Looking forward to change

You never know, you could turn out to be the person that makes that difference in the BIFM and the profession, says Stuart Harris, the BIFM's newly appointed deputy chair

 

27 August 2010

It was my privilege to have been voted in as the new deputy chair for a two-year term, with my main roles identified to work with and deputise for our chairman, Ian Broadbent, to support the BIFM and the implementation of our strategies. In addition to this I am here as a senior volunteer to add value to the BIFM and the membership.

I am sure that it won't come as a surprise to you if I say that I fully agreed with Ismena Clout when she wrote about 'getting full value' in her column within FM World in the August 5 issue, as there is a lot to be gained from being a member of the BIFM. I am very passionate about our profession and we both have common objectives as deputies. It is a well known fact, that only approximately 10 per cent of the membership of a governing body actively gets involved, and we would like to change that.

In looking forward I will be working with the other senior volunteers and the executive team to continue to advance our profession and with the direction of the BIFM. We have both a dedicated and winning team at the BIFM, and this has been seen clearly over the last four years, especially with the foundations that have been set over the last two years by Iain Murray and the executive team, and with the new approach adopted by Ian Broadbent. I really do believe that we will achieve the exposure and further recognition for FM as a profession, through our engagement within Westminster (all party parliamentary group), our existing relationships with other bodies, the strategies which have been set and new ventures as we go forward with vision.

I joined the BIFM in 1998 for three reasons, to improve my knowledge, to seek recognition, and to try to give something back and to make a difference. It is very easy to be both negative and destructive in life, but in trying to make a difference I would like to ask the membership as a whole and all external influencers to try and be both positive and constructive in your approach.
So when you are reading a document or an article that has just been published, if you disagree with it or its approach, rather than just grumble to yourself or make a negative comment on a chat site, why not contact me with your thoughts and maybe we can turn your thoughts into a positive and constructive way forward. Alternatively you could even offer a couple of hours of your time to meet with me to discuss a new approach or direction. You never know, you could turn out to be the person that makes that difference in the BIFM and the profession.

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