The Excellence Awards recognises outstanding individuals and teams who have demonstrated innovation and resourcefulness within the engineering profession and is the industry event of the year. 

Mr Rao graduated Murdoch University in 2019, where he designed the first low temperature pilot anaerobic digester feeding off brewery wastewater in Australia. 

Murdoch University’s Bachelor of Engineering Honours program, delivered by world class lectures and professors, combined with strong industry relationships and partnerships have been instrumental in developing my technical and critical thinking skills."Mitrayan (Ryan) Rao, Environmental Engineer and Murdoch Alumnus

“In my Honours year at Murdoch, I had the opportunity to partner with a local business to tackle the issue of wastewater management of a high organic stream.

"The project, through guidance from the Murdoch engineering faculty, required detailed engineering, design and construction of a digestor vessel which could culture specialist bacteria in anaerobic conditions to treat wastewater and generate biogas.”  

Dr Martin Anda, Environmental engineer and Associate Professor at Murdoch University, said seeing students like Mr Rao succeed through the ranks is a great inspiration. 

“Our graduates have an enormous influence in helping to shape the future and make our planet a better and more sustainable place to live. 

“A number of our environmental engineering students like Ryan have won fabulous awards and recognition in their careers and I keep in touch with many of them.” 

Some friends are amazed when I tell them I have been working at Murdoch as long as 30 years and they always ask what keeps me motivated. Seeing extraordinary graduates like Ryan making significant positive change is what inspires me.” Dr Martin Adna, Murdoch University Associate Professor

Now based in Subiaco, Ryan is working as an Environmental Engineer and Project Manager at Oceanis International. 

Here, Mr Rao is designing start-of-the-art Life Support Systems (LSS) for marine research facilities, high efficiency geothermal heating surface infrastructure, zoology exhibits, natatoriums and coral growth facilities. 

The global crisis of the 21st century is climate change. There is no denying that industrialisation and urbanisation of our environment is a key factor in driving the acceleration of global warming effects."Mitrayan (Ryan) Rao, Environmental Engineer and Murdoch Alumnus

“To combat this issue, we as a collective species need to transition our thinking and position to place a higher degree of importance to the environmental side of the development equation.

“As engineers, we hold the responsibility to galvanise this change through smart, efficient and optimised design and execution.” 

A high achiever, Mr Rao has recently led a multi-disciplinary, international design team comprising of more than 30 engineers, architects and specialists based in the US, Australia and the Middle East on a marine life support system (LSS) refurbishment project located on the Red Sea. 

Amongst several other local and international projects, he aims to leave a lasting positive impact on the state of our environment through his work that all individuals can benefit from. 

“It’s an honour to receive the 2022 Young Environmental Engineer of the Year award from Engineers Australia.  

“The Engineers Australia Excellence Awards represents a platform to recognise some of the most accomplished and inspirational engineers in Australia all of whom are making real and positive differences to the global environment and their professional fields.  

I am humbled to be recognised as part of this distinguished cohort and aim to continue imparting a lasting positive impact to all of mankind through my work and career as an Environmental Engineer.” Mitrayan (Ryan) Rao, Environmental Engineer and Murdoch Alumnus

Photo: Romilly Madew CEO of Engineers Australia (left), Mitrayan (Ryan) Rao (middle), Dr Nick Fleming National President and Board Chair  at Engineers Australia (right).