Lawrence Birks (19 May 1874 – 25 July 1924) was an Australian-born electrical engineer noted for his pioneering work on hydro-electric power generation in New Zealand.
He continued his studies on the Continent, where he was impressed by Swiss electrical engineering practices,[4] then returned to Adelaide on the Star of Australia in June 1900, only to find that his father had recently died.
Mr. Parry returned to England in 1918, and Birks was appointed chief electrical engineer, responsible for the construction of hydro-electric works, which in the North Island alone amounted to £10,300,000 for plant of a total capacity of 165,000 h.p., and about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) of new 110,000 volt transmission lines.
He was to have represented New Zealand as their delegate to the inaugural World Power Conference in London in May 1924, but was forced by pneumonia to return, shortly after catching up with friends and relations (and fellow Rotarians)[6] in Adelaide.
[7] The paper he was to have delivered in London on the provision and reticulation of electrical energy was presented by his old senior colleague Evan Parry.