Andrew Buckley, 49
Managing Director of Cardno, Brisbane

Andrew Buckley join-ed Cardno in July 1997 as managing director. Under his leadership the annual turnover of the Cardno Group has grown from approximately $14 million in 1997 to a current estimated $180 million.
The company was publicly listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in May 2004 and now supports a staff of 1300.
"A growing proportion of the firm's business is coming from delivering physical and social infrastructure services in development assistance projects,Ó he told Engineers Australia magazine.
Before joining Cardno Buckley worked across a range of engineering disciplines in Australia, Africa, USA and Asia.
Buckley has a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Queensland.

Des Whybird, 54
CEO of GHD, Brisbane

"We have continued to invest in the development of GHD and our people over the past year, with 25% growth across the business.
The development of the GHD Business School has been a highlight, further strengthening our graduate development program, with more than 200 graduates joining us in 2006," Des Whybird told Engineers Australia magazine.
A civil engineering honours graduate from the University of Queensland, Whybird has more than three decades experience in the design and management of transportation and water infrastructure projects as well as building and tourism developments.
Prior to his appointment as CEO of GHD in November 2003, he was General Manager Australia and earlier, the firm's Brisbane Operating Centre Manager.
He is also a committee member of Brisbane's Tattersall's Club, was formerly the inaugural president of Somerville House Junior School Support Group and was actively involved with the Cairns regional group of Engineers Australia.
GHD has more than 4000 staff at of fices throughout Australia, New Zealand and has 16 overseas offices in the Middle East, Asia and the Americas.
The firm's turnover increased by 28% to $400 million in
2004/2005.

Peter Busbridge, 57
CEO of SMEC Holdings and SMEC Operations, Sydney

Peter Busbridge has nearly 30 years experience in management of large civil engineering projects.
This has included planning, design and construction supervision of major motor-way and highway, infrastructure and bridge projects.
Over the past 10 years he has been involved in the management, business planning, business development and operations of many of SMEC's business units.
This has included the International Highways and Transportation group, the NSW branch office and the overall Australian operations which involved the establishment of full engineering operational offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.
The firm now supports 1700 staff.
Busbridge was involved in the negotiations and purchase of SMEC from the federal government in 1993 and has been a major contributor to the direction and development of the SMEC group of companies.
He holds an honours degree in civil engineering from the University of Melbourne and has completed an advanced management program at Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration.

Geoff Peattie, 60
Vice-President Asia Pacific, Government & Infrastructure, KBR, Sydney

Geoff Peattie is re-sponsible for KBR's 1350 staff in Australia as well as the firm's government and infra-structure business in the Asia Pacific region. This encom-passes defence con-tracting to the Austra-lian federal government, as well as infrastructure engineering and construction services to the public and private sectors. He has led the reestablishment of KBR's minerals business in Asia Pacific since 2002.
KBR is one of the world's largest engineering, construction and services companies. It employs 60,000 people in 43 countries and is the engineering and construction arm of Halliburton, a global provider of energy services.
A mechanical engineer, Peattie initially trained as an engineering cadet with BHP in Newcastle, completing his engineering degree at Newcastle University.
He joined the former consultant Kinhill from BHP in 1994 and held a number of key positions with that firm before it was absorbed by KBR in the late 1990s.
His main relaxations include fishing and horse racing.

Roger Olds, 50
Managing Director of Coffey International, Melbourne

Roger Olds is a civil engineering honours graduate from Mon-ash University and has spent his entire career in consulting engineering.
Olds recently told the firm's annual general meeting (Coffey is a public company) that it was increasing its business forecasts from 48% to 53% profit growth.
He said the positive forecast was influenced by the takeover last year of project management and environmental risk management firm Farsands.
"The Farsands takeover was finalised in September and they have recorded some excellent project wins both locally and internationally, including significant projects such as a major retail fitout in Dubai currently being signed, the Capital Towers project in Abu Dhabi, the Saigon Pearl project in Ho Chi Minh City and Cairns Airport,Ó he said.
Coffey made three acquisitions last year and plans to continue to increase its market share in its chosen specialist markets through a combination of further acquisitions and organic growth.
Coffey International employs about 1600 people and is one of Australia's largest service providers to the Asia Pacific region.
In the 2004/2005 financial year the firm's revenue was $168 million.

