M A Sargent Medal

About this Award

This is a prestigious award made jointly by the College of Electrical Engineers and the College of ITEE Engineers. It is named in honour of Dr Michael Anthony (Mike) Sargent, an outstanding Australian electrical engineer. Dr Sargent graduated from the University of Queensland in 1964 and gained a PhD in electrical engineering at the same university in 1967. After holding various engineering appointments in Queensland and North America he joined the South East Queensland Electricity Board in 1978 becoming its Chief Engineer in 1984 and became Manager, Business Systems in 1989.

Dr Sargent is an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia and has served in many positions in Engineers Australia including Chairman of the Electrical and Computing Branch of Queensland Division 1976, Chairman of Queensland Division 1984, member of the then Council 1984 – 1986, Vice President of Engineers Australia 1985 – 1986 and also 1988, Deputy Chairman of the Electrical College Board 1988, Deputy President of Engineers Australia 1989 and President in 1990.

2022 Nominations Open 1 March 2022
Close 1 August 2022

Nomination Criteria

Terms and Conditions

Submission Guidelines

Presentation of the Award

Nomination Criteria

a highly significant contribution, through technical innovation, to the science or practice of electrical engineering; or
longstanding eminence in science or the practice of electrical engineering; or
exceptional and sustained management or leadership relating to electrical engineering; or
a notable combination of the foregoing qualities.

Please note that international peer recognition of contributions to the practice of electrical engineering will be well regarded.

Terms and Conditions

Nominees must be:

a current member of Engineers Australia
an Australian Citizen or a permanent Australian resident

Submission Guidelines

You must provide the following with your submission:

Nominee’s current CV including employment history and achievements
Nominee’s Short Biography
Nominee’s information addressing each criterion
Contact details of two supporting members with CPEng or Fellow status
Nominee’s portrait photo

Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Please note that if a nomination is not successful in the year of nomination, it will be considered again during each of the following two years.

Presentation of the Award

The award consists of an engraved medal and framed certificate and is presented at a suitable formal Engineers Australia event.

2021 Joint Winners

Ian Webster

FIEAust CPEng

Ian is a professional Electrical Engineer with various degrees from the University of Newcastle. As a Conjoint Senior Fellow, the University has formally acknowledged his professional leadership and significant contribution to academic and business development. He has held numerous leadership roles with national and international engineering bodies. He is presently the Lead National Technical Delegate to IEC TC31 MT60079- 29 (Gas Detection), Chair Standards Australia EL-023 Electrical Equipment for Mines and Quarries, a member JASANZ ANZEx Advisory Committee and a NATA Technical Assessor. Ian was principal researcher for a number development programs within Ampcontrol that have won Engineering Excellence awards including the Engineers Australia National Award for Innovation in 2013. Ian is acknowledged as a subject matter expert in a number of technical fields of electrical engineering related to hazardous (explosive) atmospheres and underground mining, with thirty-two (32) invited and peer reviewed technical papers and conference presentations in the past five years alone.

Ian has led a number of high-profile industrial projects, most recently development of an ICU Emergency Ventilator. That project was motivated by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and saw Ampcontrol invited to design and manufacture 600 ICU ventilators in 28 days to service a forecast shortfall in NSW hospitals. Ian built and then led a large team of clinicians, engineers and manufacturing staff to successfully demonstrate a working ventilator at the John Hunter Hospital in just 18 days. Ampcontrol was subsequently awarded a contract for design and supply of mid acuity ventilators for the NSW government.

Qing-Long Han

FIEAust

Qing-Long Han is Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Quality) and a Distinguished Professor at Swinburne University of Technology. He held various academic and management positions at Griffith University and Central Queensland University. He received the Ph.D. degree in Control Engineering from East China University of Science and Technology in 1997.

Professor Han is a Highly Cited Researcher in both Engineering and Computer Science by Clarivate Analytics (2019). He is one of Australia’s Top 5 Lifetime Achievers (Research Superstars) in Engineering and Computer Science by The Australian’s 2020 Research Magazine. He is one of Australia’s Top 5 Researchers in Computer Science and Electronics by Guide2Research (2020).

Professor Han is a Fellow of The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and a Fellow of The Institution of Engineers Australia. He has served as AdCom Member of IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IES), Member of IEEE IES Fellows Committee, and Chair of IEEE IES Technical Committee on Network-based Control Systems.

Professor Han received The 2020 IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC) Society Andrew P. Sage Best Transactions Paper Award, The 2020 IEEE Industrial Electronics Society IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics Best Paper Award, and The 2019 IEEE SMC Society Andrew P. Sage Best Transactions Paper Award.
Professor Han is a Fellow of The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and a Fellow of The Institution of Engineers Australia. He has served as AdCom Member of IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IES), Member of IEEE IES Fellows Committee, and Chair of IEEE IES Technical Committee on Network-based Control Systems.