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Seven graduates from The University of Western Australia have been named among Australia's top 100 most influential engineers for 2013.

They are Alan Cransberg of Alcoa of Australia; John Flecker, Brookfield Multiplex Australasia; Bill Marmion , WA Government Minister for Mines and Petroleum and Minister for Housing; Sue Murphy , Water Corporation of WA; David Robinson, McConnell Dowell; Hamish Tyrwhitt, Leighton Holdings; and Rob Velletri, Monadelphous.

All are graduates of UWA's Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics (ECM).

This is the 10 ^th year that Engineers Australia has published its annual list of the top 100 engineers and new selection criteria - including a new category called ‘community' - reflect the sectors of society and industry that engineers influence.

Engineering (and Mining) was a founding Faculty at UWA, which is celebrating its centenary this year.  The first Faculty chair was Professor Hubert Edwin Whitfeld, who had managed a goldmine at Sandstone in WA's Murchison.

ECM Dean Winthrop Professor John Dell said having seven UWA graduates in the top 100 confirmed the fact that the Faculty was producing graduates and research to change the world.

"It is doing this by offering both practical and theory-based learning, and an engaging environment that encourages innovation and collaboration," Professor Dell said.

"The Faculty places great significance on building an international community for this purpose.  Its international network spans educational institutions, governments, research and industry bodies, some of the world's biggest corporations and alumni."

Other ECM graduates from UWA include Harold Clough, who set up UWA engineering scholarships in 1969, while Clough Ltd established the First Year Centre for Engineering Students in 2010; Ken Michael, who has had a distinguished career of public service as Commissioner of Main Roads WA, UWA Chancellor and Governor of Western Australia; and Sir Rod Eddington, who is the former managing director of Cathay Pacific Airways and CEO of British Airways.

Media references

Rachael Penning-Bourne (Manager, External Relations, UWA Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics)  (+61 8)  6488 3109
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783