John Grill, 60
CEO of WorleyParsons, Sydney

Civil engineer John Grill joined Esso Australia in 1968 and in 1971 became chief executive of Wholohan Grill and Partners. Wholohan Grill acquired Worley Engineering in Australia in 1987.
Following restructuring, in 2002 the Worley Group listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
In 2004 it acquired Parsons E&C Corporation, a US-based global project services company, and changed its name to WorleyParsons.
Currently benefiting strongly from the resources boom, (revenue grew from $373 million in 2003/2004 to more than $1.2 billion in 2004/2005) WorleyParsons has expertise in engineering and project management services, hydrocarbon projects, infrastructure and minerals and power. WorleyParsons currently has 13,500 staff.
"At a time of historically high activity the company has increased its ability to support major projects and asset services in both the upstream and downstream markets,Ó Grill said recently.
Grill is an honours graduate from Sydney University. He also holds a science degree from the same university.

Paul Dougas, 56
CEO of Sinclair Knight Merz, Sydney

Chemical engineer Paul Dougas was appointed chief executive of Sinclair Knight Merz in 1996. The firm now supports 5000 staff.
One of his recent initiatives was providing industry leadership on safety issues and triple bottom line reporting where social and community responsibilities are emphasised.
In this regard he signed a memorandum of understanding last March with the federal government on creating employment for indigenous people.
He was the inaugural chairman of Engineers Australia's Centre for Engineering Leadership and Management. He is also a trustee of CEDA (Committee for the Economic Development of Australia).
Prior to taking on the chief executives role, he headed Sinclair Knight Merz's strategic planning and environmental marketing activities.
Dougas is a graduate of Melbourne University.

Nigel Robinson, 52
CEO of Maunsell and Aecom Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Middle East Group, Brisbane

As well as being CEO of Maunsell, civil engineer Nigel Robinson is also a board member of Aecom, Maun-sell's parent comp
any. Aecom employs 24,000 staff worldwide.
In Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Middle East, the firm has enjoyed good growth in revenues, operating profit and sales in the past two years, and staff numbers are now close to 3000.
Last year Maunsell secured its largest ever project win in the Middle East – the Al Raha Beach Development in Abu Dhabi.
Robinson's current focus is leading Maunsell's expansion into new markets while maintaining the company's strength in more traditional market sectors such as transport.
Robinson stays fit by working out regularly at a gymnasium and is also a keen windsurfer.
He holds an honours degree in civil engineering from Leeds University and a diploma in economics and sociology from Imperial College of the University of London.

Mike Wilke 58
Chief Operating Officer Americas, Parsons Brinckerhoff, New York

ormerly the managing director of Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) Australia, Wilke was appointed to his current position in March.
He now has responsibility for the firm's A$1 billion 5000 person Americas business. His appointment reflects the strong performance and contribution of PB's 1000 staff in Australia to the firm's global success.
The firm has about 9700 professionals and support staff in more than 150 offices worldwide.
Wilke believes in fostering a strong interFnal culture of performance and innovation, in partnership with clients and has played a significant role in developing project alliances.
A civil engineer with a masters degree from the Queensland Institute of Technology, Wilke's career with PB spans more than 20 years. This period included a decade as PB's Queensland state manager, during which time the firm grew from 40 to 200 staff.
His main interests are global travel and nurturing his children and grandchildren.

David Singleton, 56
Chairman of Arup Group's Global Infrastructure Business, Director of Arup Group, London

Civil engineer David Singleton has degrees from Nottingham University and the University of Mel-bourne, and apart from a short period in London following graduation, he has spent most of his career with Arup in Australia since 1973.
He was appointed to his current global role in April 2004, and is now based in London, with responsibilities for the firm's infrastructure business in America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
This year he is coordinating the firm's global partnership with the charity Water Aid as part of the Arup Cause, an activity to celebrate the firm's 60th anniversary.
Current major Arup projects include the Fulton Street Transit Center in New York, infrastructure for the London Olympics 2012 and the Shenzhen Metro Line 4 in China. The firm currently has about 7000 staff worldwide.
Singleton was chairman of Engineers Australia's Civil College (1995-1998) and president of the ACEA from 2000 to 2002.
Currently he is chair of the Building Sector Board of Standards Australia and a past chair of the National Engineering Registration Board.

Robert Squire, 59
CEO, Connell Wagner, Melbourne

In the six years since Robert Squire became chief executive of Connell Wagner, the firm has increased its turnover by 93% (fr-om $152 million in 1999/2000 to $292 million in 2004/2005). In that time staff numbers have increased from 1565 to 2500.
Squire makes a point of visiting all the firm's 45 offices in Australia, New Zealand and Asia at least once a year and likes to meet all staff members personally.
However, he admits it "is now much more difficult for me to have personal contact, which is something I missÓ.
Squire puts a lot of emphasis on graduate recruitment and staff development. Under his leadership the firm has committed to having 5% of its staff numbers as fresh graduates.
Squire holds an honours degree in mechanical engineering from the University of NSW.
His main interests outside of work and family are bridge, golf, thoroughbred horse breeding and motorcycling.

Engineers Australia Magazine, Volume 78 No 6, June 2006.

top^