Engineers Australia is proud to share that a $5000 donation has been made to Engineers Without Borders (EWB) on behalf of staff and members, following Chief Engineer Rear Admiral Katherine Richards AM CSC’s delivery of the prestigious Harry Harris Oration at the 2026 Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) Conference in Melbourne this February.
The donation recognises not only the honour extended to Engineers Australia through Kath’s invitation, but also the shared spirit of service that underpins both professions- engineering and medicine alike.
The Harry Harris Oration is named after one of urology’s great pioneers, an individual celebrated for advancing clinical practice and reshaping the mindset of a profession.
As Mrs Richards reflected in her address, Harry Harris built structures where none existed, challenged assumptions that others accepted, and understood progress demands both courage and method.
“Fulfilment does not come from being recognised. It comes from knowing that because you showed up, someone’s life is better,” she said.
Importantly, the Oration continues his legacy by inviting voices from outside urology, recognising that innovation often emerges at the intersections between disciplines. Mrs Richards’ presence as Chief Engineer was a powerful embodiment of that philosophy.
In a speech titled “Reflections of a Life in Service,” she brought warmth, humour and hard-earned insight from more than 40 years in engineering and military leadership.
Mrs Richards bridged the gap between engineers and urologists through playful analogies, likening the human body to control systems, pressure vessels and “a whole lot of pipes… that invariably fail at the worst possible time.”
But beneath the humour was a deeply serious message about professional purpose and service.
It is this shared commitment to service that made Engineers Without Borders a fitting recipient of the $5000 donation.
EWB’s work, partnering with communities to deliver sustainable engineering solutions, reflects the very principles Ms. Richards articulated in her oration: collaboration, humility and service that extends far beyond technical delivery.
Mrs Richards concluded her Oration by thanking the urology community for its dedication, noting that their work restores not only health, but confidence and dignity: “For our dignity, and our plumbing, are inextricably linked.”
The evening was a reminder that while engineers and clinicians may operate in different domains, they are united by a common mission, to serve others, solve complex problems, and leave people’s lives better than they found them.
Engineers Australia is honoured to have been part of this important tradition and proud to extend its impact through support of Engineers Without Borders.