Welcome to our first newsletter for 2025.  We hope you had a chance to relax and recharge over the festive season and are ready for an interesting and successful 2025. 

Richard and I used January to update all of our publications, as well as write a new booklet specifically for engineers.  The new booklet is titled Risk Management and Negligence - Due Diligence Essentials for Engineers.  Whilst our other booklets have been focussed at Directors, we have been finding a knowledge gap in the due diligence and risk management space for Engineers which is quite alarming.  My blog this issue outlines what we are seeing and some useful tips to manage risk issues.

Our consulting work is in full swing. We are currently undertaking a review of an Electricity Safety Management System for Energy Safe Victoria, some threat barrier modelling for credible critical issues for Murrumbidgee Irrigation, and a safety review of a movement system at a new facility. Richard is also due to be an expert witness for a planning matter in Queensland in the next couple of months.  

Our public and in-house courses have also commenced for 2025 in partnership with Engineering Education Australia. Dates for our public courses are listed below.

Richard and I are currently recording Season 5 of our podcast (Risk! Engineers Talk Governance) with the first episode scheduled to be released this Sunday. This season’s theme is ‘Conversations engineers need to have about risk management’.  These are sometimes hard conversations and not necessarily popular conversations, but we think it is important that they are had.  If you have any suggested topics, we would love to hear from you. Look out for details on a potential in-person event later this year on this very topic too.

I hope it has been a great start for you and if you have any questions relating to engineering due diligence, please get in touch with me or Richard – we are always happy to chat. Email admin@r2a.com.au or call 1300 772 333.

Until next time,

Gaye Francis
R2A Partner

Richard have been busy recording Season 5 and our first episode will launch this Sunday at 5pm with an overview of their new booklet “Risk Management & Negligence - Due Diligence Essentials for Engineers”.

Other episodes to look out for this season include difficult conversations engineers need to have about risk, how to prevent catastrophic project blowouts, and insurance for HPREs. 

You can find the podcast on all major platforms including Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon. 

If you prefer video, watch all episode recordings on YouTube. 

Engineering Due Diligence

• Wednesday 11 & Thursday 12 June, 9:00am to 1:00pm (AEST)

• Wednesday 5  & Thursday 6 November, 10:00am to 2:00pm (AEDT)

Audience: This course is a more detailed course for Engineers. It's also suitable for risk and compliance staff of technology-based organisations.

For further information and registration via EEA: eea.org.au/courses/engineering-due-diligence

Criminal Manslaughter - How Not To Do It

• Thursday 5 June, 1:00pm to 5:00pm (AEST)

• Thursday 4 September, 9:00am to 1:00pm (AEST)

• Thursday 20 November, 10:00am to 2:00pm (AEDT)

Audience: This course suits engineers and design professionals, and is particularly valuable for board members, senior decision-makers and technical advisers.

Further information and registration via EEA: https://eea.org.au/courses/criminal-manslaughter-how-not-do-it

Rail Safety National Law & OHS Legislation - Obligations for Engineers & Designers

• Thursday 15 May, 9:00am to 12:15pm (AEST)

• Thursday 21 August, 1:00pm to 4:30pm (AEST)

Audience: This course suits engineers across all disciplines, especially engineers involved in the rail industry. Other relevant roles include: Designers and Project Managers.

Further information and registration via EEA: eea.org.au/courses/rail-safety-national-law-and-ohs-legislation-obligations-engineers-and-designers

We also deliver tailored, in-house workshop briefings. Contact us directly or chat with EEA to organise.

Find out more at www.r2a.com.au/private-due-diligence-briefing-workshops

Risk Management & Negligence; Due diligence Essentials for Engineers booklet has been written for engineers in the age of engineer registration and the rise of criminal liability for designers. It specifically covers the legal context and environment in which engineers have to work, as well as the tools and techniques that can be used to solve complex issues and help demonstrate due diligence.

In this article, Gaye highlights the need for Engineers to have difficult conversations about Risk Management with the industry seemingly increasing its focus on upside risk and reward rather than addressing downside safety, environmental, project and enterprise/organisational issues.   

She also shares some helpful tips for engineers to manage risk.