2026 Frank White Memorial Lecture
What's next for engineering? Beyond the unbuildable.
Presented by Kate West, Chief Officer APAC, Business & Markets, Arup
This keynote will blend Kate’s personal journey as an engineer and leader with a forward view of how the profession is evolving at a pivotal moment for the engineering industry and society as a whole.
Drawing on defining projects and turning points in her career, Kate will reflect on how engineering, viewed through a wider lens, creates impact beyond individual projects. These insights connect to Arup’s 80-year legacy, from helping realise the once ‘unbuildable’ Sydney Opera House to shaping the infrastructure and cities we rely on today.
A central theme is the evolution of design thinking. Where engineering once focused on discrete problems and linear projects, today’s challenge is designing interconnected systems. Cities are no longer collections of assets, but complex, interdependent systems requiring integrated thinking across transport, energy, water and communities.
Looking ahead, examples such as the Queensland hosted Olympics and future city-shaping infrastructure like Morley-Ellenbrook Line WA, show how the ‘unbuildable’ now lies in complexity and scale. AI and digital tools are accelerating system-level design, but also reinforcing the value of human creativity, judgement and integration.
It will highlight the growing importance of interdisciplinary collaboration bringing together technical expertise with broader perspectives to solve problems holistically. Concluding with what this shift means for the profession: engineers as integrators of systems, and the opportunity for emerging talent to combine technical excellence with curiosity and adaptability.
Kate West, Chief Officer APAC, Business & Markets, Arup
Kate West is a dynamic and visionary leader renowned for her strategic acumen, exceptional people leadership, and transformative approach to business. With 25 years of international experience spanning Infrastructure and the Built Environment, Kate thrives in collaborative environments and consistently delivers bold results.
As Chief Officer APAC, Business and Markets, Kate sets the direction for business growth, innovation, and market diversification across 6,500 professionals at Arup in the Asia Pacific. Previously, as Co‑Chair (Co‑CEO) for Australasia (2021–2025), she inspired and guided 3,500 staff throughout Southeast Asia and ANZ. In both capacities, Kate has shaped major milestones in organisational evolution, driving the creation of a matrix structure, uniting business units, and enhancing governance, leadership, and enterprise performance with a strategic lens.
Kate is a sought-after voice and keynote speaker on pivotal issues at global events such as the United Nations Women in Leadership Conference (2025), CHINCA Construction Forum China (2025), Building Nations Conference NZ (2025), Roads Australia National Summit (2025), and the World Cities Summit in Singapore (2024). As a passionate Engineer, she champions STEM and is dedicated to empowering women to pursue careers in the sector, leveraging her influence to foster diversity and innovation.
Kate’s strategic impact extends beyond her executive roles. She currently serves as a Director on the Board of Transport Australia, sits on CEDA National BOard and WA’s State Advisory Committee, acts as a Trustee for the Ove Arup Foundation, and brings seasoned expertise as a Statutory Director. Her achievements are widely recognised, including being named Australian Financial Review Women in Leadership Award Winner, Professional Services Category (2024), honoured as a National Honorary Fellow by Engineers Australia (2024), and appointed a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology, Science and Engineering (ATSE) in 2025.
As a mum of three, Kate advocates for flexible, part-time work and collaborative leadership models. Her global perspective, shaped by living and working throughout Australia, Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Asia enrich her strategic approach and enables her to navigate diverse cultural landscapes with ease and insight.
About the Frank White Memorial Lecture
Established in 2023 to honour the enduring impact of Professor Frank T.M. White, a trailblazer in engineering and mineral science. From Australia's goldfields to the Fiji department of mines, to mining rehabilitation in post-War Malaya, to his pivotal role at UQ as the Founding Professor of mining and metallurgy.
This lecture brings an eminent industry speaker to share their insights on global challenges, and the future of the sector.