Filipino awarded with Australian public service medal

MANILA, Philippines - A registered engineer in Queensland, Australia, was awarded a Public Service Medal by the Governor General of Australia during the Australia Day celebrations last month, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday.

Guillermo "Bill" Capati, a civil and environmental engineer, received the award in recognition of his outstanding public service to the sustainable water future of ther Gol Coast and South East Queensland region, DFA said.

"His excellent professional achievements and vast experience, combined with dedication and hard work, enabled him to reach greater success in his career. The Public Service Medal affirmed his earlier recognition as “Public Sector Professional of the Year” by the Institute of Public Administration Australia Queensland in 2009, and the “Eric Brier Memorial Award” by Engineers Australia Queensland Division in 2010," the state agency noted.

Capati works with the Manager Service Sustainability, Gold Coast Water, Gold Coast City Council, Queensland, managing the city's long-term water and wastewater needs which include water planning and recycled water use.

DFA said he is a fellow of Engineers Australia and the Australian Institute of Management and an adjunct professor at the Advanced Water Management Centre of the University of Queensland.

Philippine Ambassador to Australia Belen Anota congratulated Capati and told him to share his insights and best practices with Filipino engineers, in the hope of mimicking the same kind of sustainable water in the Philippines.