Rod Bligh

Director, Structures

Rod is a founding Director of Structures at Bligh Tanner Pty Ltd. His expertise includes lightweight structures, conservation engineering, façade design, product development, sculpture and landscape structures, and transport infrastructure, with an adeptness for institutional and community building projects. With over 35 years’ experience, Rod is an award-winning, industry leader renowned for his innovative approach and his many successful collaborations with architects and artists. In 2015, Rod was named Professional Engineer of the Year by Engineers Australia (Queensland).

Most recently Rod’s work has included: leading the structural and façade engineering on the $30M Global Change Institute at the University of Queensland, which saw Australia’s first use of geopolymer concrete, and won a major innovation award in 2013; collaborating on the $80M Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre in the lead up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games; design of landscape structures and stations as part of Brisbane’s Airport Link and Northern Busway projects; conservation and structural survey of Queensland Rail Heritage Assets including North Townsville Railyards; and coordinating the installation of many artworks for the Gallery of Modern Art’s Asia Pacific Triennial. Rod is currently leading the design for a major sculptural installation in the National Arboretum in Canberra to celebrate 100 years of Engineers Australia, following his national competition winning entry.

Rod has presented lectures, speeches and workshops to diverse industry audiences. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers, Australia and an Adjunct Teaching Fellow with Bond University’s Institute of Sustainable Development and Architecture. Rod studied Civil Engineering and Architecture at the University of Queensland and Structural Engineering at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.