The Ray Fisher Award for Technical Excellence recognises an individual for technical excellence in the broader transport industry. Previously known as the RA Award for Technical Excellence, it was renamed in 2019 to honour our former President and Life Member, Ray Fisher.
To be eligible, a nominee’s field of contribution must be in a technical or scientific area relevant to transport in Australia. Their contribution must be outstanding, measured directly in terms of impact on the industry, including the transformational change to the industry.
Criteria
The following conditions and guidelines apply in making the award:
- Field of Contribution. The field of contribution must be in a technical or scientific area relevant to transport in Australia. Indicative areas of contribution include road 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.
Our 2025 winner
Dr Torill Pape, was awarded the 2025 Ray Fisher Award for Technical Excellence in recognition of her outstanding technical contribution to the transport sector.
Dr Pape is one of Australia’s preeminent experts in bridges and structures. She is lead author on an array of academic technical papers, and authored the Austroads Engineering Guideline to Bridge Asset Management in 2021.
Her practical contributions to major transport projects around Australia include data-driven structural asset management, heavy vehicle behaviour monitoring on road structures, and lessons learnt from undertaking bridge and network assessments.
As Deputy Chief Engineer – Structures at Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads, Dr Pape has driven research activities with academic partners – aligning outcomes and fostering collaboration to ensure investment in innovative work that delivers clear community benefits.
The Roll of Honour
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