FIDIC’s global member associations (MAs) and regional and sector groups have been gathering in Geneva for a series of important discussions ahead of FIDIC’s annual Global Infrastructure Conference which takes place from 8-10 September 2024.

The traditional curtain raiser to the conference is a series of meetings of MAs and FIDIC’s regions, sector focused committees and advisory councils to discuss how FIDIC is addressing some of the key challenges facing the global engineering consultancy sector. An important meeting of the FIDIC MAs’ Directors and Secretaries Advisory Council (DNSAC) received an update from DNSAC chair Helen Davidson, CEO of ACE New Zealand, on the progress made on the council’s forward strategy and programme of work.

The meeting also discussed a number of common issues and challenges in break out groups chaired by different international MA representatives. These issues included diversity, equity and inclusion, how MAs can lead on sustainability and climate change and the role of MAs in lifting professionalism and the changing nature of training and development. Those present also discussed key opportunities around advocacy and tactics for effective political and media engagement, the opportunities for MAs to deploy and leverage AI and the ongoing challenge of attracting and retaining member firms.

FIDIC’s ambassadors were also brought together for a special meeting to discuss the future of their programme and ways of encouraging a more cohesive approach going forward, including more effective communications with FIDIC MAs. While those ambassadors present did not shy away from addressing the challenges with the programme to date, there was a clear desire in the room to make improvements and operationalise the initiative on a firmer footing in future.

A FIDIC regional group chairs meeting brought together the regional groupings and organisations with which FIDIC collaborates closely to ensure that the consulting engineering industry is well represented in all parts of the globe. Updates were given highlighting some of the key activities and developments that have taken place over the past year in the North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions.

In the main conference hall, a FIDIC Committees and Councils Symposium received presentations from the chair or vice-chair of all of FIDIC’s working committees and advisory councils followed by question-and-answer session and open discussion with the audience exploring industry challenges to identify future activities and tasks. The enthusiasm at all the above meetings was clear to see and illustrated the important role played by FIDIC’s volunteers in the work of the organisation and in strengthening its global footprint.