Julian O'Shea

Engineer

2014 SA Young Australian of the Year

An award-winning young engineer, Julian O’Shea’s vision is of a world free from poverty and disadvantage.  To achieve this ambitious goal, Julian is building a movement of engineers, researchers and designers who can deliver technological solutions that improve the life in some of the world’s poorest countries.  As the Director of the Engineers Without Borders Institute, Julian uses education programs to inform, engage and inspire the next generation of engineers to make a positive contribution.  Under Julian’s leadership, the Institute is contributing to life-changing projects – from improving pipe design in landslide-affected areas of East Timor to designing and installing rainwater harvesting systems to secure safe drinking water in Cambodian schools.  Julian also has a strong commitment to reconciliation, and has developed an iPhone App to help people give culturally-appropriate acknowledgements of country to traditional owners.  The projects Julian leads are diverse, but guided by a belief that technology can be a force for good and help serve the most disadvantaged in our community.