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The 2018 Engineers Australia Top 30 Most Innovative Engineers announced 4 July includes three of Aurecon’s leading technical professionals.
John Hilton, Design Director, Bridges, Anne Williams, Associate, Energy & Resources and Neil Mackenzie, Technical Director, Built Environment, all of whom have been recognised for their commitment to innovation.
“Aurecon is a learning organisation that is reimagining engineering through its people,” said Dr Kourosh Kayvani, Managing Director Design, Innovation & Eminence, Aurecon.
“This recognition by Engineers Australia is testament to the innovation, commitment and passion our colleagues bring to our clients and their projects.”
“We know the traditional problem-solving aspect of engineering is being disrupted by digitisation and artificial intelligence. Therefore, we have sought to reimagine engineering to address an ambiguous future where technical prowess is complemented by storytelling and human centred design,” said Dr Kayvani.
“John Hilton, Anne Williams and Neil Mackenzie are eminent practitioners in their technical fields. They exemplify Aurecon’s strategy in action as we inspire our teams to embrace the power of thinking and working in a 'problem world', rather than a 'solution world'. Bringing innovation and a passion for problem finding and solving to their day to day work is part of their professional DNA,” added Dr Kayvani.
John Hilton and Anne Williams are members of the Aurecon Design Academy, a multi-year programme through which Aurecon supports its technical experts to explore ways to become more open minded, use design led thinking and engage in deeper exploration around clients’ projects and undiscovered challenges.
“By understanding the power of working in a 'problem world', rather than a 'solution world', our technical experts put themselves at the centre of any problem or challenge," said Dr Kayvani who leads the Aurecon Design Academy.
"They learn to listen, question traditional thinking, ask 'why', put people at the heart of a solution. Our technical experts become storytellers to create deep project collaboration."
To our knowledge, Aurecon’s Design Academy is the first educational programme for technical experts from a diverse range of disciplines that creates what we term master "T-practitioners". That is: people with deep technical expertise and the capability to communicate, influence and lead design at its highest level.
The projects recognised by Engineers Australia include: John Hilton for Warrell Creek to Nambucca Heads Pacific Highway upgrade and A-bridge, Neil Mackenzie, Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law, and Anne Williams, Novo Rail Alliance Strathfield to Hornsby.
Aurecon congratulates John, Anne and Neil on their recognition as top innovators within their profession.
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Aurecon has been named in the AFR Boss Most Innovative Companies list for 10 consecutive years, reflecting sustained investment in innovation to solve complex problems.
Aurecon Design Academy wins Best in Class at the 2026 Australian Good Design Awards, celebrating the company's decade-long investment in developing its people.
Aurecon wins multiple honours at Engineers Australia's state and territory Excellence Awards, including Project of the Year for Adelaide Aquatic Centre.
