Patrick Pak-Poy
PAK-POY, Patrick, (1933-1988)
Patrick Pak-Poy was the founder of one of SA’s foremost engineering companies, which at the time of his untimely passing (aged only 54 years), had grown to be a national and international company with an outstanding reputation.
A graduate in civil engineering from the University of Adelaide, Patrick was one of the earliest graduates of the Masters of Engineering Science (Transportation and Traffic) from the University of New South Wales, where he also studied Town Planning. In 1987 he completed the Advanced Management Course at Harvard Business School. Patrick’s early professional years were spent in the SA Highways Department before founding P.G. Pak-Poy and Associates (later becoming Pak-Poy and Kneebone), which he led until 1988.
Patrick’s community and social involvement extended to being the founder of the Operations Research Society of Australia, later becoming a supervisor of the Australian Road Research Board in the development of computer simulation of traffic signals. He was a founding member of the Australian Institute of Urban Studies, later becoming Chair, and lectured on traffic and transportation engineering in Australia and the US before being recognised with Honorary Fellowship of that Institute. Patrick was a member of the Visiting Committee for the School of Traffic Engineering at UNSW, and a member of the Advisory Committee for the School of Architecture and Building at the South Australian Institute of Technology. He was also a frequent contributor to projects at Rostrevor College and personally championed new hockey field development at Gepps Cross.
Patrick was a sought contributor to advising government, being a member of the Federal Trade Development Council, Chair of its Trade in Services Group, participant in a number of state Ministerial advisory boards, and director-in-charge for the South Australia Tourist Industry Development Plan.
Under Patrick’s personal leadership, his company led or was involved with a number of major developments in South Australia, including the Adelaide Station and Environs, the O’Bahn Busway, the Adelaide Formula One Grand Prix and the Adelaide Casino.
A loyal South Australian, Patrick was also honoured with Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE).
He was added to the Engineers Australia South Australian Hall of Fame in 2018.
