New IBP Chairman Sets his Agenda

Firstly, I’d like to thank all those confident enough to elect me as the new Chairman of IBP. Secondly, I’d like to thank Patrick Gulley, my predecessor, for all his consistency and efforts over the past years – his will be a very hard act to follow.

I would like to take this opportunity in chairing the IBP Board Meeting for the first time to share with you, very briefly, some of my aspirations for the continued development of IBP with the support of Aaron Morby as President, Gerald Bowey as Chief Executive and all the Executive Board Members.

The over-riding objective, however, is to maintain the existing momentum in building the IBP brand and its services to its members. However, within that context, I believe we have four main tasks or objectives ahead of us…and they are in this order:

Green paper: IBP ‘The Way Forward’

This paper, currently being developed by Gerald, for presentation to the executive board outlines some potential solutions to taking over, gradually, much of the current workload delivered personally by our Chief Executive. Once presented to the board I believe it is imperative that we take some decisions on this as soon as possible, not only to meet that main objective, but to help develop IBP’s events and activities to attract new members as well as improved services to existing members. Indeed, this is essential to the success of the next three points:

International Journalism Award

This initiative, started by Gerald (and endorsed by the Board) at MIPIM last year, has a massive potential to widen the IBP brand and membership as well as membership services. I will give my full support and effort to develop this as a major theme of IBP’s growth in 2007 and beyond.

Construction, property and architecture organisations are, today, largely of a Global scale in terms of operations, supplies or influence. Whether it is Richard Rogers, Skanska, Vinci, Bovis Lend Lease, Gardiner & Theobald or Royal BAM Group, most major UK players are, actually, international operators. Developing IBP’s international credentials can not only further appeal to members but particularly to the construction press – here and internationally.

As well as the linkage with MIPIM/Reed Midem, perhaps we could also develop a relationship with FIEC, the Federation de l’Industrie Europeene de la Construction (European Construction Confederation) in Brussels with a view to sharing their journalists’ database?

Membership

All IBP’s efforts are to deliver relevant services to its members and to further develop new membership. Construction is not an isolated business. It is disparate and it involves a very long, diverse supply chain from client, property developer, architect and planner, through contractor and subcontractor to supplier.

Perhaps we need to try and engage more property development and subcontractor/supplier in-house PR people as well as the wider press: PPPBulletin; Concrete Journal; Sustain magazine; Highways & Tranportation; Martime & Port Construction, etc? And maybe look more closely at the wider industry bodies (like Andy Walker’s ACE participation) including: ICE; CECA; CIOB; MCG; CC; CIBSE; CITB construction skills, etc.?

Corporate Affairs

Given the recent initiative by IBP to engage the All Party Built Environment Group, I believe that we should capitalise on such links to become more proactive in encouraging Corporate Affairs-linked events and membership. The more we develop this side, the more gravitas IBP will develop within the industry at large.

In conclusion

At the end of the day, IBP is about sharing and knowledge and contacts. Therefore our greatest contribution to the membership has to be the ‘Social’ element. I fully endorse the continued emphasis on a regular calendar of social events that have become a hallmark of IBP’s success.