Engineers Without Borders CEO named one of Australia’s 100 Most Influential Engineers

Engineers Without Borders Australia’s (EWB) CEO, Lizzie Brown has been named one of Australia's 100 Most Influential Engineers of 2013.

The list, compiled by Engineers Australia annually, looks at the ability of those nominated to participate in and lead business, innovation and change.

Brown was recognised as an influential engineer in the Community category, alongside Elizabeth Taylor (RedR), Bill Lawson (Beacon Foundation), John Grill (John Grill Centre for Project Leadership), Michael Myers (Re-Engineering Australia) and Bill Phippen (TAD Disability Services). The Community category was launched for the first time this year.

Since 2010 Brown has been CEO of EWB, a not-for-profit organisation with 10 years experience creating systemic change through humanitarian engineering.

Brown joined EWB as a volunteer in Brisbane in 2004, assisting with the foundation of the South East Queensland Chapter. She took on the role of Director of Education in 2006 before becoming the Operations Director in 2009.

Brown now leads a movement of 15,000 people and engineering companies working together to improve the quality of life in developing communities through humanitarian engineering.

Brown has overseen substantial improvements to EWB's internal management systems, with a strong focus on preparing the organisation for the next ten years.

“It is an honour it is to be recognised on the list and have the work EWB is doing nationally and internationally acknowledge by Engineers Australia. It is great to see that Engineers Australia has included Community as a category for the first time this year,” said Brown.

In 2009 Brown was also awarded a Chief Executive Women Leadership Scholarship and a Churchill Fellowship centred on education, training and research programs for sustainable development in the UK and USA.

Brown says leadership inspiration comes from many different places, “I am frequently inspired and motivated by our members who are passionate about creating change through humanitarian engineering and give so much to our work.”