Mentoring and youth engagement crucial to long-term safety and value

Over the past few weeks I have been travelling around to visit employees of APGA RSC member companies with our chairman Charles Rottier.

These visits have been extremely beneficial in helping us gain a greater understanding of the challenges and needs of this critical infrastructure industry.

Seeing firsthand that the outcomes of Energy Pipelines CRC research are being used to assist in developing safer and more efficient practices within industry, whether that is in materials production, design of pipelines or the continued maintenance of existing infrastructure, is rewarding and continues to showcase the effectiveness of the cooperative research centre model.

Early in March, I had the opportunity to meet with Richard Wayken, CEO of the newly formed Canadian Pipeline Technology Collaborative.

Richard has seen the effectiveness of the Cooperative Research Centre model in Australia and is aiming to use its strengths in Canada to facilitate greater engagement between researchers and industry members.

Richard also met with the APGA RSC and members of Energy Pipelines CRC research teams.

A key focus of discussions with many members of the industry this year has been the importance of promoting the transfer of knowledge and skills from senior members of the pipeline community to younger members coming through.

None of us are getting any younger and as senior members of the Australian pipeline industry enter retirement, it is crucial that the lessons learnt from past experience, which have assisted in giving the Australian gas pipeline network its impeccable safety record and world renowned standards such as AS2885, are passed on to the next generation.

Over the coming months, I am looking to encourage further engagement with younger members of the Australian pipeline industry; members of APGA RSC companies will be warmly invited to bring younger members of their organisations to our biannual research seminars as well as our annual research conference.

These two events have proven over the years, the importance of face to face communication in delivering the outcomes of Energy Pipelines CRC research.

The quality of technical discussion found at research seminars, the first of which will be held in Wollongong on 10 June 2015, is invaluable to the ongoing development of skills of our up and coming younger members.

Attending our annual research conference, held this year 29-30 June at the Deakin Management Centre in Geelong, gives industry attendees the chance to engage with the broader Energy Pipelines CRC research team in an open forum with discussions surrounding key industry issues from an academic perspective as well as sessions on professional development.

Engagement is two way street however.

It is one thing to extend invitations and opportunities to younger members of industry, these opportunities must be acted upon.

Groups such as the APGA Young Pipeliners’ Forums have already demonstrated the initiative of younger members of the pipeline community to actively engage and ensure that they gain from the transfer of own knowledge as well as advancing their careers through personal development.

In May this year, members of the APGA, the Pipeline Research Council International and the European Pipelines Research Group will come together for the 20th Joint Technical Meeting (JTM) on Pipeline Research.

The event is an excellent opportunity for all attendees to share knowledge and discuss potential ideas for further research.

Following the JTM, six younger members of industry and two Energy Pipelines CRC representatives will undertake a study tour of key sites related to the European pipeline industry.

I would like to thank Steve Dobbie and the APGA as a whole, for offering two positions to our nominated representatives.

The knowledge and broader understanding they will gain from the trip is invaluable and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for them.

I look forward to working with the APGA RSC this year to continue to deliver valuable research outcomes which provide safer and more efficient pipeline technologies.

If you have any questions regarding Energy Pipelines CRC research, visit our newly revamped website at www.epcrc.com.au

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