Thursday, 1 February 2007

Dr Jim Gill, Chief Executive of the WA Water Corporation, was awarded the 2006 Civil Engineer of the Year award by Engineers Australia on 9 November 2006. The Australia Civil Engineer of the Year award provides a high profile focus on engineering achievement and services.

Dr Gill’s recent achievements included the implementation of a series of capital works programs to diversify water sources for Perth, including the construction of Perth’s desalination plant. Through his guidance and leadership, Jim has forged a strong alliance between the government and private industry. The strategic partnership will see major works worth more than $3 billion taking place through to 2011.

The Chair of Engineers Australia’s Civil College Board, Steve Finlay, said, ”Dr Jim Gill’s significant contribution to the Australian civil engineering profession, his leadership in setting new industry standards, and his dedication to fostering the next generation of Australian engineers, makes him a worthy winner of this prestigious award.”

Dr Gill graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) with First Class Honours from The University of Western Australia (UWA) in 1968 and a PhD (in the field of computer-aided design) from Cambridge University, England, in 1972. Dr Gill’s career commenced with the WA Main Roads Department in 1973.

Through to 1987 Dr Gill’s contributions included bridge design and pavement/ foundation engineering to major reviews of the organisation and re-negotiation of road funding arrangements.

From 1988 to 1995 Dr Gill was WA’s Commissioner of Railways, during which time the new northern passenger line from Perth to Joondalup was completed on time and under budget. He dramatically improved the Railways’ financial performance and also proposed the formation of the National Rail Corporation that greatly improved Australian mainland transport.

Since 1995 Dr Gill has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Water Corporation, Western Australia. During this time he has successfully managed the State’s water supply through the driest four years on record, 2001 – 2004. Dr Gill has overseen about $1 billion in investment in new dams, bore fields,
pipelines, pumping stations and treatment plants. He has also undertaken a multifaceted approach encouraging West Australians to become a more ‘waterwise’ community involving land development, building, plumbing and horticulture industries, schools, research bodies and regulators.

Dr Gill joins the circle of notable past winners of the Civil Engineer of the Year award which includes Mr Peter Stewart, Mr Bill Wild, Professor Harry Poulos, Mr Wal King, Mr Max Ervin, Dr Rory Nathan and Mr Doug Price.

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