wider engineering community in joining the force.”

23 September 2024

Professor Chun-Qing Li giving speech at lectern

Professor Chun-Qing Li accepting his award.

Also recognised on the night was Dr Hua Qian Vivian Ang from the Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Mechatronics.

Dr Ang received the Victoria Emerging Professional Engineer of the Year Award for her contributions to engineering education through her innovative EPIC Engineering Comic series.

Professor Mahdi Jalili from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering was honoured with the Electrical College MA Sargent Medal for his work integrating AI with renewable energy and electric vehicles.

Side-by-side images of each award winner holding certificate and smiling at camera.

From left to right: Dr Hua Qian Vivian Ang, Professor Chun-Qing Li, and Professor Mahdi Jalili.

A special mention to Professor Xu Wang, who was also nominated for Victoria Professional Engineer of the Year.

These prestigious awards reflect the high calibre of research talent in RMIT’s School of Engineering, and our researchers’ inspiring passion and dedication to translating their work into real-world impact.

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23 September 2024

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