I am continuing the role I started as vice president, taking an interest in our international membership and how our interests overseas may best be served. With over 20% of our membership based overseas, it is vital that CIBSE takes every opportunity to strengthen and develop our international ties.

I was delighted, therefore, to receive an invitation to speak at the 2006 Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Building Services Exhibition in Sydney. My topic, ‘The European Response to Carbon Emissions’ went down well and two live radio interviews and several magazine interviews indicate the depth of interest there is in the topic of climate change and in reducing carbon emissions attributable to our buildings.

So what of the exhibition? The CIBSE ANZ region stand attracted a great deal of attention from those interested in our publications and participating in our professional development programme and with visitors up by some 50%, many new members were signed up over three days. It was fascinating to see the types of stands that were at the exhibition and particularly the presence of companies from China and Asia.

My time in Australia was very well spent, it was extremely encouraging to see the hard work that the region is doing to grow its membership. It was an honour, while I was there, to present a Bronze Medal award to a very surprised Jack Pirie for services to the region. I also attended a dinner with the President of Engineers Australia, Peter Cockbain, who agreed to visit us in Balham later this year. Mike Garton was also most hospitable, hosting my presentation on carbon emissions to a very lively CIBSE Western Australia Chapter in Perth.

I would like to thank Dan McKenzie for arranging my time in Australia as well as for the excellent work that he and his team are doing to further the development and successes of the ANZ region.

Source

Building Sustainable Design

Postscript

David Hughes, CIBSE president

• In the next issue, David Hughes gives a second report on his visit to Australia with a focus on current Australian building services issues and developments.