At the opening of the AMPP Corrosion Conference on the 4th of March 2024 in New Orleans, AMPP celebrated their 100th Chapter being established in Australia. The Chapter was approved by the AMPP Board after receiving a submission by the requisite number of AMPP members in the region.
The ACA congratulates Justin Rigby of Remedy Asset Protection and Andrew Russell of BlastOne as the inaugural Chairperson and Co-chairperson, respectively.
Justin Rigby states, “The AMPP Australia Chapter look forward to operating in alignment with agreed strategic alliance principles to provide further benefits to members of both associations within Australia”.
The ACA Board Chair, Kingsley Brown, states “the intention is to use our ‘joint strength’ of membership to get the word out and amplify the corrosion message.”
ACA activities – The ACA team had a productive time at the AMPP Conference in New Orleans last week, from the 3rd to the 7th of March. ACA CEO, Maree Tetlow, met with AMPP Executives at the World Corrosion Organization (WCO) Board Meeting to discuss plans for World Corrosion Awareness Day.
Our Board Chair, Kingsley Brown, also participated in multiple meetings with senior AMPP Executives. One important aspect raised by the ACA Chair was the potential to align our craftworker standards/certifications with the US Navy standards (Navsea) which would deliver improved quality requirements for surface preparation and application work that would align with the US defence force (DoD) and other asset management, such as bridge maintenance (DoT). This is an area that can be delivered through joint advocacy.
Other discussion points included future training opportunities, and shared content through both AMPP and ACA’s journals. Tetlow and Brown also visited exhibitors and networked with several companies with a look to our upcoming Corrosion & Prevention this November in Cairns.
Strategic alliance – In November 2023, the ACA and AMPP signed a Strategic Alliance, with the key principles listed as follows:
- Work together to advance similar missions in protecting infrastructure through corrosion prevention and management.
- Investigate opportunities to work together on joint opportunities where there is mutual interest, especially in the area of advocacy.
- Recognise that both organisations have membership in the Australasia region.
- And the partnership is underpinned by mutual respect, professionalism, honesty, cooperation, the sharing of ideas and open, two-way communication at all levels.
Industry can look forward to more value adding activities over the next 12 months.