FIDIC 2009 LONDON FIDIC 2009 LONDON

8 NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 09.07.09

Tuesday 15 SeptemberGeographic hotspots, boosting our performance

Examining those regions, countries and sectors where the challenges will be greatest, and the opportunities to lead the most significant:n The drivers responsible for regional challengesn Opportunities and risksn The main issues for energy generation and conservation, waste management, water supply, mass transport, and communications

MorningGeographic Sector Hotspots09.00-10.30 Plenary Session, QE II Conference Centre

Clients’ ViewsProminent regional clients, politicians and sector specialists examine the regions and sectors where the challenges and growth will be greatest, and where there are the best opportunities for consultants and engineers to lead.

Geoff French, chairman, Scott Wilson, UK (ACE chairman)John Armitt, chairman, Olympic Delivery Authority, UKShirong Li, president, Chartered Institute of BuildingAP Mull, CEO, Tata Group, IndiaTerry Morgan, chairman, Crossrail, UK

11.00-12.30 Business Sessions QE II Conference CentreSponsored by XL Insurance

Regional and Country Hot SpotsFeaturing AP Mull, Tata, IndiaSector Hot SpotsFeaturing David Nickols,president, MWH EMEALocalised Mega ProjectsFeaturing Peter Wickens, chairman, Mott MacDonald

AfternoonA More Agile, Responsive, High-Profile Industry

Business sessions will explore key areas for improvement if consultants and engineers are to raise the industry profile and ensure that engineers take the lead. Sessions will examine ways to promote the industry and strengthen skills.

14.00-15.30 Business Sessions QE II Conference CentreSponsored by WSP Group

A Place at the Political TableFeaturing Nick Raynsford MP

Promoting Skills and Raising StandardsFeaturing Siv Axelsson, group human resources and communications director,WSP Group, Sweden

A Coordinated, Unified Approach Featuring Akihko Hirotani, President, ACK Group

16.00-17.00 Plenary Wrap-Up Session, QE II Conference Centre

17.00-18.00 Future Leaders Workshop QE II Conference Centre

Siv Axelsson, WSP Sweden

Engineers have the leadership, experience and creativity to devise and implement strategies to deliver effective and sustainable solutions to the critical global challenges we face.

To do this we need to raise the profile of engineers so that they are involved in the decision making process, build and promote engineering skills, encourage creativity and innovation, raise engineering standards, unite the engineering community and attract the best people to choose engineering as a career.

Engineers cannot afford to be spectators and we must lead the way.

We need to attract talented people to join us to address the challenges of increased globalisation, which include mitigating and adapting to the consequences of climate change; developing and deploying clean energy technologies and approaches to energy efficiency; addressing the infrastructure needs of the emerging economies; dealing with the demands of mass urbanisation; and delivering the increasingly complex and diverse engineering challenges of the future.

I hope the actions agreed will position engineers to take a leading role and strengthen engineering skills to meet future challenges.

Day 2: FIDIC 2009

Axelsson: we have the skills

FIDIC 2009 LONDON FIDIC 2009 LONDON

NEW CIVIL ENGINEER 09.07.09 9

The fi nished article: Bechtel employees at work, post-Katrina

Geoff Frenchchairman, ACE

As chairman of the ACE and an executive committee member of FIDIC, I am committed to ensuring this conference tackles and addresses solutions to the serious issues facing society.

The uncertainties relating to the sustainability of our current lifestyles, the impact we are having on our planet and its climate and the current diffi cult economic situation all mean that urgent action is required.

One of the main messages is that the urgent action required cannot aim merely to recreate the world as it was just a few years ago.

As a profession and as an industry we need to be more vocal about the things we consider to be mistakes, and equally vocal about those things that we consider to be advances if we are to ensure that improvements are made promptly and eff ectively.

FIDIC is uniquely placed to help engineers and society address the issues facing our world.

With events such as this conference FIDIC uses its worldwide network to bring best practice in one geographical area to the attention of everyone.

The key actions to emerge from this conference will be a clear commitment for engineers to work together in a way that is sustainable and achieved with integrity.

French: we need to be vocal

“This year’s FIDIC conference in London comes at a critical time and provides the opportunity to address the key challenges confronting our industry. Climate change, project funding and implementation, energy effi ciency, urban growth, transport and water supply issues all need to be addressed to improve our way of life and the health of our environment.”

Geoff French, ACE chairman