2005: Engineering a sustainable future

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Tags: alumni, engineering, equity, summer-2010, volunteers

Lizzie Brown, BE

Lizzie Brown

As CEO of Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB), Lizzie Brown coordinates a diverse group of volunteers, all with the common goal of helping disadvantaged communities improve their quality of life.

“For some volunteers, this could mean undertaking a 12-month placement in a remote part of Nepal,” she said.

“For others, it means designing a flyer for a fundraising event or facilitating a workshop.”

A not-for-profit organisation, EWB implements sustainable engineering projects around the world.

Ms Brown was previously EWB’s operations director and took up her new role in May.

She founded the first Queensland chapter in 2004 and launched the EWB Challenge design program for first-year engineering students.

She said the organisation was always looking for new ways to engage individuals and companies in its work.

“During August we ran our first Dialogues on Country (DOC),” she said.

“During a two-week period, eight EWB volunteers travelled through the Murray-Darling Basin to talk to Aboriginal people about water and land management.

“The DOC initiative aims to create positive change in the engineering profession through a dialogue between professionals in the water industry and Aboriginal communities.”

Engineers Australia has named 2011 the Year of Humanitarian Engineering, with EWB embracing the initiative.

“We’ll be involved in a number of new events focused on the themes: educate, activate and celebrate,” Ms Brown said.

EWB has more than 5000 members, 20 chapters and 100 volunteers working on projects in Australia and overseas.

By Penny Robinson

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