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Tuesday, 4 February 2014

A senior manager at BHP Billiton has been appointed Director of UWA's Engineering Zone project, which aims to revolutionise engineering education and research.

Peter Lilly, currently working as Senior Manager Research and Development at BHP Billiton, will take up his new role in April, coordinating all activities related to the project including architects, community relations, political engagement and fundraising.

Winthrop Professor John Dell, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, said Dr Lilly had considerable expertise leading major initiatives as Director of WA School of Mines, Director of the CSIRO Minerals Down Under Flagship, Executive Director of Curtin's Institute of Minerals and Energy and National President of Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

"Dr Lilly's academic and professional interests are also in mining and geotechnical engineering, which provide an additional benefit to our Faculty," Professor Dell said.

The Engineering Zone (E-Zone) will provide the physical, technological and resource infrastructure to enable an innovative, multi-disciplinary approach to real-world problem solving.  Engineers will work with the best minds from other disciplines, including business, science and humanities, to tackle issues of sustainability, living standards and resource management.

"The E-Zone will be an inspiring physical space for academics, staff and students that embodies the Faculty's vision and reflects our values of collaboration, innovation and excellence; enabling us to deliver multi-disciplinary teaching and develop critical mass groups," Professor Dell said.

"It will comprise flexible teaching and research spaces, increasing our capacity and ability to enrich the student experience, encourage greater collaboration and provide a world class innovation hub for industry."


The Engineering Zone - backgrounder

The Engineering Zone is the key teaching and learning facility of UWA's $400 million New Century Campaign fundraising initiative.

The Engineering Zone project will deliver modern learning and research facilities.  It will represent the largest investment in engineering education in WA's history.

Based on the overarching principle of collaborative creativity, the Engineering Zone will create spaces for innovative multidisciplinary education and research to confront issues of sustainability, living standards and resource management.

The critical piece of physical, technological and resource infrastructure will be located at UWA's Crawley and Shenton Park campuses and at Technology Park in Bentley.

With a focus on Engineering for Remote Operations, the Engineering Zone will enrich Western Australia's reputation as a global centre for excellence in energy and minerals resources.

The Engineering Zone will boost our reputation for innovation and technology research and will stimulate new economic growth businesses and industries.

The new facilities will support systems thinking design and research via our research and education programs.

It will significantly enhance industry-student interaction, ensuring UWA engineers, mathematicians and computer scientists continue to be the most sought-after in the world.

BHP Billiton has invested $12 million in the Engineering Zone, which is due for construction completion in 2020.

Media references

David Stacey (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716

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