Adelaide-based engineer, Barry Grear AO, will take-up a two-year appointment tomorrow as the President of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations, at the general assembly meeting in New Delhi, India. Barry Grear is the first Australian to be elected President.
The World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO) is the peak international body of national engineering organisations from over 90 nations and represents some 8 million engineers around the world.
Speaking ahead of his appointment, Barry Grear committed himself to taking the opportunity to continue to focus on providing the leadership that the engineering profession can deliver on issues of real concern to the world community.
“Through the World Federation of Engineering Organisations the international profession is well-placed to foster socio-economic security, sustainable development and poverty alleviation among all countries through the appropriate and best application of engineering skills and technology.
“WFEO brings together the engineering expertise, experience and commitment to assist national agencies to choose appropriate policy options that address the most critical issues in their countries.
“The organisation exists as a conduit to support cooperative undertakings to share knowledge and drive world’s best practice in engineering as the benchmark and goal in both developing and highly developed economies and societies.
“We are at a time when the stresses on the interdependence of the human and natural environments has never been more obvious and perilous.
“However, I take some assurance for the future from the willingness of my engineering colleagues to lead by example and with advice to governments and agencies who are obliged and entrusted to deliver a
sustainable future,” Barry Grear concluded.
Barry Grear was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2001 for service to the engineering profession, in particular through Engineers Australia, where he was also the National President in 1997-1998. Barry is Secretary of RedR International (Registered Engineers for Disaster Relief), the organisation that coordinates volunteer engineering assistance to communities in underdeveloped parts of the world following disasters.