2010 JUDGES

Michael Dureau | Martin Betts | Ron Finlay

Michael Dureau
Chairman of the Judging Panel

Michael Dureau FTSE, Hon FIEAust.FIChemE, FAIE, FAICD, CPEng, CSci has a proven track record as a successful CEO in both expanding and contracting markets in Australia, New Zealand and Asia and, more recently, a leader of new energy technology development and studies of key environmental issues facing Australia.

As MD of ALSTOM Power (formerly ABB Power Generation) he built Australia’s most successful Power Generation Technology and Services Company with orders exceeding 600 MAUD when he retired in 2003. Key to this success was effective management WITH Risk and the development of strong engineering and project management teams in Australia.

In January 2003 he was appointed by The Senate of the University of Sydney as an Adjunct Professor of Engineering and then, following his retirement from ALSTOM, he accepted the position of Executive Director of The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering (TWC)... In 2007 he was also elected as Chairman of the Board of TWC. He is a Member of the executive and an Honorary Life Fellow of the Chem. Eng Foundation and Immediate past President of the Electrical and Information Engineering Foundation. He is a long serving member of the Industry Advisory Network of The University of Technology, Sydney and a Zunz Lecturer.

Recognising an urgent need of the Electric Power Industry in Australia for properly trained power engineers he led the initiative to set up Australia’s first Electric Power Institute and was its founding Chairman.

  • He is a Board member of the Australian National Committee of Cigré Ltd and a member of EA’s National Committee on Fuels and Energy.
  • He is passionate about renewable and clean energy and is a Board member of Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd, Granite Power Ltd., AnaeCo Ltd. and BioTek Fuels Ltd.
  • He recently retired as Australian and International Chairman of Registered Engineers for Disaster Relief (RedR) but remains on the Board.
  • Recognition of his performance includes the EA Professional Engineer of the Year (Sydney Division 2000) and the Fluor Daniel 2001 prize for “Exceptional Achievement in Management and Leadership”.
  • In 2003 he was awarded the Prime Minister’s Centenary Medal for Services to Electric and Power Engineering.
  • He is an Honorary Fellow of EA and has been listed several times as one of Australia’s Top 100 Most Influential Engineers including 2009.
  • In October he was awarded the 2009 CHEMECA Medal which is the highest award for a Chemical Engineer in Australia and New Zealand.
  • In November he received the 2009 Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal, the most prestigious award made by Engineers Australia.


Michael Dureau