The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering is an Australianengineering and science policythink-tank, established in 1983 and named for Australia's first engineering lecturer. The Sydney-based centre describes itself as Australia’s premier independent think-tank on transformative engineering issues. The Warren Centre is known for its annual Innovation Lectures and Innovation Hero Awards, which celebrate important figures in Australian innovation. It is influential in STEM education policy, and is known for other historical and ongoing programs across different branches of engineering.
History
The Warren Centre was founded in 1983 to mark the centenary of Australia’s first university engineering lecture, delivered by William Henry Warren at the University of Sydney in 1883. There were 20 founding members of the Committee, including six Professors of the Engineering Faculty and engineers from a wide range of industry backgrounds. The Centre raised an initial AU$2 million endowment from a range of major Australian engineering companies and private donors. Its founding aim was to ‘foster engineering excellence around Australia to create wealth’. Over the following 30 years, The Warren Centre has had a significant impact on Australian engineering, including programs such as Winning By Design, Fire Safety & Engineering, Underground Space, Sustainable Transport in Sustainable Cities, and Low Energy High Rise, which have influenced the way industry, government and other stakeholders consider major engineering issues. Since 1996, The Warren Centre has hosted an annual Innovation Lecture series presented by a leading figure in Australian science or engineering on their achievements, including the creation of Cochlear, Google Maps, Maptek and the Virgin Galactic space program.
Current work
Current projects at The Warren Centre include Mobilising PPIR, Off-Grid Power Solutions, Construction Performance, Quality & Waste, and Urban Reform. The Warren Centre’s science, technology, engineering and maths education work is focused on influencing Commonwealth and state governments, as well as other players, to improve Australia’s science, technology, engineering and maths education. It also includes working with undergraduate and graduate students at Australian universities to commercialise innovative projects - for example, delivery drone service Flirtey. In its public policy work, the Warren Centre is an advocate of improved engineering leadership and commercialisation, as well as supporting improvements in public transport and urban design, and a greater focus on renewable energy. The Warren Centre supports a Chair in Innovation at the University of Sydney, currently held by Professor Andy Dong.
