This week, IPWEA Australasia proudly launched its first digital-only magazine, inspire. Members received the magazine on Monday and non-members will receive the magazine next week. 

It is readable in two formats – the customary ‘flipbook’, and the brand new technology of easy-to-read ‘article view.’ As always, we welcome your feedback and I’d like to acknowledge the talent and dedication of our Manager, Communications and Media, Emily Ditchburn, who has produced this as our first in-house edition. The one thing that has not changed is the high calibre of our articles. The fully responsive magazine means that you have the convenience of reading it anywhere, anytime, on any device. In a work environment where we are all time-poor, having this facility at your fingertips is a big advantage. Read it home, on the train/bus or just when you’re enjoying some rare ‘me only downtime'.

Young IPWEA

Our Young IPWEA (YIPWEA) representatives from across Australasia also met this week to set their strategic plan for 2016-18.  They have some exciting news that will be announced at next year’s International Public Works Conference in Perth, but in the meantime, will be developing the value proposition of why young people should be joining IPWEA. The primary reasons why young people join IPWEA (apart from their manager recommending that they do) is:  to advance their career; to improve their knowledge and to make valuable networking contacts. These, plus the many other benefits will be spelt out on a new brochure as well as the website page for YIPWEA. I’d like to congratulation Chris Chapman from NZ, for being elected to the role of Deputy Chair, supporting the Australasia Chair, Will Barton.

Whilst speaking of our website, it will be undergoing a refresh over the new year period. As users/customers of our website, if you have suggestions for improvements or new features that you’d like to see (or bug-bears that you want us to fix), just send an email to our Manager, Information and Business Systems, Linda Bologna at linda.bologna@ipwea.org with “website suggestion” in the subject line.    

Robert Fuller
CEO, IPWEA Australasia