Engineers encouraged to assist in disaster relief
Published on 08 August, 2003
Engineers and technical experts from around Central Queensland attended information sessions this week by Red R (Registered Engineers for Disaster Relief) at CQU Rockhampton and Gladstone.
RedR Australia relieves suffering in areas of disaster by selecting, training and providing competent and committed relief personnel to humanitarian relief agencies worldwide.
In the past 12 months 25 RedR Australian members have worked with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) in most of the host spots around the world including East Timor, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Namibia, Mozambique, Jordan and Syria.
“We are pleased to be able to promote the work of RedR to the Central Queensland region,” Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & Physical Systems, Professor Elizabeth Taylor said.
“I would encourage engineers, engineering students and technical personnel to consider using their work experience and formal qualifications as a means to help those in need around the world.
The lectures provided an insight into how RedR operates and an opportunity to meet Chairman of RedR Michael Dureau, Managing Director Christine Vincent and returnee Ray Coughran.
Mr Dureau is the Executive Director of the Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering, University of Sydney, and during the past 30 years has dedicated much of his spare time to service and leadership in various engineering based organisations and institutions.
Ms Vincent has spent 18 years as the Director of Administration at the Australian Council for Overseas Aid, the peak Council for over 100 non-government aid and development agencies.
Mr Coughran is a civil engineer with 39 years experience with local government including as Director of Engineering Services at Narrabri Council NSW. Since joining RedR in 1999, Ray has spent 12 months on assignment as Technical Coordinator with the UNHCR in Ingushetia, Russian Federation, and more recently nine months as Technical Advisor in the UNHCR field office on the Pakistan/Afghanistan border.
Photo: Head of the School of Industrial Ecology and the Built Environment, Patrick Keleher and Chairman of RedR Michael Dureau.