Page 6 - Climate Control News magazine March 2023

News
Engineering crisis deepens in 2023
ENGINEERING VACANCIES HAVE GROWN BY 80 PER CENT NATIONALLY OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, COMPARED TO A 42 PER CENT AVERAGE FOR OTHER OCCUPATIONS.
LEFT: Australia needs to lift its engineering capability to meet its energy transition goals.
BELOW: Partners in Performance partner, Karin Wright.
BELOW RIGHT: Engineers Australia CEO, Romilly Madew.
“Australia needs to explore new and innova- tive ways to build its engineering capability, including how we support migrant engineers,” Madew said.
“Engineers Australia research shows there is a significant cohort of migrant engineers already in Australia who have long-term dif- ficulties securing employment appropriate to their experience. Tapping into this latent supply offers one means of easing skills shortages.”
The war for talent in engineering is one of the greatest challenges currently facing Australia, according to Partners in Performance partner, Karin Wright.
“As Australia accelerates the pace toward achieving energy transformation goals, national priorities rely on the engineering sector,” she said.
“Australia is still seeing the impact of reduced migration and hence, a lack of skilled and unskilled labour. This can be overcome by investing in project teams and their develop- ment to mitigate these issues.”
AN ANALYSIS OF the Jobs and Skills Australia’s Internet Vacancy Index data by Engineers Australia shows the country is still in the grip of an engineering skills shortage.
Engineers Australia CEO, Romilly Madew, said rising material costs and the collapse of two major players in the construction industry has left the $237 billion national five-year pipe- line of infrastructure projects with fewer con- tractors who can deliver.
“This is contributing to blown-out budgets and increased project slippage. The construc- tion sector is already overstretched and
operating at capacity and the impact on engi- neering vacancies is noticeable,” Madew said. “Engineers have remained in the spot-
light with several major stimulus projects from the federal government relying on the profession’s skills and expertise. However, the engineering skills shortage shows no end in sight, with demand continuing to outstrip supply.”
Infrastructure Australia forecasts labour demand in 2023 to grow by 42,000 to a peak of 442,000, more than doubling the projected available supply.
AIRAH Board appoints new CEO
Hyde has been CEO of several member-based associations that excelled in member value deliv- ery, including advocacy, and has specific sustain- ability skills and knowledge, having worked on multiple APAC circular economy initiatives. These include The Plastics Circle, the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), and the Confectionery Manufacturers of Australasia.
Hyde described the appointment as a true honour. With a particular interest in the built environment and advocacy, Hyde is looking forward to promoting the role of HVAC&R in facilitating Australia’s path to net zero emissions.
She said the profession has a right to be front and centre in the fight against climate change,
FOLLOWING A DETAILED recruitment pro- cess, the AIRAH Board has appointed Trish Hyde to the role of CEO.
Hyde has replaced Tony Gleeson, who announced his impending resignation late last year, but will help with the seamless leadership transition over the coming weeks.
AIRAH president Paul Jackson, said Hyde’s passion for sustaina- bility, proven ability to lead organisations, and capacity for change management matched the role’s requirements.
“We are excited to recruit
someone of Trish’s talent, experience and char- acter to the important role of AIRAH chief executive,” Jackson said. “Tony has laid a great foundation for the organisation over the past seven years, achieving wins in a number of key areas and working closely with the Board to set
a bold, ambitious agenda for strategic transformation.
“With Trish at the helm, AIRAH is in an excellent position to take the next step as a contemporary member organisation, with a key role to play in our net zero future.”
LEFT: AIRAH CEO, Trish Hyde.
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