Study Tours
2027 UK/Europe Study Tour – now accepting applications
For over 60 years the Municipal Engineering Foundation Victoria (MEFV) has been supporting the development of leaders across our sector through providing opportunities to attend overseas study tours.
As we approach 2027, the MEFV is looking forward to again providing support for our leading public works professionals to experience the opportunity to travel internationally and learn from others.
MEFV is making an overseas study tour award available to selected public works professionals who are working within local government in Victoria to participate in a group focused tour during 2027.
The study tour is to the United Kingdom and Europe, where the successful applicants will travel as a group for up to three weeks, including attendance at an international engineering conference.
This award opportunity provides $11,000 as a contribution towards travel, accommodation, congress registration and incidentals.
The MEFV is seeking applications that focus on current and emerging issues for our sector. Priority will be given to applications that demonstrate leadership and innovation in identifying emerging issues for research that will significantly benefit local government and the public works sector.
The MEFV is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion and recognises this is critically important for the success of the public works sector and the development of its leaders.
The closing date for scholarship applications is Friday 2 October 2026, and must be submitted to the MEFV Secretary by email to mefvic@ozemail.com.au
Full details of Conditions and Guidelines for applications are available here2027 MEFV OST Scholarship Conditions Application
Recipients of the 2026 Overseas Study Tour to Europe and the United Kingdom have provided the following testimonial –
‘The 2026 Municipal Engineering Foundation Victoria (MEFV) study tour to Europe and the UK provided us with firsthand insight into innovative infrastructure delivery, asset management, and sustainable urban development practices. Engaging with local government peers, leaders of industry and visiting world-class projects broadened our perspective, challenged conventional thinking relating to densification and reinforced the importance of collaboration across levels of government, innovation, and stategic planning in delivering community outcomes. Sincere thanks to MEFV for providing this opportunity to learn, share, develop and grow.’
2026 International Study Tour Award
2026 UK/Europe MEFV Study Tour
For over 60 years the Municipal Engineering Foundation Victoria (MEFV) has been supporting the development of leaders across our sector through providing opportunities to attend overseas study tours.
In 2026, MEFV provided support for our leading public works professionals to experience the opportunity to travel internationally and learn from others.
MEFV made an international study tour award to the following public works professionals to participate in a group focused tour –
Leah McGuinness, Project Manager, Strategic Advocacy Projects, Whitehorse City Council
Anthony Kyrkou, Manager Engineering and Capital Works Delivery, Moonee Valley City Council
The study tour was to the United Kingdom and Europe, where the successful applicants traveled as a group for up to three weeks, including attendance at the IFME 2026 Future Liveable Cities World Congress in Helsinki, Finland from 9-11 June 2026.
Leah McGuinness and Anhony Kyrkou presented with their award certificates by MEFV Chair Geoff Glynn
2025 MEFV Overseas Study Tour
Two awards for the 2025 MEFV Overseas Study Tour were made for the recipients to visit municipalities in the United States and Canada to include attendance at the American Public Works Association PWX Conference in Chicago, Ill from 17th to 20th August 2025. The recipients were –
Simon Harris, Coordinator Asset Management, Bass Coast Shire Council and Sumarga Subedi, Strategic Asset Planner, Yarra Ranges Council.
Study Tour Reports on their topic of research are available in the reports section of this website.
Recognition of Victorian Municipal leaders
Cedric Tuxton Medal for engineering excellence
To recognise the major contribution of public works professionals, the Foundation seeks on a bi-annual basis nominations for the MEF Victoria Municipal Engineering Excellence Award (the Cedric Tuxen Medal) for an outstanding engineering contribution to local government. The award can relate to the career of the nominee or to a significant construction or research project developed and overseen by the particular engineer. The successful awardee for 2025 was Mark Varmalis, former Director Environment and Infrastructure, Yarra Ranges Council. The well deserved award was presented to Mark by Warren Roberts, Chair of the Foundation at the IPWEA Victoria Awards Dinner on 14th May 2025.
MEFV Keith Wood Study Tour Excellence Award
In 2012 the Foundation established the Keith Wood Study Tour Excellence Award to recognise the contribution made to the Foundation and local government engineering throughout Australia by past Chairman Keith H. Wood AM. The Award is to be presented on an occasional basis to a selected recipient of an Overseas Study Tour who has produced a report of exceptional quality.
Awards for conference attendance
Annually the MEFV provides educational awards to attend the IPWEA Vic annual conference and the Municipal Works Association annual conference.
In 2026, MEFV provided awards to the following members –
IPWEA Victoria Public Works Conference –
Shea Nicholas – Knox City Council
Keat Cheong – Yarra Ranges Council
Ty Saranawweera – Bayside City Council
Brendan Anderson – Ballarat City Council
Henry Congerton – Wellington Shire Council
Rohan Bajacharya – East Gippsland Shire Council
Municipal Works Australia National Works Conference
Barry Clark – Towong Shire Council
Stephen Arundell – Moyne Shire Council
Mile Cosic – Golden Plains Shire Council
To make an application please contact The IPWEA Vic CEO David Hallett at vic@ipwea.org
or MWA CEO Peter Ali at ceo@municipalworks.com.au.
Subsidies for IPWEA Foundation courses
The MEFV provides subsidies towards each unit of the IPWEA Vic Foundations Leadership Program. To make an application please contact The IPWEA Vic CEO David Hallett at vic@ipwea.org
Awards to date in 2026 have been provided to –
Rasika Bellanage – Baw Baw Shire Council
Aidan Gallagher – Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
Sellaiah Thirunaukarasu – Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
Marios Antoniou – Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
Kabita Gyawali – Monash City Council
Laura Shadbolt – Hume City Council
Joseph Ianni – Hume City Council
Pralhad Khanal – Greater Dandenong City Council
Leadership Diversity Scholarship
The Foundation was pleased to provide support for the award of the inaugural Leadership Diversity Scholarship to Irina Prajapati, Manningham City Council. The scholarship demonstrates the Foundation’s commitment to supporting emerging leaders and encouraging diversity within the public works sector.
Following the program, Irina provided the following testimonial –
‘Receiving the Leadership Diversity Scholarship gave me the opportunity to participate in the Ignite Leadership program, an experience that may not otherwise have been possible. The program helped me gain a deeper understanding of my strengths, recognise my boundaries and identify areas of growth. Hearing from difference faculty leaders encouraged me to keep showing up, share my ideas with greater confidence and actively seek opportunities to lead and influence others’.