This month I would like to highlight the importance of partnerships and collaboration for the IQA in helping to deliver educational and professional development programs, services and events that are contemporary, innovative, practical and relevant to the extractive industry.
A successful partnership and collaboration can strengthen the delivery of educational and professional development programs by sharing complementary skills and expertise; it can also save costs and improve efficiency.
In Quarry last month I talked about how the IQA and Cement Concrete Aggregates Australia (CCAA) have joined forces to present CMIC16 in Melbourne. This is a great example of a successful partnership that has been in place for some time now and has expanded the value proposition for both organisations.
In May this year, I had the pleasure of attending and delivering the opening address for the third Quarrying and Small Mines Safety and Health Seminar in Newcastle.
The seminar was co-hosted by the New South Wales branches of IQA and the CCAA and the NSW Department of Industry, Resources and Energy and supported by the Australian Institute of Quarrying Education Foundation (AIQEF).
The seminar program was designed by an organising committee of representatives from the the IQA’s and the CCAA’s NSW branches and the Mine Safety Operations Branch of the NSW Department of Industry, Resources and Energy to address important current safety and health issues relevant to the quarrying and the mining industries.
The seminar was well attended and the presentations provided insights on how we can all work towards a common goal to improve safety performance and achieve zero harm in our industry.
The second Annual Environmental Management Seminar, co-hosted by the Queensland branches of the IQA and the CCAA and the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, will be held on Wednesday 14 September, 2016 at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Brisbane.
It’s another example where the IQA’s partnership and collaboration approach provides a platform for government and industry to work together to better understand and manage environmental impacts from our industry.
Engagement with our stakeholders helps us align the purposes and strategies of the IQA with the needs of industry, government and the community. Strategic partnerships and collaboration strengthen and enhance the educational products, programs and events the IQA provides and establishes a platform for effective engagement by stakeholders including industry and government.