Ampcontrol engineer awarded M A Sargent engineering medal

Dr Ian Webster, Group Engineer Manager at Ampcontrol, has been named as joint winner of the esteemed M A Sargent Medal.

The M A Sargent Medal is awarded to revered engineers who have shown a highly significant contribution through technical innovation to the science or practice of electrical engineering. Named in honour of Dr Michael Anthony Sargent AM, an outstanding Australian electrical engineer, this award is notably Australia’s highest honour in the electrical engineering field, made jointly by the College of Electrical Engineers and the College of ITEE Engineers. The award acknowledges nominees who demonstrate a significant contribution, through technical innovation, to the longstanding eminence in science or the practice of electrical engineering; or exceptional and sustained leadership in electrical engineering. Dr Ian Webster is joint winner of the M A Sargent Medal for 2021 with Professor Qing-Long Han, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research Quality) and distinguished professor at Swinburne University of Technology.

In addition to his role at Ampcontrol, Dr Ian Webster is a respected professional electrical engineer with multiple degrees from The University of Newcastle. He is Adjunct Professor of Practice, School of Engineering at the University of Newcastle, and held numerous leadership roles with national and international engineering bodies. Ian is a subject matter expert in the technical fields of electrical engineering related to hazardous (explosive) atmospheres and underground mining, with a broad portfolio of published academic papers.

The M A Sargent Medal announcement follows Dr Ian Webster recently named as 2021 Professional Engineer of the Year, Newcastle Division, by Engineering Australia.

“I am honoured and humbled to be recognised for the M A Sargent Medal,” Webster said. “I offer my congratulations to Professor Qing-Long Han, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Quality) at Swinburne University of Technology, who is the co-winner of this award for 2021. I thank the Engineers Australia College of Electrical Engineers and the College of Information, Telecommunications, and Electronics Engineering for their dedicated work in maintaining and awarding the M A Sargent Medal annually.

“I have enjoyed the privilege of dual careers, having spent 20 years in academia and another 20 years in industry. For that I must thank the many people whom I have worked for, and worked with, and who have presented the challenges and opportunities to allow me to grow as an engineer. Without them, the journey recognised today would not have been possible.”

In 2020, Webster led several high-profile projects at Ampcontrol, including developing a critical ICU Emergency Ventilator for NSW Health in response to the COVID pandemic. Ampcontrol was one of two organisations selected by the state government for pre-production following successful prototyping of its ventilator.

Coupled with a long history of professional leadership and innovation in the electrical engineering sector and supporting many years of structured development for professional engineers at Ampcontrol, he also provides professional development for engineers through his position as Adjunct Professor of Practice at the University of Newcastle.

Image: Dr Ian Webster, PhD CPEng FIEAust EngExec RPEQ FSEng.