Ngui Min Fui @ Tom, Ir. Ts. Dr. won the prestigious Industry Excellence Award
Published: 14 November 2024
Senior Fellow, Ngui Min Fui @ Tom, Ir. Ts. Dr., from the Faculty of Engineering at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), has won the prestigious Industry Excellence Award 2024 in the “Sustainable Built Environment” category from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), United Kingdom. Competing against a strong field of entries from prominent organisations, Dr. Ngui’s achievement represents a first for Sabah, placing the state in the national spotlight for sustainable engineering excellence.
Dr. Ngui had the honour of accepting the award from Colin Sellers, Head of Registration and Standards at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) in the United Kingdom, at the Prestige Lecture and Awards Dinner (PLAD)—a black-tie gala held at the Royale Chulan in Kuala Lumpur on 9th November 2024.
Ngui's pioneering project, recognised with the Industry Excellence Award in Sustainable Built Environment by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), United Kingdom, represents a transformative approach to engineering for social good. Focused on reducing inequality and fostering sustainable communities, this initiative exemplifies how engineering can directly address pressing socio-economic challenges while protecting and enhancing natural resources. In a transformative initiative to build a sustainable community, a project led by Ngui in the underserved rural town of Telupid has earned high praise for its social and environmental impact.
Fostering inclusion and equality was paramount in the project’s vision. The engineering team intentionally involved the local community in every aspect, prioritising local employment and training. Among the key achievements was the appointment of a local engineering technician, who was trained and mentored by Ngui, later earning her Inspector of Works certification and inspiring her to pursue a degree in civil engineering. Additionally, around 30% of the project’s workforce was recruited locally, providing sustainable job opportunities in skilled and unskilled roles.
Ngui’s work demonstrates how purposeful engineering can reduce inequality and build sustainable communities. This achievement stands as a testament to the power of community-driven, sustainable development and is a hopeful model for rural transformation across the region.
Ngui appreciation extends to the remarkable finalists, including Petronas Carbon Capture & Storage and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, whose contributions to sustainable innovation inspire continued progress.
"At the Institution of Engineering and Technology, we inspire, inform and influence the global engineering and technology community to engineer a better world."
- Ir. Ts. Dr. Ngui Min Fui @ Tom
