Associate Professor Nagaratnam Sivakugan and Suzy Cairney have been announced as the new members on the Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland (BPEQ), while Dawson Wilkie has been reappointed chairperson and regional representative.

Associate Professor Sivakugan (pictured below) works at James Cook University and undertakes substantial consulting work for geotechnical and mining companies.

Ms Cairney is a partner at Holding Redlich in Brisbane, where she is described as  projects and commercial lawyer with particular experience in project development and operational contracts in the ports, civil construction and resources sectors.

Dr Sivakugan replaces Professor Simon Biggs as academic representative and Ms Cairney joins as legal representative following the departure of Adam Stoker.

“Dr Sivakugan and Ms Cairney are both highly experienced professionals who will bring new ideas and expertise to BPEQ,” Mr Wilkie said.

“Of note is Dr Sivakugan’s and Ms Cairney’s experience in mining and resources that will provide useful insight into a sector BPEQ has until recently had limited interaction with.

“On behalf of BPEQ and all registered professional engineers best wishes and thank you to Simon Biggs and Adam Stoker for their commitment to serving the profession of engineering and the Queensland public over the past three years.

“On a personal level I am also very pleased to be reappointed Chairperson and regional representative and am ready to push on with our many strategic priorities and initiatives.”

Board members Evelyn Storey, Yvonne Pengilly, Sarah Hansen and Peter Evans continue in their current positions.

Dr Sivakugan, Ms Cairney and Mr Wilkie have been appointed for a period of three years from April 2018.