From the President | Introducing Gary Wood

After serving a successful two year term, Paul Smith stepped down as the AITPM National President following the Annual General Meeting. This year has been difficult for the whole industry and Paul provided stability as well as successfully leading AITPM through the start of the global pandemic. During this time, AITPM has not only retained but grown its membership and increased its overall services to members. It has been a great pleasure and privilege to work with and to get know Paul over the last few years. On behalf of the Board, thank you Paul!

With the appointment of the new AITPM Board, including new Directors - Liz McGregor, Scott Benjamin, Reece Humphreys, James Parrott and new Company Secretary Dianne Hayes, we now move into the next phase of planning for an AITPM future under a global pandemic. How can we continue to engage with members with continual and moveable lockdowns? How do we plan for safe face to face engagements across the country? How do we plan for a conference in 2021 and 2022? How can we keep the reach of AITPM growing into the regions which has been a success of the new online platform? How can we build on the success of national seminars? And so much more in the new normal environment. We will continue to passionately work through for the AITPM members over the coming months.

Whilst this year has been very challenging for our sponsors, members and the industry, it has been so heartening how as an institute we have come together for support. A measure of success has been the recent delivery of the Online Conference Series, which back in March was just an idea.  The planning and delivery effort to provide this learning, development and networking opportunities for our members was no mean feat. A big thank you to all the organising committee, supporting staff, the conference convenors - Alex Kelly and Erin Thomas, and most importantly all of the members who participated the conference and provided feedback.

Along with all the operational changes the AITPM Board faces, there is also a need to undertake a review of the AITPM Strategic Directions. The current AITPM Strategic Directions have set the current priorities and served the Institute well over time. The strategic directions and preceding strategy led to the key planning, budgeting, the establishment of the Board and appointment of our very first CEO, Kirsty Kelly.  A review and redevelopment of AITPM's Strategic Directions for the next 5 years needs to be undertaken to ensure our Institute remains relevant now and into the future for our members, our sponsors, our partners and the industry. It is important that as part of the review, key measures of success are developed to allow the Board to be held accountable and continue the consistent engagement with members. The new Strategic Directions would be developed in collaborative consultation using key resources such as our Life Members and Fellowship cohort. Please keep an eye out for further information on this.

And finally, it is an absolute pleasure to be writing this short piece as the new AITPM National President. As a proud AITPM Fellow, the future of AITPM is important to me as was for the National Presidents that preceded me, the National Presidents that will follow me and of course our sponsors, members and the industry. I am excited to work with the Board, share my passion and move the institute forward into the next chapter to make AITPM the transport institute of choice for the industry.

Gary Wood F.AITPM

National President