Having just returned from the American Public Works Association’s PWX conference in Orlando, Florida, I found it insightful to experience the US and Canadian markets first-hand. 

The numerous international asset management meetings that the Australian and New Zealand IPWEA contingent attended highlighted the similarities of asset management principles, yet also the vast differences of standards and knowledge that exits across the globe.   

We were also delighted to host an Australian study tour at the same time to the Street and Area Lighting Conference (SALC) in Austin, Texas, ensuring that our SLSC Programme remains at the leading edge of world developments as well as advocating to the world, the recent initiatives of the SLSC Programme.  

Even in relation to America, where we often hear of large numbers and mega projects, the truth is that most of the 3000-plus delegates at PWX represented communities of 20,000 to 40,000 residents. This is not too dissimilar to Australia or New Zealand. What was an eye-opener is that even in small communities of 20,000 residents, the local council is responsible for its own police force and fire brigade. The oft used term of ‘guns and hoses’ was quoted as receiving the lion’s share of council’s budgets, leaving pittances for asset management. The concept of shared resources or aggregation to achieve economies of scale does not seem to be widely embraced in the US.

While Australia and New Zealand’s level of professionalism in asset management is openly recognised and respected, both the US and Canadian markets are keen to embrace shared offerings from IPWEA Australasia. Proof of this lies in the continued growth and support for IPWEA’s Professional Certificate in Asset Management Planning. The current course (our eighth cohort) has 180 students, with 40% being international registrants. We have people from Canada, the US, Finland, New Zealand, South Africa and UAE as well as more than 100 Australians undertaking the course.

By building the professionalism and providing shared learnings across international markets, IPWEA can engage with multi-disciplinary professions and diverse cultures to assist them in delivering more robust asset management practices to benefit of their communities. Whether this is in Asia, Malaysia, Ghana, Scandinavia, Canada or America, the issues of inadequate financial resources for public infrastructure are common. Where there is a vast difference is how these public assets are planned, maintained and managed.

IPWEA Australasia’s expertise in this area is being recognised more and more, world-wide.  

Robert Fuller
CEO, IPWEA Australasia