In memorium for Emeritus Professor Robin King HonFIEAust CPEng(Ret) FRSN FTSE

Robin was the first person to be awarded a YODA by the Australasian Association for Engineering Education in recognition of his outstanding service to engineering education. It was a joint award with Emeritus Professor Elizabeth Taylor AO. YODA stands for Ye Olde Distinguished Academic. This award in itself is testament to the enormous contribution that Robin made to engineering education over many years, indeed a pioneer in this field.

Robin’s professional life began with an Electrical Engineering degree from Sheffield University (UK) in 1967 followed by a Doctorate from Imperial College London. He then worked at the BBC Research Laboratories, the University of Technology Lae (PNG), the University of Southampton, the University of New South Wales, the University of Sydney, the University of South Australia and finally in his ‘retirement’ at University of Technology Sydney.

It could be argued that Robin’s early research laid foundations for technological innovations that have improved the lives of persons with deaf and blind challenges.

Whilst employed in these positions, Robin’s passion for engineering education was evident in his work for Engineers Australia’s (EA) Accreditation Board. Indeed, he was the Chair and chose to be a visit manager. Robin also was the Chair of the International Engineering Alliance (IEA) Sydney Accord. He was the Executive Officer for the Australian Council of Engineering Deans (ACED) for many years before becoming an office bearer for the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) (in education). He was member of the Royal Society of New South Wales. He was also an avid follower of the research being done by the Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering and many other organisations.

In 2007–2008, Robin led a team that produced a seminal document reviewing engineering education for the Australian Council of Engineering Deans (ACED) (King, 2008). Among several recommendations, it included a very strong diversity message particularly related to getting more women into engineering. In more recent times, he was on the steering committee for the ACED reports exploring the Future of Engineering towards 2035 [www.aced.edu.au/index.php/examples].

Robin was a passionate believer in developing a much stronger link between industry and academia and together with several others published several papers and reports in this topic, for example ‘Drivers and Barriers to Industry Engaging in Engineering Education’ (Male et al., 2016).

In his role as a consultant to ACED, Robin collaborated with several other organisations such as the Chief Scientist Office, Engineers Australia, the Australian Council of Deans of Science, the Australian Council of Deans of ICT, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority and various government departments. Probably the three most important research activities related to the production of very detailed annual statistics of engineering students at all Australian universities [www.aced.edu.au/index.php/features/statistics], the pipeline for students coming into university education and the number of migrant engineers entering the Australian workforce, the latter being very much related to the supply and demand for engineers across the country [www.aced.edu.au/index.php/features/working-papers].

Robin was revered by all in his very extensive national and international network of colleagues and acquaintances.

Robin was an extraordinary engineer and academic who contributed widely to the profession over several decades. We are so grateful for his endless generosity and enormous contribution to our profession. His insight and influence were held in the highest regard.

Several persons have offered words and thoughts that describe what Robin meant to them. I thank all of you as I try to integrate them into this reflection.

Robin was certainly a person of influence through his mentoring, his generous and modest attitude to helping others, his incredible humility, his commitment, dedication and diligence to the task at hand, together with his in-depth knowledge of the engineering profession and the extensive networks he built over the years.

Even though I didn’t know Penny as well as Robin, I do know that she and Robin had very similar characters and were very active in various groups within their local community. The Mayor of their ward wrote a very supportive letter for their Celebration of Life (funeral) detailing their influence in their community.

‘This was the untimely departure of a unique person on whom we depended and whom we loved, but departed with whom he loved’

An extremely modest, generous and humble couple that adored each other and their family, were dedicated to and supported and influenced many community groups and professional persons, and were so physically active through hiking and other activities. Exemplars in so many ways.