A restructure of the ISTT’s administrative arm has occurred, with the impending retirement of long-serving Executive Secretary John Castle. The new role of Executive Director will be undertaken by John Hemphil, the recently retired Secretary of the North American Society for Trenchless Technology. Pat Nolan, who has been the Society’s Membership Secretary for many years, has also retired and these changes will mean a change in the way ISTT conducts its business.

The appointment of an External Communications Service Provider for the Society’s wide range of communications requirements will add a professional and effective means of ISTT optimising the use of ICT in this digital age. I am pleased to add that, subject to some final agreement, Great Southern Press has secured this consultancy against some stiff international competition.

ISTT has also established a new Technical Panel of International experts who will be engaged on an as-required basis to provide advice and make commentary on the wide range of technical issues that face ISTT.

We will have the opportunity to see how well these and many other areas of change within ISTT will operate at the next International No-Dig Event to be held in Moscow in the first week in June 2008. All reports indicate that this is shaping up as a successful event as ISTT, in conjunction with the Russian Society - RSTT, will help promote Trenchless Technology in that part of the world.

Article continues below…

ASTT activities

This edition of Trenchless Australasia provides a wonderful outline of the achievements of the ASTT’s National Conference and Exhibition conducted at Homebush, Sydney recently.

The event was a success from many viewpoints and the large number of delegates, exhibitors and visitors – many from overseas – will attest to this. The quality of presentations was outstanding and showed Australia and New Zealand have maintained their prominence in the international Trenchless Technology scene.

The ASTT Council met in Melbourne on May 5 to review activities in the ASTT Strategic Plan and discuss matters that arose at the AGM conducted in Homebush.

The Council considered the arrangements for the 2009 National Conference and Exhibition to be held in Melbourne. There was also discussion on how ASTT can move forward on the development of guidelines and standards for Trenchless Technology in Australasia. Other matters relating to the 2008/2009 ASTT Business Plan were also discussed.

All in all, the next 12 to 18 months should prove exciting as Trenchless Technology continues to develop and grow in Australia and overseas.

Menno Henneveld Chairman, ASTT