Breakfast Networking Event and Meet the Chief Engineers
About this Event
We’re pleased to share an opportunity to connect with fellow professionals and senior leaders from Engineers Australia.
EA UK Chapter is hosting Breakfast Networking Event and Meet the Chief Engineers session, starting at 7.30am for networking and light refreshments and then having both Katherine Richards (Chief Engineer) and Bernadette Foley (Group Executive, Professional Standards and Engineering Practice) as part of their engagement with the UK Chapter.
Date: Tuesday, 7th July 2026
In Person Schedule:
Time: 7.30am for networking and light refreshments - 8.00am online presentation
Location: Mott MacDonald , Level 2, 10 Fleet Place, London EC4M 7RB
Online/Webinar Schedule:
Time: 8.00 AM online presentation via WEBEX
The session will include:
- Insights from EA leadership and key initiatives
- Discussion on Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) for Chartered Engineers
- An update on developments, including the current status of the MRA with ICE (UK)
- Informal networking with peers
Speaker Profiles
Katherine Richards (AM CSC HonFIEAust CPEng EngExec NER)
Chief Engineer, Engineers Australia
Katherine Richards is Engineers Australia’s Chief Engineer, where she advocates for the engineering profession nationally and internationally. She provides expert insights to support strategic initiatives of national importance and actively engages with media, government and industry to elevate engineering in public discourse and decision-making.
Prior to joining Engineers Australia, Katherine served in the Royal Australian Navy for 36 years, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral before retiring in December 2024. She began her career as a midshipman and graduated Dux of her Naval Class at the Australian Defence Force Academy with First Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering.
Her distinguished career includes Command of HMAS CERBERUS and senior leadership roles as Head Navy Engineering and Defence Seaworthiness Regulator. Following the AUKUS announcement, she was appointed to design the Australian Naval Nuclear Powered Submarine Safety Regulator.
Katherine currently serves as a Board Member of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and recently completed a postgraduate qualification in quantum physics at the Australian National University. She has been awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross and is a Member of the Order of Australia, as well as an Honorary Fellow and Chartered Professional Engineer with Engineers Australia.
Bernadette Foley (FIEAust CPEng EngExec NER)
Group Executive, Professional Standards and Engineering Practice, Engineers Australia
Bernadette Foley was appointed Group Executive Professional Standards and Engineering Practice in December 2024. Since joining Engineers Australia in 2019, she has held several leadership roles including Head of Accreditation, General Manager of Professional Standards, and Acting Chief Engineer.
A civil engineer with over 30 years’ experience across industry and academia in Australia and the UK, Bernadette specialises in urban planning, water resource management and sustainability. Prior to Engineers Australia, she was Associate Dean (Curriculum and Accreditation) at the University of Adelaide.
Bernadette has extensive experience in engineering education, including curriculum reform, improving graduate employability, and strengthening links between academia and industry. She also contributed to the International Engineering Alliance’s 2021 review of Graduate Attributes and Professional Competencies.
She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) with First Class Honours and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 0.00
