APIA recognises industry achievements

Kristin Martin (APA Group) and Leon Richards (McConnell Dowell) were announced as the joint winners of the Young Achievement Award for 2007.

“The APIA Board has great pleasure in announcing its decision to make the 2007 APIA Young Achievement Award jointly to these two young people who have already made strong contributions to the industry,” said APIA’s then President, Mark Harper.

Mr Harper commented on Mr Richards’ contribution to the Mt Isa Gas Pipeline as a Project Engineer with McConnell Dowell, after he joined the company in 1996. Over the last decade Mr Richards has fulfilled roles of Construction Manager and Project Manager on McConnell Dowell’s major water and gas pipeline projects both within Australia and around the globe – including, within Australia, the Telfer Gas Pipeline, Burdekin Water Pipeline and the Bundamba to Wivenhoe Dam section of the Western Corridor Recycled Water Pipeline project.

“Leon possesses skills that enable him to get the best out of a construction team by using motivation and teamwork to tackle any problem and obtain solutions that produce a positive result,” said Mr Harper.

“Leon has Project Managed McConnell Dowell’s most recent high profiled, high risk and technically difficult pipeline projects, successfully completing these projects by using his engineering skills to assess the risks and devise cost-effective solutions to overcome the challenges.

“He is always considering and willing to try new and innovative ways of achieving a successful pipeline and facility installation.

“To have achieved so much at such a young age, Leon is without doubt and ideal role model for the sort of young people this industry so desperately needs,” said Mr Harper.

Ms Martin, who has only been in the pipeline industry for 4 years, has “shown outstanding leadership potential”, Mr Harper said.

As a member of the organising committee for APIA’s Young Pipeliners Forum – which held its inaugural event in Canberra in May 2006 and now has sub-groups in all of the mainland states – Ms Martin has become a prominent young person in the industry, actively promoting the YPF and the role and need for the development of young people in the industry. Ms Martin is also the convenor for the Victorian YPF committee and the secretary of the National Committee of the YPF.

“As a young engineer for GasNet and now the APA Group, Kristin began as an engineer on the team designing and constructing a liquefied natural gas truck loading facility at Dandenong,” said Mr Harper.

“She then completed a project as Field Engineer for the construction of the Nifty high pressure pipeline in WA and she is currently a senior Mechanical Engineer Facilities for the Brooklyn to Lara pipeline in and just out of Melbourne. In this project Kristin is responsible for the design and all aspects of the contract for the end of line facilities.

“Kristin’s contribution in the work of the APIA YPF has been outstanding and enthusiastic and she is a worthy recipient of this Award for her contribution in raising the profile of the up and coming younger generation of pipeliners,” he said.

Also announced at Convention was the APIA award for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Pipeline Industry, which was given this year to Graeme Hogarth of Hogarth Project Management Services.

Mr Harper said, “Graeme Hogarth has made an outstanding and valued contribution to Australia’s pipeline industry in an association spanning almost 30 years.

“His involvement has covered all aspects including owners, engineers, contractors, authorities, facilitators and financiers. He has worked in both the downstream and upstream oil and gas and related industry and has extensive experience in most aspects of infrastructure projects including process engineering and design, refinery, oil and gas field and pipeline operation, project development, and project management,” he said.

“During his career he has worked for or provided consultancy services to most of the major pipeline asset owners in Australia.

“Graeme is a strong supporter of the Australian pipeline industry and has presented numerous papers at APIA conventions and sponsored events. In 1996, he was elected as APIA Safety Committee Chair for a period of four years and he continues to demonstrate his commitment and enthusiasm to safety and continues to serve on this committee.

“Graeme has introduced the concept of a “˜fitness for work’ to the industry, a policy which is now an integral part of the safety management practices of many member organisations. His leadership attributes are reflected in the role he has assumed in championing safety reform in the industry, through his roles as Chair and member of the APIA Safety Committee and, as Pipeline General Manager for the North Qld Gas Pipeline project. Graeme has been responsible for the development of safety initiatives that provide the foundation on which the Safety Management policies of the Association and many member companies are based.

“This award is a fitting recognition for a man who has made an outstanding contribution to the Australian pipeline industry over a significant period of time.”

At the Convention awards ceremony it was also announced that Keith Fitzgerald – a stalwart in Australia’s pipeline industry for more than 50 years – had been elected an Honorary Life Member of APIA.

Mr Fitzgerald, who is often affectionately referred to as the “˜Godfather’ of Australia’s pipeline industry, was nominated by Allan Newham and seconded by Andy Lukas.

Mr Harper said that Mr Fitzgerald – of CRC-Evans Pipeline International – had made a truly outstanding contribution to both APIA and the pipeline industry at large.

“Keith’s proven commitment started when he was instrumental in 1968 in the founding of the Australian Pipe Line Contractors’ Association (from which APIA grew) and was a founding Associate Member. Since that date he has continually and actively supported the Association and its ideals,” Mr Harper said.

“We tend somewhat to pass over the contribution that equipment suppliers make to the entire industry and, in particular, the construction sector,” he said.

“Keith’s contribution has been outstanding in this area in that he has always “˜been there’ for the industry, actively participating in its early and ongoing formulation.

“Although at times some have not been comfortable with his views, he has persisted for the sake of APIA, and his contribution has been significant in that he has been the key spokesman for many of the suppliers.

“Keith has a bank of pipeline knowledge which he freely passes on including information about projects and personnel. His contribution has been highly valuable in that he has helped many contractors to become established in the industry and has always gone that “˜extra yard’ to get it right.

Keith was a member of the Board in 1983/84 and has promoted others to stand rather than seeking the limelight himself.

“Over the 50 years of his involvement, he has been counsel to many in the industry and has had an informal but valuable role within APIA.

“The awarding of this Life Membership is a fitting way to say “˜Thank You’ for an outstanding contribution by one of Australia’s best-known pipeliners.”

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