CQUniversity's Richard Egelstaff has been awarded the Project Management Institute's Distinguished Contribution Award 2012, as part of the organisation's Australian National Awards program.

Mr Egelstaff is a senior lecturer and the postgraduate program coordinator for Project and Program Management*, which has been acknowledged as crucial to the resource and infrastructure sectors.

Richard Egelstaff: recognised nationally for his tireless work on behalf of the Project Management profession

PMI says the Distinguished Contribution Award recognises and honours a particularly significant achievement for sustained performance by an individual who contributes to the advancement of the project management profession or the Project Management Institute (PMI).

The annual awards program is a collaborative effort by the six Australian chapters (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth) to find the 'best of breed' in a number of categories each year.

Mr Egelstaff's award was announced during a joint Conference and Awards Gala Dinner at the Gold Coast in mid-July.

In his acceptance speech, Richard accepted the award on behalf of the students at CQUniversity and the CQ employers who enabled their employees to participate in study.

"The important aspect of this whole project management initiative is that in Central Queensland we have the power of place to engage with our local firms, such as G&S Engineering, BMA, Xstrata, Bechtel, Mastermyne, Rio Tinto and others.

"Our engagement policies, procedures and plans are the best in the sector to provide infrastructure and resources firms operating in Central Queensland with highly capable project managers.

"Both CQUniversity and our client firms know it is only as a consequence of project management that the resources boom will continue.  As a result of the initiatives that CQUni and its Queensland Centre for Professional Development have been able to establish at a VET level and University level, we have been recognised by the PMI and our peers as having the best teaching and learning methodologies in the country for infrastructure and resources project management skills development."

* The next direct entry workshop for Project and Program Management is scheduled for August 15-16. Details can be requested via 13 CQUni (13 27 86).