Page 45 - Gi flipbook August 2018

IGEM NEWS | CEO’s welcome

PLEASED TO the modest scale of overall
This is certainly a challenge given

membership compared to those of the
MEET YOU larger professional engineering
institutions (PEIs). Our membership
demographic profile needs to become
better balanced. To address this, I
believe we need to create a ‘talent
pipeline’ and review the gateways into
membership, using these to help
attract, develop and sustain
individuals’ professional development
as they progress their gas careers.
This will require substantial effort.
It has been a pleasure to listen to the
often unprompted recognition of our
technical standards and to attend a
series of member-led events. Without a
doubt, these are foundation stones on
which we can build and expand our
knowledge offering to members.
It is also a great time to be joining
the gas sector. As you will surely be
aware, the industry has continued to
restructure. This certainly presents
opportunities and challenges for
IGEM. For example: the median age of
our asset base is 40+ years; there is
substantial uncertainty around future
gas demands depending upon which
scenario will finally develop; intraday
volatility is at an all-time high; and
regulatory driven decarbonisation is
driving innovation into exploration of a
new gas world where biogas, BioSNG
and hydrogen (blended and/or pure)
may all feed into a complex supply
and distribution network. The good
news here is that IGEM is seeking to
play a role with a raft of new
standards and there will be a role for
us to play in supporting the
competence development and training
of engineers and technicians in this
fast approaching future.
IGEM’s new CEO Neil of a dedicated staff team. I can only IGEM is a quality institution. We
Atkinson is introduced to thank those who support the passed our five-year Engineering
the world of gas Institution so passionately and simply Council Licence review with flying
wish that this continues and that other colours in 2017, and I can now report
members will be drawn in to help with that we will have our ISO 9001
t’s a great time to be joining such a vital contribution. I’ll certainly accreditation renewed. Our governance
IGEM. Finances are healthy, be looking to showcase areas of is also sound, but professional
membership numbers are up year opportunities for support as these arise. institutions are under scrutiny in this
on year, our Far East membership But despite this sound base, I sense area. I am pleased that Council has
I initiative (started in 2015) turned that IGEM has a number of challenges supported a recommendation to
positive in 2017, the technical that need be addressed if we are to conduct a governance review and I will
standards programme is strong and we sustain the Institution moving forwards. endeavour to make this a transparent
have an active events programme at The first lies in the area of exercise that all members have
national and Section level. membership. Quite correctly, we offer opportunity to contribute to as we
I know that none of this could have a variety of membership grades and move it forward.
been achieved without the professional registrations to those I look forward to continuing to meet
contribution of the hundreds of working in the sector. Our need is to be and learn from as many members as I
members who give their time freely, able to offer clearer value propositions can over the coming months in order
nor without the tremendous support to each of these audiences. to shape IGEM’s future direction. ■

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