I am pleased to confirm the establishment of a new Branch of IPWEAQ in
the Northern Territory to better serve our members and the region. Our thanks
to the inaugural NT Branch Committee who will help us guide
activities in the Territory. In 2023, the Annual Conference will be held in
Darwin but in the meantime, the inaugural NT Branch Conference will be held
next year. Welcome all current and future IPWEAQ members!
With Victoria in the midst of another extended lockdown, I am pleased to
report that we have managed to deliver three of four branch conferences with
the NQ Branch conference in Townsville next week. This time last year, after a
successful SWQ Branch conference in Stanthorpe, COVID-19 forced the
cancellation of the remaining branch conferences and everything else until a
postponed Annual Conference in November 2020. The impacts of COVID-19 have
lingered but in another way – the push for infrastructure to resolve the
economic fall-out of COVID, means many of us are too busy to attend essential
CPD and we also miss the benefits that accrue for our sector when we all gather
together at an IPWEAQ event.
In addition to four branch conferences, the team delivered a highly
successful Asset Management Symposium (AMS) in Brisbane with 180+ delegates in
attendance. This was a critical first event of its type which will develop the
benchmark for asset management in Queensland with a practical,
multi-disciplined approach. Aside from 15 experts, value came from the six
interactive discussions which identified asset management leadership,
governance, decision making and key principles specific to us in Queensland. If
your council was not able to attend, I encourage you to subscribe to the Enterprise
AMS Proceedings and undertake the process within your organisation. Our
team will work with you to establish your benchmark from which your
organisation can improve.
Thank you to all our speakers, exhibitors and sponsors for all events –
you play a critical role in our successes and the growth of our sector. It is
most appreciated.
At its last meeting, the IPWEAQ Board approved the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan which will provide the Institute with direction for the next five years.
The Plan is intentionally simple but broad to offer the IPWEAQ team scope for
our future development.
The Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland (BPEQ) reports that
only 7% of all RPEQs are female. So we’re delighted to have secured one of the
first female engineers in Queensland, Else Shepherd for our International Women
in Engineering Day lunch, 23 June 2021. I’m sure Else will inspire more women
to study engineering and to join our sector. A reminder also that IPWEAQ offers
a complimentary year of membership for members on maternity leave.
Just two after the IWED lunch, the 2021 Excellence Awards will close and we hope you have taken the
time to nominate your projects and people. It is a great celebration of our
sector (and a specific item in our Strategic Plan). We welcome video footage to
help tell your project’s story.
Our membership has grown consistently between 11-17% over the past six years following 22 years of net growth of 2%. And I hope you will contribute to our ongoing growth as it is time again to renew your IPWEAQ membership (due before 30 June). What has been achieved over the past six years has been phenomenal and I’m proud to have been your President for two of those years.
Next year we celebrate 50 years since the inaugural meeting of the Local Government Engineers’ Association of Queensland met in Southport, 2 October 1972. This milestone celebration will be held in conjunction with the IPWEAQ Annual Conference, 11-13 October 2022. You won’t want to miss this event!
In the meantime, please join us in Cairns
for the Annual Conference, 12-14 October for further celebrations of our sector.
I look forward to seeing you then.
.png)
-1.png)
