World-leading electrical engineer Laureate Professor Graham Goodwin has been recognised for his contribution to the field, being named winner of the prestigious Quazza Medal.

The Quazza Medal is the highest technical award given by the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) and is presented once every three years.

Laureate Professor Goodwin leads the University of Newcastle's Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre for Excellence and Priority Research Centre for Complex Dynamic Systems and Control.

He has close to 35 years affiliation with the University and has been named one of the top 100 engineers in the world.

Laureate Professor Goodwin said he felt honoured to have been recognised by his peers with such an award.

"The award is named after Giorgio Quazza, one of the leading lights in automatic control engineering, who's work paved the way for the advancement of the discipline," Laureate Professor Goodwin said.

"Given the Quazza Medal is only presented every three years, being named this year's winner is a career highlight."

Laureate Professor Goodwin's research involved optimising the performance of complex systems such as chemical plants, rolling mills, steel manufacturing plants, sugar mills and many other industrial processes.

He was presented with the award at the IFAC World Congress held during July in Seoul, Korea. The conference was attended by around 3,000 delegates from across the world.

IFAC is an international organisation which deals with systems science and control engineering. It currently represents 48 member countries including Australia.