IPAF Summit focus on sustainability, digitisation and post-Covid opportunities

This year’s Summit of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), which will be hosted for the first time ever as a virtual event along with a digital prize-giving for the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) on 18 March 2021, from 3pm GMT, will focus on sustainability, digitisation and the challenges and opportunities the industry is faced with as the world emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.

The theme of the IPAF Summit will consider the wider question of sustainability in powered access, the challenges of operating safely and effectively in the post-Covid-19 era, and the opportunities of digital and technological innovation for safer work at height and quality training. The confirmed line-up for the event includes:

• Suzannah Nichol, CEO, Build UK, will look at the opportunities and challenges facing major contractors in maintaining safe and sustainable worksites, and how enhanced accident reporting, digital innovation and working closely with partner organisations such as IPAF will play a key part in achieving shared objectives.

• Søren Brogaard, the new CEO of Trackunit, will present along with Peter Douglas, CEO and managing director of IPAF, about the organisations’ collaboration in producing the new ePAL app for mobile devices, which is set to revolutionise the way operators and supervisors store and share training certification – via digital PAL Cards – and log equipment time.

• Karel Huijser (JLG), Pierre Boels (Boels) and Norty Turner (United Rentals) will join a virtual round-table discussion, which will cover all aspects of sustainability and digitisation, including new innovation in green power sources, the possibilities in new technology for enhanced performance management and site bio-security and trends in market demand for cleaner, greener powered access operations.

Each of the keynote presentations and discussions will be interspersed by announcements of the category winners of the 2020-21 IAPAs, as well as video presentations from the sponsors and a closing virtual delegate networking session. There will also be a video presentation about how IPAF member firms have supported their clients, communities or charitable causes during the pandemic.

As in previous years, there will be simultaneous translations available of all presentations, with event speakers translated into Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.

The whole event will be hosted by Mark Durden Smith, TV presenter of rugby union coverage in the UK. Thanks to the support of event sponsors, registration for the event is free to all those wishing to join but anyone wishing to do so must register beforehand via the website at www.iapa-summit.info/booking

Peter Douglas, CEO of IPAF, says: “We have been forced to change the way we do things with this year’s Summit & IAPAs, but I have to say the opportunities afforded by an all-digital programme have proved quite exciting, and we are very pleased to have been able to put together an engaging if condensed conference programme.

“Despite ongoing restrictions on international travel, this means that attendees from all round the world will still be able to benefit from a high-quality series of speakers and to participate in the celebrations as we announce the IAPAs winners. We do hope you will be able to join us. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank sponsors CMC, Trackunit, ZTR, Hinowa, Alimak and Sinoboom for their support in making this event happen.”

• Those wishing to attend the virtual IPAF Summit & IAPAs celebration are advised to register now, as delegates can not attend without registering. Please visit the event website for more details as to the topics under discussion, awards shortlists and line-up of presentations, and to register as a digital delegate www.iapa-summit.info/booking.