NEWS

Chairman’s Address, ipfma AGM, 11 May 2006

At the last AGM I stated my aims for my tenure as Chairman. I would like to Report on the progress:

IPFMA Corporate Partner

At the EGM prior to the AGM last year, the proposal that a category of attachment to the association designated “IPFMA partner” for property and/or facilities practices be introduced, on conditions to be specified by Council. The Council drew up the rules for corporate partnership, which at the suggestion of our Secretary, Tony Smith, were referred for legal advice.

There was a long delay in receiving this opinion; however, the matter is close to completion.

Benchmarking

Twelve major Irish companies and organisations have signed up to the joint IPFMA/OPD benchmarking initiative. We understand that all data has now been collected and the first Report will issue 18 May.

Advanced Training Courses

In co-operation with our partners in Excellence, the British Institute of Facilities Managers (BIFM) the first all day, back to back, training courses were held on October 26th, ‘Contract Specification and Going to Tender’ and October 27th, Contract Management Service Level Agreement’. Both courses were over-booked and there was good feedback from the members who attended.

These courses were held as a trial arrangement with BIFM and the Council are reviewing the basis on which the IPFMA will be involved in the future

Relationships with other Professional Bodies

On 13th May, an informal meeting was held with CIBSE in Ireland following my attendance as their guest at their first annual conference on energy conservation to explore ways of co-operating including joint CPD lectures on subjects of interest to both organisations. CIBSE in Ireland has circa 900 members with branches in Cork and Limerick. NEW INITIATIVES

Strategy Committee

I have set up an Ad Hoc Strategy Committee consisting of the Officers and Heads of Sub-Committees to look at a three to five year strategy for the Association. The Association, like the industry that it serves, has grown rapidly in recent years. The purpose of the Strategy Committee is to look at the impact of this growth, changes in legislation, requirements of members for services, and educational standards, etc and the impact on the resources of the Association. The Chairman of each Committee drafted an outline paper for their area of responsibility. At the presentation of these papers, ‘brainstorming’ sessions were held with the entire Committee. Each of these papers will be reduced to a standard format and a Business Plan for the next three years (to be implemented by my successor!) will be approved by the Council and presented to the members. Any of the Committee would welcome any ideas or suggestions from the members. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the Strategy Committee for their time and hard work on top of their other contributions to the Association.

Salary Survey

The IPFMA in conjunction with Hays Management will be conducting a salary survey. For the purpose of absolute confidentiality, this survey will be on the IPFMA website and the proposal from the IPFMA website designer to Hays to put the questionnaire on our website is waiting for approval.

Residential Management

This area has been under close review by the Sub-Committee headed by Tom Dunne with regard to new legislation, adverse media publicity, the impact on resources to the IPFMA of corporate partnership, etc. It is the view of the IPFMA that we should take the leadership and responsibility in this area provided that we can ensure that professional and ethical standards are maintained and that the Association can provide the necessary resources. With the advent of large mixed-use developments, residential management will play a key role in facilities management in the future. As this subject is so important to the Association, it is planned to have a specific members session on this subject in the autumn.

CIBSE Building Logbook

Building logbooks are a major step forward in the provision of information about buildings but they can be resource intensive to produce. CIBSE have designed a standard logbook, which is turned over on completion of new buildings to the Facilities Manager to maintain. Instead of re-inventing the wheel, IPFMA, are exploring the possibility of adopting the CIBSE logbook assuming the Irish version has been adapted to conform to our Health and Safety regulations and new regulations on energy consumption. If considered appropriate, there will be a joint CPD with CIBSE incorporating a workshop.

SUB-COMMITTEES

Members Services

In addition to the corporate Partner Initiative, Benchmarking and salary survey, the Committee, under Jerome O’Connor is also looking at ways of addressing the needs of members located outside the greater Dublin area.

CPD and Newsletter

In addition to the advanced training sessions, the Committee under Sean Aylward has organised many interesting and topical talks on Rent Reviews, Stress Management, Building Accessibility, Bird Flu, Change Management, Private Security Services Act 2004 and a site visit to the state of the Art Greyhound Recycling Facility. These papers are available on the website, Our Development Officer, Brian Whelan, has organised quarterly editions of the Newsletter which are available on the website.

Conference

Our most successful conference to date - over 120 attendees and six exhibitors - took place on 8th September in the Radisson St. Helens. The practical subject ‘The Challenge of Managing Occupancy Cost’ proved popular with members. The partnership of Sean Aylward and Charlie Costello is building on this success for September13th with the fascinating subject of ‘From the Boiler house to the Boardroom – Raising the Profile of the Property/Facility Manager’ chaired by Finbar Flood, former CEO OF Guinness Ireland and former Chairman of the Labour Court.

Education

Twenty-two graduates of our successful course received diplomas at the lunch this year. Felix McKenna is currently tackling the difficult issues around extending the course and also looking at outside accreditation.

Annual Members Lunch

A record attendance of 425 on 4 Feb in the Burlington Hotel prior to our trouncing of the Welsh at rugby was possibly due to the anticipated humour and insight of the guest speaker George Hook which he more than delivered on the day. February 24th has been provisionally booked next year prior to the England match.

I wish to thank all the members of Council, in particular the vice chairman, David O’Brien, the Secretary, Tony Smith and the SCS and it’s staff, and the Heads of Committees previously mentioned. Last, but not least, our Development Manager, Brian Whelan, not only for his contribution over and above his brief, but for his untiring efforts on our behalf.

Patricia Crisp
Chairman