New Zealand Engineering 1997 April

Editorial

Warwick Bishop on raising the profile of IPENZ

Warwick T Bishop, chief executive IPENZ, BE (Elec), FIPENZ

Over the last few months four new people with specialist skills have been hired into new roles at the Institution. Except for the Auckland-based Northern Regional Manager these people have replaced existing staff. The Board, in the realisation that the world we live in is changing ever more rapidly all around us, sees the need for IPENZ to reflect this or it will die. Engineering education, training, practice, information exchange and standards are all being equally affected by change. The skill sets of the National Office team need to be able to keep abreast of and report on, those issues that are most likely to impact on our members.

My recent past at the New Zealand Meat Producers Board involved me in a dramatically changing environment that frequently required new organisational structures and rapidly changing skill sets. The best solution to many of these issues was the application of modern information systems and computer technology. The very survival of that organisation, like IPENZ I suspect, required world class information systems.

Some of the main reasons for my being attracted to the role of Chief Executive at IPENZ were, firstly, the challenge of providing members with services they value the most and see as relevant for them in the future. Secondly, the task of streamlining the office administration and organisational structures to enable the staff to maintain the momentum of change that is already underway. Thirdly, to implement state-of-the-art communications and information exchange systems into the day-to-day operations of the Institution.

One of my early tasks will be to get around as many Branches as I can to meet members and to discuss their concerns and needs. For IPENZ to be a healthy and vibrant organisation, we need to maintain membership growth and that will mean frequent surveying of both members and potential members alike. While we want to put effort into attracting new members we do not want to lose our existing members.

The Board of IPENZ has done a good job in recent years of defining the role of the organisation as well as many of the strategic objectives it should be pursuing. My main task is to implement these as fast as possible bearing in mind the benefit/cost ratios and the constraints of an already stretched budget.

I look forward to meeting as many of you as I sensibly can over the next year or so as I make my way around the country to Branch and Technical Group meetings. Please feel free to drop me a line by letter, facsimile or e-mail if at any time something pleases or troubles you and you think I can assist. I cannot promise an instant response but I, or one of the staff, will always get back to you.