IPENZ Appoints New President

03 May 2007

IPENZ Appoints New President

Engineering Sustainable Communities is a theme Dr Jeff Jones, recently retired Chief Executive of Environment BOP, will seek to address during his one year tenure as the new Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) President.

Dr Jones recently retired after 17 years as Chief Executive of Environment BOP, the regional authority for the Bay of Plenty region, and now lives with his wife in Nelson.

Last month, he said that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report puts local government under additional pressure to manage climate change impacts on their communities as well as minimising potential rates increases.

"Local authorities are already under pressure to minimise rates increases", Mr Jones says. "However, as much as 80 per cent of council revenue is already committed to infrastructure and services. Any attempt to hold down rates rises may risk plans to adapt or protect their communities against climatic events".

Dr Jones says part of addressing this situation is to now create a more visible profile for engineers amongst their communities.

"Communities need to understand how engineering decisions contribute to their daily living." He would like to encourage the public to ask more questions of the engineering community and for the engineering community as engineers and citizens to further their involvement in decision-making processes.

Dr Jones begins a nationwide speaking tour to engineers on 'Sustainable Communities' this month.

ENDS

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