Winner of AEM award, Kimberly Ingles

An engineer from Caterpillar Inc has won the 2008 AEM Outstanding Young Engineer Award.

Kimberly Ingles, a design engineer in Caterpillar's large power systems division, says she is honoured to receive such an award. "I was surprised to receive it."

Ingles joined Caterpillar in 2001 as a design engineer for dozer systems within the track-type tractors division. In 2005, she moved to marine engines where she continues to work.

The award recognises an outstanding young engineer in the off-highway or power plant industry who demonstrates innovation, teamwork, integrity, community involvement, and leadership in SAE International activities, according to organisers. The candidate must have a degree in engineering and have less than 10 years of industry experience.

Ingles thinks her involvement with the SAE board helped give her the skills required to win the award. "The SAE board gave me a lot of opportunity to practice or improve my leadership skills," she says. "It gave me a chance meet people outside of my normal job and get involved with different communities and programs inside and outside of Caterpillar."

The award, established in 1996, was proposed by senior engineering executives and is administered under the auspices of the SAE Engineering Meetings Board in co-operation with AEM. It includes a $500 prize and is presented at the SAE Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress & Exhibition.

Ingles says she was nominated by a fellow Caterpillar employee who is heavily involved in SAE. "It is then reviewed by a committee and they then make a decision."