Energy Pipelines Co-operative Research Centre (EPCRC). The CRC program is a Federal Government initiative introduced by the Hawke Government two decades ago. It’s designed to encourage industry and academia to work together to undertake required research for the benefit of the nation. Industry sectors bid for the privilege of establishing a CRC and they work with funding and in-kind contributions from universities, industry and the Government to undertake this practical research.
In the case of the pipeline industry, while it was a tremendous challenge to win the bid for the CRC, we were well ahead of other industries because our Research and Standards Committee (RSC) already had an excellent working relationship with three universities – Wollongong, Adelaide and Monash. With the establishment of the CRC, the Australian National University will also be a participant.
The difference now for APIA is that the members of RSC, while maintaining their separate membership of APIA, will also be participants in the CRC, which is set up as a separate company.
Also, you might have noticed the announcement of the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the EPCRC, Professor Valerie Linton. Valerie is well known to many APIA members as a highly qualified academic and a great supporter of the pipeline industry. While currently based at Adelaide University, Valerie will move with the CRC to be based at Wollongong University.
We are very excited at the prospect of our industry being recognised as critical to the nation’s future. I have mentioned before, but it’s certainly worth saying again, that this could not have been achieved without the thoughtful planning and tremendous work undertaken by Leigh Fletcher. Leigh has demonstrated real foresight and initiative and clearly has the interests of the industry at heart.
Another recent very major development was the move of the Australian Gas Industry Trust (AGIT) secretariat to APIA. Many of APIA’s members have benefited from AGIT education programs, such as Gas Speak, an annual event that provides training in presentation and communication skills, and the AGIT Overseas Study Tours of gas facilities and companies. Recently, the AGIT company secretary, who was based with the Energy Networks Association (ENA), announced that she was leaving and the Trustees took the opportunity to review the secretariat services. It was decided that, as ENA has such a strong focus on electricity and as APIA is focused very much on gas, and as we have an excellent business manager, the company secretary should be located at APIA and should be our own Steve Dobbie.
Of course we are very honoured to take on this role and Steve is very keen to manage the AGIT. Nevertheless, I am sure APIA members are well aware that Steve already has a full-time job! With the funding provided by AGIT for the part-time role of AGIT company secretary, combined with the part-time role of accounts administrator, APIA has decided to establish a full-time position of Business and Finance Officer to assist Steve with both his APIA and AGIT duties. We are pleased to announced that Peter Heffernan has agreed to move back to the APIA office to undertake this role. As Peter was the part time accounts administrator before the appointment of Jim Jones, he certainly knows a lot about APIA. The sad outcome is we have to say goodbye to Jim, who has been an excellent addition to our staff, but who is only available for part-time work.
In the meantime, work continues on establishing a Code of Practice for coal seam gas gathering pipelines. The Working Group, under the guidance of Hugh Luckhurst-Smith, meets regularly. In February, APIA, combined with the Plastic Industry Pipe Association (PIPA), held a very successful seminar on coal seam gas lines. My thanks to PIPA Executive Manager Mark Heathcote for his support.
Finally, a reminder to make sure that the 2010 APIA Annual Convention and Exhibition is in your diaries – it’s to be held between 11 and 14 September this year because we’re going back to Darwin. For the Monday night event: think of something to do with Charles…Darwin, Bronson, Chaplin…
Cheryl Cartwright
Chief Executive