Sometimes we need to take time off from the production schedule, the big job, the next sale, to think and set out new strategies, to plan how we can do it better, and discuss ideas with our peers. This can’t be done with phones ringing, emails pinging on the screen, resolving staff issues or pacifying the accountant, etc. But it needs to be done.
I am suggesting you should get away from the office or worksite – and attend our yearly conference.
Once again the IQA and Cement Concrete Aggregates Australia (CCAA) have joined forces to bring you the fifth Construction Materials Industry Conference (CMIC) at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
With a theme of Building Productivity, the conference committee has arranged a terrific line-up of business, government and community leaders to give the best overview of what is expected in today’s market.
I also welcome our international visitors, including Institute of Quarrying presidents David Hogan (Hong Kong) and Gordon Laing (New Zealand), as well as the IQNZ’s deputy president Les Ward.
The keynote speaker for CMIC is Mike Kane, the CEO and managing director of Boral. He will be followed by well-credentialed speakers who will update us on the economy, construction and infrastructure.
We will be announcing our IQA award winners. Congratulations to those worthy recipients and please take the message back to your workplace: these awards are well worth applying for.
Our MC is Ellen Fanning, a current affairs journo who is well known in the industry for her work on Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes. She has interviewed world leaders and prime ministers, so I am sure she will keep us to the program and on time.
I would like to acknowledge our platinum sponsors Hitachi, Komatsu and Caterpillar, with Orica again providing the traditional partners day, and all our exhibitors. Without their involvement these conferences would not exist.
The conference program starts off with the Australian Institute of Quarrying Education Foundation (AIQEF) Golf Day and finishes with our AIQEF brunch auction on the Saturday. This is a chance for our industry to recognise the Foundation and the education results we have achieved and to put some more funds in for the future.
As always, professional development points are credited to IQA members for attendance at the annual conference.
Thanks must go to the organising committee for two years of intensive work to bring this conference together, and to our conference organiser ICE Australia for “making it happen”. We will recognise their collective efforts at the formal dinner.
CMIC14 will provide the chance for the IQA, the CCAA and the industry family to get together, renew and start new friendships, and to talk about the industry’s highs and lows in the past 12 months and what we can look forward to. I hope to catch up with as many of you as possible during the conference.
This issue of Quarry marks 30 years of the publication and reports on how the industry has evolved in that time. Enjoy the read and make time to catch up with the Quarry team at the conference. It’s your magazine and they are always keen to hear what you like to read and how they can improve.
It’s pleasing to close with some positive news about membership renewals. As of the end of July, 70 per cent of the IQA membership had renewed and paid for the coming year.
Reminders have gone out to the branches to chase up outstanding memberships, and if by now you’re wondering why you’re not getting information from the IQA, then it could well be that you need to chase up your membership payment!
Until next time, stay safe!