Chemical engineers recognised for excellence at Chemeca 2024

Chemical engineers from the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology have been awarded honours at Chemeca 2024, an annual conference for chemical engineering professionals and associated disciplines.

Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor Sandra Kentish was awarded the R.K. Murphy Medal – the highest honour awarded by the Industrial Chemistry Division of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. The award acknowledges Professor Kentish's contributions to the creation, development and commercialisation of technologies in industrial and chemical engineering.

“I am grateful for this recognition, which underscores the passion and commitment we share in advancing the field of industrial chemistry,” Professor Kentish said.

Professor David Shallcross was awarded the Chemeca Medal – the highest honour in the profession across Australia and New Zealand.

“The greatest award to receive is one from your peers, so I am honoured and humbled to receive the Chemeca Medal,” Professor Shallcross said.

The Department of Chemical Engineering was also awarded the IChemE Australasia Awards 2024 in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, recognising its efforts to promote Indigenous Australians into chemical engineering and foster a more inclusive profession.

Head of Department Professor Kathryn Mumford said she was proud of the Department’s commitment to inclusivity and the diverse contributions that made them stronger.

“Diversity is our strength, and I believe that embracing different perspectives is essential for innovation and excellence in chemical engineering,” Professor Mumford said.

The awards were presented at the Chemeca 2024 Awards of Excellence in Chemical Engineering Gala Conference Dinner in Gold Coast, Queensland, on Monday, 30 September.