National Homebuilding and Renovating Show

I shall be at the National Homebuilding and Renovating Show tomorrow at the NEC on the CIAT stand (M179) - come along and say hello if you are there.

For a free ticket to the show, please visit www.homebuildingshow.co.uk/ciat

Technical Taskforce meeting

This morning I attended my very first meeting of the Technical Taskforce which is a group comprised of representatives from CIAT, RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) and BRE (Building Research Establishment).

This Taskforce produces a number of technical notes which have ranged from Part B to the use of Light Reflectance Values (LVRs), help to ensure that the members are kept up to date on all current issues and address any technical matters from Government and other sources.

It was very encouraging indeed to be part of such a proactive committee and was very useful CPD for me also!

Around the table were Peter Caplehorn, Technical Director at Scott Brownrigg and representative for the RIBA, Chris Watson, Research Manager at BRE, Anne Dye, Head of Technical Research along with Georgia Ardizzone from the RIBA and from CIAT, Mark Kennett PPCIAT MCIAT, Director of Wilson Kennett Partnership, Diane Dale, Practice and Technical Director, Francesca Berriman, Chief Executive and Donna Chappell, Practice Administrator who was the scribe for the meeting.

The meeting in full flow

The Technical Taskforce

CIAT Council meeting - 10 March

“My challenge ahead will be managing change of the Institute” - this was my opening remark at my first meeting of Council as its Chairman which was held on Saturday 10 March.

It was a full day packed with a variety of papers and debate received and approved by Council which will steer the Institute for its present and future challenges. It was also good to meet again with all the Councillors from our sixteen Regions and Republic of Ireland Centre and to hear first hand what has been happening in their local area.

The budget for 2012/13 was approved after a 45 minute discussion and this will enable us to continue with our ongoing and upcoming projects which will continue to embed the discipline of Architectural Technology within the industry and wider fields.

I look forward to reporting on the development of some of these projects in future blogs.

Visit to Region 15 - Northern Ireland

Last week saw me going back to the land of my ancestors as I visited our Northern Ireland Region.


John Murphy MCIAT receives the plaque from me

On Tuesday 7 February, I was very pleased to make a presentation of the plaque, certificate and cheque to our Highly Commended winners for the 2011 Open Award for Technical Excellence. The winning project was the Dunmurry Presbyterian Church and the recipients were Hall Black Douglas - John Murphy MCIAT was the Chartered Architectural Technologist behind the winning entry and it was good to meet him and representatives from the practice team. The project was extremely impressive and it was pleasing to learn how much the worshippers at the church are able to enjoy the building.

Whilst in Belfast, I took the opportunity to join our Chief Executive, PA to the Chief Executive and Public Relations Director on the site visits for where the AGM and Dinner Dance are to be held in November this year.

I was very encouraged indeed to see how proactive the Northern Ireland Region are and when I attended their Regional Committee meeting, it was great to see so many faces around the meeting table.

I very much look forward to returning to Belfast in November.

Welcome!

Welcome to my Presidential blog!

As an Institute, we are always looking at new ways to engage with all the membership, and fellow professionals within the built environment, and as President, I have now turned my hand to blog writing!

This is a time of change and opportunity and I look forward to updating my blog on my activities, views and Institute matters.

Most importantly, I want to hear from you so please make comment, send me an email or simply follow this blog.