News & Reports

The World Federation of Engineering Organisations held its biennial General Assembly, its annual Executive Council meeting and various board and committee meetings in Melbourne on 18-24 November 2019. The meetings were hosted by Engineers Australia, the national member for Australia. Approximately 70 members and associates were represented in Melbourne to attend the meetings and the World Engineers Convention that was also held during the week.

Overall it was a very successful week with a high level of engagement with our members and associates.

President Elect Jose Vieira making his election speech at the General Assembly
 
Highlights of the General Assembly included:

• The election of Prof. Jose Vieira, Order of Engineers Portugal, and currently President of FEANI, as President Elect and Mr. Mustafa Shehu as Executive Vice president.
• 7 National member representatives were elected to the Executive Council.
  • The following representatives were elected for four-year term: R. Li (China), A. Lopez (Italy), N. Matalanga (Kenya), N. Vasoya (India).
  • The following representatives were elected for two-year terms: K. Chehab (Lebanon), O. Sanchez (Costa Rica), T. Sancho (Spain).
• Mr. Seng Chuan Tan was confirmed as Treasurer.

Congratulations to all those who were elected, WFEO looks forward to your leadership and your contributions.

Other highlights included:

• The approval of the amended Constitution and Rules of procedures which increases the representation of international members at the Executive Council from 6 to 8 and national members from 8 to 11 and also rationalises the member categories, introducing a new member category of Distinguished Fellow, as well as other changes to the Rules of Procedures to improve the governance and operation of the organisation.
• The approval of the amended fee structure which consists of the same fee for all international members and a reduced fee for national members with a very low UNESCO rating.
• The renewal of the hosts of standing committees as follows:
  • Committee for Engineering and Innovative Technologies (CEIT – AI and Big Data) – China, Chair Prof. Jing Peng
  • Committee for Information and Communication (Industry 4.0 and Smart Cities), India, Chair Dr. T.M. Gunaraja
  • Committee for Women in Engineering – Nigeria, Chair Ms. Y. Holloway
  • Committee for Engineering and Environment – UK, Chair Mr. D. Stronati
• WFEO UN Relations Committee (WURC) was confirmed as a board committee, USA, Chair Mr. R. Vachon
• Confirmation of technical working groups:
  • Working Group on Water – Spain, Chair, T. Sancho
  • Working Group on Infrastructure Report Card, FAEO, Chair M. Van Veelen
• New Committee hosts that were approved were:
  • Young Engineers/ Future leaders – Lebanon, Chair Mr. F. Bou Diab
  • Committee on Anti-Corruption – Rwanda, Chair P.D. Kazawadi
  • Committee on Energy – France, Chair, J. E. Moncomble
• A call for hosts of the Committee on Engineering Capacity Building and Committee on Education in Engineering has been made and the hosts will be determined in the first quarter of 2020
• The 2019-23 Strategic Plan was approved with a small amendment that includes recognition of the need to also focus on the celebration of World Engineering Day each year on 4th March, the founding Day of WFEO.
• The announcement of the WFEO Awards which included:
  • WFEO Medal for Engineering Excellence, Vilas Mujumdar.
  • WFEO Medal for Excellence in Engineering Education, Prof. Chuah Hean Teik.
  • WFEO GREE medal for Women in Engineering, Ms. Lydia Tansinsin.
  • Hassib J Sabbagh Award for Engineering Construction Excellence, National Environmental Agency, Singapore. The Agency has contributed the prize money of US 10,000 to the WFEO Project on Climate Change Education in Small Island Developing States, which is being planned for delivery during 2020.
• The hosts of future events in 2021 and 2022 were approved. The following events are now planned:
  • WFEO Executive Council meeting, Kigali, Rwanda, 26-30 October 2020
  • WFEO General Assembly, San José, Costa Rica, October 2021 (dates to be confirmed)
  • WFEO Executive Council Meeting, Chennai, India, 21-25 Nov 2022
  • WFEO General Assembly and World Engineers Convention, October 2023.
• The launch of the WFEO 50-year history.
• The presentation of the WFEO Biennial Report.
• We welcomed 13 new members and associates to WFEO, some new members made brief presentations.
• Financially, WFEO finished both 2018 and 2019 with a surplus and is in a strong position to continue its activities in the coming years.

It was very pleasing to see the active participation and contribution of our national members and to meet more than 60 presidents of our national engineering institutions.

For more information:

WFEO Executive Board
WFEO Executive Council
Photos of the WFEO Meetings during WEC2019

WFEO Executive Council Meeting, 22 November 2019