APGA establishes women’s forum

The hallmark characteristics of the pipeline industry, collaboration and cooperation, have been given even wider scope with the announcement of a new APGA committee.

The APGA Women in Pipelines Forum was formally launched in October, the timing chosen to coincide with the association’s main annual event, the APGA Convention.

Given impetus by the graduates of the highly successful APGA Women’s Leadership Development Program, the Women in Pipelines Forum (WPF) has been established to foster the participation of women in the pipeline and gas industries and to encourage opportunity and active involvement in all sectors of the industry.

The committee’s stated purpose is to promote collaboration, contribution, celebration and empowerment of women by developing an environment of opportunity and success for the growth of women in our industry.

Led by a Chair elected by the committee members, the WPF will have a wide brief encompassing on education and informationsharing with a focus on supporting diversity in the workforce of member companies. The committee’s education and information-sharing objective aims to cover the whole APGA membership and will include materials and programs that assist in: • The value of diversity in the workforce. • How to support women specifically. • Tools to help recruit, retain and promote a diverse workforce.

The APGA Women’s Leadership Development Program will be part of the committee’s responsibilities and it is expected that it will organise a number of other activities that assist in networking and building connections and provide a safe space for women to speak freely.

Events and activities held by the WPF will be open to all APGA members as appropriate, recognising some events, such as the Women’s Leadership Development Program, are specifically for women.

Membership of the APGA WPF is open to women who are APGA members or work for APGA members.

The inaugural Chair will be elected at the first official meeting of the WPF. The Chair’s term will be two years. A Deputy Chair will also be appointed.

In-person events will be organised as soon as some predictability returns to event planning.

For more information on this and other APGA committees visit www.apga.org.au