Growth wave drives engineering and planning

Engineers, planners and architects can expect to be in demand for some time yet, according to the new boss of UQ’s Faculty of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture (EPSA).

EPSA’s new Executive Dean, Professor Stephen Walker, said graduates in these fields were needed to provide the expertise which will underpin continued growth in Australia, and the booming growth seen in South East Queensland.

“EPSA is well positioned for further growth from a strong base and I’ll do what I can to enable that growth and to encourage it to attract further engagement from the wider community with its teaching and research,” Professor Walker said.

“Engineering is a strong part of EPSA, and I expect demand for engineers in all fields to continue.

“But EPSA provides opportunities for challenging training and research across a wide range of problems and applications and is much more than just engineering in isolation.”

As a physicist and mathematician, Dr Walker has worked as a research scientist, senior manager and mostly as a coastal oceanographic modeller.

He’s calculated ocean water quality, measured air pollution and worked on a range of medical and marine research at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, University of Tasmania, and Australia’s peak research funding body, the Australian Research Council (ARC).

He spent the past five years in Canberra as the ARC’s Executive Director for Engineering and Environmental Sciences and acted as ARC Chief Executive Officer for much of 2004.

After two weeks at UQ, Professor Walker said he was excited about the future but it was too early to reveal any grand plans.

The 47-year-old from Indooroopilly, who enjoys bushwalking and woodworking, said it was UQ’s high-quality teaching, research , international standing and the sunshine state that lured him to UQ.

“The vibe of the place is positive and friendly, and I feel UQ particularly has an extraordinary position and ability to develop and grow.

“It’s a big university, it’s well managed, it’s growing very rapidly and making all sorts of advances in both teaching and highly respected for its research.

“So why would you choose elsewhere?”

He succeeds Professor Michael Keniger who became UQ’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) last June.

MEDIA: Professor Walker (07 3365 3329, execdean@epsa.uq.edu.au) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (3365 2619)