Newcastle’s most innovative engineers and engineering projects have been named at the 2025 Engineers Australia Excellence Awards – People and Projects at Noah’s on the Beach overnight.
“The Engineers Australia Excellence Awards honour the outstanding achievements of engineers here in Newcastle and the vital contribution their work makes to our community and beyond. By recognising these local leaders, we also inspire the next generation and strengthen the future of our profession,” said Helen Link, General Manager Newcastle Division.
Local winners will go on to represent their division at the national awards’ gala dinner held at Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf Sydney on Thursday 13 November.
Newcastle Project of the Year
SENSE 600® - Sustainable high strength steel rebar by InfraBuild, Monash University and University of New South Wales
The development of SENSE 600® reinforcing bar lights the way to a more sustainable future. It means lower scope 3 emissions without reinventing processes. SENSE 600®, with its higher strength and smaller diameter bars, reduces embodied carbon when used in place of InfraBuild’s conventional 500 MPa bar. The innovative bar design maintains development length and provides improved buckling performance with the same tensile capacity. Existing design software can be used for new designs and substitution tables, and software is available to convert existing designs. SENSE 600® meets the requirements of Australian Standard AS/ NZS 4671, 600 MPa normal ductility reinforcing bar.
Newcastle Professional Engineer of the Year
Annie Lacombe, MGA Thermal
Annie is a senior engineering leader with more than 20 years of global experience in the energy, defence and clean tech sectors. A chemical engineer by training, she has led complex projects in commissioning, operations and transformation. As Head of Engineering at MGA Thermal, Annie drives innovation in renewable energy storage. She co-founded the Engineers Qualified Overseas Committee and chaired Engineers Australia’s Women in Engineering committee. Renowned for her people-first leadership and ethical integrity, Annie is dedicated to mentoring and advancing diversity in engineering.
Newcastle Emerging Professional Engineer of the Year
Brendan Dagg, Beca HunterH2O
Brendan is a Senior Process Engineer at Beca HunterH2O, specialising in water infrastructure design and optimisation. Since entering the water sector in 2018, he has delivered projects across Australia and internationally and published 14 conference papers. Brendan is committed to nurturing future engineers through school STEM programs, mentoring University of Newcastle students and serving in leadership roles within the Australian Water Association (AWA) and Engineers Australia, including as Chair of the AWA Newcastle Sub-Committee.
Electrical College MA Sargent Medal
Peter Stepien, ResTech
Dr Peter Stepien is a distinguished electrical engineer with over 30 years of innovation and leadership. As Principal Engineer at ResTech, he pioneered diagnostic techniques for mine electrical safety, influencing Australian Standards and improving risk mitigation. He holds a patent in electrical fault detection and has published widely on control and protection systems. Peter mentors future engineers through teaching roles at the University of Newcastle and Sydney. As Chair of Engineers Australia’s ITEE College and contributor to national standards, his impact is felt nationally and internationally. His excellence and mentorship embody the spirit of the M.A. Sargent Medal.