Heather studied at the School of Mines and Ballarat College of Advanced Education and was awarded the Civil Engineering Scholarship in 1977. She graduated in 1978. Heather broke down barriers in engineering with an integrity that earned her tremendous respect and led to her becoming the first female Head of Engineering for the City of Ballarat. Heather pioneered sustainable design and was the first of a new breed of engineers to consider the urban water cycle in its entirety and not in isolated parts, a radical approach at the time. In her honour, the Pitman Benjamin Engineering Prize was founded, to recognise students like Heather, who have chosen not to accept the status quo, but instead to change the world to make it better for all.women of note, ballarat school of mines, ballarat college of advanced education, first female, head of engineering, city of ballarat, civil engineering scholarship, pioneered sustainable design, urban water cycle, pitman benjamin engineering scholarship