Just as its members continue to innovate in public works, infrastructure and engineering, IPWEA needs to continually enhance its industry leadership.
The Institute has begun rolling out a raft of innovations designed to deliver the best possible user experience to its members and 18,000-strong online community.
IPWEA CEO Robert Fuller said the new intouch e-newsletter was just the start, with significant changes to the website rolling out this month.
In intouch, members have the ability to "be their own editor" by selecting their Areas of Interest (AOI), ensuring they only receive the stories they want.
Selections or changes to AOIs can be made here.
“The Institute has always been an early adopter of technology, and these planned changes to our website and communication systems, such as tailoring customers’ intouch stories, are all part of an improved level of customised service to our members and our community,” Mr Fuller said.
The website will look cleaner, more modern and feature scrolling, up-to-date, pre-filtered, public works and engineering news, a feature also available on the IPWEA app, which can be downloaded for Apple, Android and Google operating systems.
“We are all connected to our mobile devices these days and the IPWEA app ensures that IPWEA information is there when you want to it, in the format that’s most convenient to you. We even have a dedicated IPWEA Events app that is used exclusively for delegates attending Australasian and Divisional conferences and major events,” Mr Fuller said.
“This is the second stage of a planned three stage development for upgrading our website.
“The first stage in August last year was incorporation of all the Australian Divisions and New Zealand, to achieve a unified, one IPWEA image.
“This second stage is the modernisation of presentation and the critical aspect of adopting responsiveness across the entire platform. Being responsive means that the website will be able to be viewed and read on all devices, from smartphones to tablets and different sized screens.
“We are removing pages that are not receiving high traffic, and ensuring existing pages are upgraded in content and relevancy.
“We have upgraded the entire look and feel of the website, being mindful to retain the existing structure and familiarity for members.”
In the third stage, programmed for early 2016, the website will undergo a complete revision.
A key feature of the upgraded website is the new e-bookshop, where all training and publications can be ordered at the same time in your shopping cart and then checked-out through a secure payment gateway. 
With the international launch of the IIMM and AIFMM on October 14 and 15, Mr Fuller said the delivery of the new e-bookshop was a key part of the web site upgrade strategy.
“Given the high volume of orders for the new IIMM and AIFMM, this will be a much easier process for customers," he said.
“If you haven’t visited the website in a while, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
"We welcome feedback from members on the new look site and what they’d like to see on the website revision next year.”
Members can contact IPWEA CEO Robert Fuller by phoning 0412 526 100 or emailing robert.fuller@ipwea.org.