Standards of Asset Management for Developing Countries

Mr. K.C. Leong, Honorary President of EAROPH International is visiting Australia to consult with Australian members regarding asset management.

He is providing guidance to EAROPH Australia's President, Kerry McGovern for the development of Standards and Guidelines for Asset Management for developing countries.

The project proposal will be finalised in June and distributed to EAROPH national chapters for their perusal prior to the discussion at the joint EAROPH / IFHP Brunei Darussalam regional conference in November, 2011. See: IFHP Website for details.

Australian Social Trends

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has issued the latest Australian Social Trends. The ABS says: "Australian Social Trends draws on a wide range of data, sourced both from ABS and other agencies, to present a picture of Australian society. This publication aims to inform decision-making, research and discussion on social conditions in Australia. It covers social issues of current and ongoing concern, population groups of interest, and changes in these over time."

EAROPH Australia holds first Executive Committee Meeting

EAROPH Australia, formally approved as a chapter of EAROPH International at its Council meeting on 31st October, 2010, held its first Executive Committee meeting on 7th December, 2010.

The committee reflects the multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral foundation of EAROPH. President Kerry McGovern is a specialist in asset management in the public sector. Vice President John Salter is a risk management specialist in private and public sectors. Treasurer Dennis Ingemann is an economist and town and regional planner. Secretary David Edgerton is an asset accountant specializing in asset management, valuation and depreciation. Ordinary committee members are Dr. Jane Stanley an architect, planner and author, and Peter Cuming, an urban and regional planner, permaculturist and mediator, specialising in sustainable coastal development. Alternative committee member is John Byrne consultant urban designer/planner and Adjunct Professor in Urban Design at QUT.

Infrastructure and Asset Management - are there better ways than "engineering"?

This week, the newly appointed President of EAROPH Australia, Kerry McGovern, presented a paper on asset management issues in developing countries to the EAROPH 2010 Golden Jubilee Congress in Adelaide.

Kerry McGovern

The paper introduces an approach to asset management which will be developed through EAROPH Australia in collaboration with others.

We welcome your feedback on this initiative.

Lord Mayor Michael Harbison appointed President of EAROPH International for 2010-2012

The Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Michael Harbison has been appointed to the position President, EAROPH International for 2010 - 2012.

President Harbison will bring much to the position. He is an experienced politician having chaired Australia's National Capital City forums. He also brings a passion for planning - having a significant interest in managing development within a sustainability context.

Mr John Salter, Ms Kerry McGovern,  and Mr Michael Harbison

He is pictured above with the incoming National President of EAROPH Australia, Ms Kerry McGovern, and the incoming National Vice President of EAROPH Australia, Mr John Salter.

Post disaster shelter and sustainability

Professor David Sanderson, Director, Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP) at the School of the Built Environment, Oxford Brookes University has announced that as a follow-up to the ELRHA funded shelter conference held at CENDEP in September in association with CARE UK, the final report, presentations and podcasts of some sessions are now available online at:

http://www.brookes.ac.uk/schools/be/oisd/architecture/cendep/shelters.html

The conference examined what role shelter should have in disaster relief and development while critically reflecting on its implementation at local and international levels. It was agreed, that while technological shelter solutions are important, good shelter practice always puts people first. This may mean reassessing practitioners' roles and responsibilities to include ways to work more successfully with affected people in a process, rather than focusing on providing an end product.

Australian Chapter of the Eastern Regional Organisation for Planning and Human Settlements formed

Sunday 31 Oct 2010 marked the formal creation of the Australian Chapter of the Easter Regional Organisation for Planning and Human Settlements.

50th Congress

This formalisation preceded the "Cities and their Regions" Congress which is being held in Adelaide this week (1-4 Nov 2010). The Congress Program celebrates fifty years of addressing vulnerability and challenges to sustainability.

We look forward to working with you on the next fifty years of challenges and opportunities within Australia - and within our regional community.