Ray Fisher Award for Technical Excellence 2026
The Ray Fisher Award for Technical Excellence in 2026 was presented to Aimee Wescombe, GHD’s Road and Mobility Solutions Lead for Tasmania.
Aimee Wescombe is the first Tasmanian to win the national award.
The award recognises her leadership in shifting road safety from reactive crash response to proactive, data-driven risk management. Her work on state-wide safety investment strategies and innovative approaches has strengthen industry capability and governance.
THE CRITERIA
Selection criteria for the award are as follows:
Field of contribution
The field of contribution must be in a technical or scientific area relevant to transport. Indicative areas of contribution include construction, design, safety, freight, research, and sustainability.
Impact of Contribution
The contribution must be outstanding. This will be measured directly in terms of its impact on the industry, the advancement of science and the community.
Recognition of Contribution
The extent to which the contribution is acknowledged by the candidate’s professional peers within the relevant scientific or technical field.
Personal achievement
It must be demonstrated that the candidate’s contribution significantly reflects personal endeavour, as distinct from the work of others.
Originality
Candidates will also be assessed on the originality and unique quality of their contribution and the transformational change to the industry. The spark of innovation must be evident.
Durability
Candidates will also be assessed on the extent to which their contribution is likely to endure and be applied by future generations.
Further Potential
Ideally candidates for the award will still have further contributions to make to the industry and the community. It is expected that the award will recognise their achievements to date and thereby enhance the opportunity for the candidate to make yet a further contribution.
PAST RECIPIENTS
Amongst the past recipients of this prestigious award are:
2025 – Dr Torill Pape
2022 – Geoff Ayton
2021 – George Mavroyeni
2020 – David Hazell
2019 – Dr Richard Kelly
2018 – Harry Asche
2017 – Rod Troutbeck
2016 – John Hilton
2015 – Professor Mary Lydon
2014 – Rahmi Akçelik
2013 – Kieran Sharp
2012 – John Hodgkinson
2011 – Dr John B Metcalf