From the President - June 2019
In this message, Paul talks about travelling Italy, recruitment of our Executive Officer, and notes that it's registration time for the Adelaide Conference.
Travelling Italy
I’m back on deck after 4 weeks traveling Italy with my wife and two teenage daughters. We had the time of our lives, visited some beautiful places, met some amazing people, ate, drank, milled in piazzas, walked the country, and generally just spent time with each other. We criss-crossed the continent by planes, trains, automobiles and ‘clocked’ the pedometer a number of times. My wife and I travelled an almost identical itinerary 20 years earlier and we noticed two significant differences this time:
Public Safety - we felt far more safer in 2019 than we did in 1999. The streets now were busier, brighter and more friendly than we remembered. It was also our perception (reality may be different) that petty theft was a far lessor issue. The significant increase in police presence, and the more recent and alarming road-related terrorist acts resulting in 24/7 military presence on every third corner in the tourist areas of Rome and Florence as part of their ‘safe roads’ initiative, added to our sense of public safety.
Road Safety - We drove out of Rome and Florence, around country Tuscany, Calabria into Sicily, and along the Amalfi Coast. Driving in Italy is a blood sport - as soon as Italian nationals detect any fear your theirs! There was far more traffic, the roads (other than the toll roads) were poorly maintained, minimal road safety road side infrastructure, and a driving culture which would earn your 50 demerit points a day back in Victoria. Reviewing Italy’s fatality data, I was surprised to note it was similar to Australia on a per capita basis, however their road related injuries are seven times higher.
Many thanks to our Vice President Gary Wood for his leadership over this period.
Executive Officer Recruitment
Your Board held its teleconference meeting on the 24 May 2019. The main item of business was the continued planning for the Institutes first Executive Officer. Reporting directly to the Board, the Executive Officer will be required to:
- lead and manage the AITPM operations in line with Board direction
- be the primary source of advice to the Board; and
- successfully execute the AITPM strategic plan
Being a proud and heavily invested volunteer organisation, we are very wary that our organisational culture is not diminished by the addition of a Executive Officer. To this end, a clear set of operating principles between the Board and Executive Officer including detailing delegations and extents of authority form part of the recruitment strategy.
At this time the Board is considering tenures of 3 - 5 years fixed term, commencing 3 - 4 days a week with a view to moving to full time as required. The position will initially be funded through the Institutes reserves and proposed to be forecast as budget neutral by the third year. Performance measures including increases in membership and sponsorship will be linked to the position.
A public recruitment process is expected to commence in July. The Board will approve the final terms and conditions of any successful candidate.
Adelaide National Conference - Registration Time!
Your Board held its teleconference meeting on the 24 May 2019. The main item of business was the continued planning for the Institutes first Executive Officer. Reporting directly to the Board, the Executive Officer will be required to:
- lead and manage the AITPM operations in line with Board direction
- be the primary source of advice to the Board; and
- successfully execute the AITPM strategic plan
Being a proud and heavily invested volunteer organisation, we are very wary that our organisational culture is not diminished by the addition of a Executive Officer. To this end, a clear set of operating principles between the Board and Executive Officer including detailing delegations and extents of authority form part of the recruitment strategy.
At this time the Board is considering tenures of 3 - 5 years fixed term, commencing 3 - 4 days a week with a view to moving to full time as required. The position will initially be funded through the Institutes reserves and proposed to be forecast as budget neutral by the third year. Performance measures including increases in membership and sponsorship will be linked to the position.
A public recruitment process is expected to commence in July. The Board will approve the final terms and conditions of any successful candidate.