Our purpose is to enhance the quality of life for all Queensland communities by advancing the skills, knowledge and resources available to those involved in the planning and provision of public works and services.
A meeting, chaired by Geoff Wilmoth was held in Rockhampton 7 October 1970 proposing the formation of a Queensland local government engineer’s association. The inaugural meeting of the Local Government Engineers’ Association of Queensland (LGEAQ) was held at Southport, 2 October 1972, attended by approximately 50 engineers from various local authorities. TJ (Jim) Abbiss was elected as our founding President.
The name of the association was changed in 1999 to the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia, Queensland then again in 2015 to the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia, Queensland. In January 2020, the Institute became a Company Limited by Guarantee. As a registered charity, we are able to remove ‘Ltd’ from our name.
The IPWEAQ Constitution was adopted at the AGM held in Brisbane, October 2019 following a member's vote to become a Company Limited by Guarantee.
In 2003, the Institute established the Queensland Water Directorate to provide services to the urban water and sewerage industry. qldwater is a registered business of IPWEAQ.
IPWEAQ became a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) 1 July 2015.
The IPWEAQ Board comprises eight members including the Branch President of four of the five branches (SWQ, SEQ, CQ and NQ). The NT Branch has not elected a Branch President at this time.
The President of IPWEAQ for the two years commencing from the 2021 AGM held in Cairns, 13 October is Angela Fry.
Leigh Cunningham was appointed CEO in August 2015. Contact Leigh.Cunningham@ipweaq.com.
We plan to Inform, Connect, Represent and Lead
Five regional branches have been established for SWQ, SEQ, CQ, NQ and NT.
For each President's two-year term, we support a charity. Angela Fry has chosen Strengthening Rural Communities (a program of the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR).
Our state-of-the art training facilities in Eagle Farm, Public Works Professionals has three training rooms, two Boardrooms, two meeting rooms, a Video Studio and functions space, the Engine Room. Available for bookings. Contact Lexy Rohde.
Membership is open to anyone actively involved in the public works sector in Queensland. You do not need to be an engineer.