PRESIDENT’S REPORT Craig Murrell
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
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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.
ENGINEERING FOR PUBLIC WORKS | JUNE 2021
Just two days 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.
