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The London Conference was amazing.....
  
  
A Note from the Chairman
YPF Chairman’s statement for the 2009 FIDIC conference
The 2009 FIDIC conference took place in the UK from the 14 to 16 September 2009. Centred in London, the theme of the conference was ‘sustainable solutions to global challenges’ and everyone left the conference with a clear understanding of the significance of this key issue and the opportunity it provides for engineers to have a higher profile in society. This is particularly relevant for young professionals as we will be the people taking this place in society if engineers and consultants are now prepared to ‘step up to the plate’ and tackle the sustainability issue.
HRH the Princess Royal formally opened the conference, highlighting the value that engineers bring to society worldwide. This was followed by a theatrical production which illustrated that many problems engineers face today are likely to have been encountered in Elizabethan times! The light-hearted look at the project delivery cycle also served to remind delegates of the English theatrical heritage.
Various speakers and seminars throughout the three days set out:
· The global challenges facing the industry and the technical, investment, communication and resourcing responses that are required to meet them;
· The regional variation for sustainability challenges and how solutions must be appropriate for each but all collectively contribute to a worldwide solution;
· The challenges facing each sector within the engineering industry and the solutions that need to be developed;
· How mega-projects can take new practical tools and solutions forward, set best practice, raise awareness and create the political relationships needed to ensure sustainability concepts are understood by the worlds decision makers and that engineers can deliver solutions;
· How FIDIC is in a key role to act as a worldwide voice for engineers and the responsibility that comes with this;
· How FIDIC can support individual engineers and associations to be advocates, reinforcing messages at local levels;
· Co-ordination is key, all of us must act, share knowledge and speak with one voice;
The three days were an excellent opportunity for networking and facilitating the debate of key issues for the industry. The young professionals who attended formed a key part of this and the successful future leaders workshop on Tuesday provided an excellent opportunity for young professionals to demonstrate what they can contribute to the industry and where support is needed from the industry to enable this. Following the workshop there was a visit to the construction site of the London 2012 Olympic Games organised for the young professionals. On route, the tour guides gave a commentary on the development of the successful Olympic bid and its links with the local community, local development and the legacy plans.
The vast Olympic construction site is progressing well and the guides identified each of the venues and the key engineering/architectural aspects of each. All venues are taking shape, including the velodrome, handball arena, the impressive aquatics centre, designed to look like a wave, and the Olympic stadium itself. The intention for the London 2012 Olympics to be the most sustainable Olympics event and the building design and construction are a key part of this – a real opportunity for engineers and the construction industry to show the world what is possible!
The result of the conference was sets of actions for FIDIC, the member associations and the global industry to take forward to help drive sustainability forward and raise the profile of the engineering industry. We have a great opportunity to demonstrate to society the skills and capability of engineers, let’s rise to the challenge!
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