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President's perspectives

Hello to all! So what do I see? I see opportunity. Opportunity for the ICT, opportunity for industry, opportunity for civilisation and ultimately opportunity for you to advance your roles in meaningful work. That opportunity can only be realised if we are ambitious and work hard to succeed.

Now is perhaps the most exciting and critical time to be a concrete technologist yet! I think we are perhaps in the third age of concrete technology. The first being governed by strength. The second addressing durability and now the third focused on sustainability and the pursuit of net zero concrete with a defined deadline.

Concrete is a vital part of our modern lifes and we have a role to play in improving the lot of civilisation using concrete technology. I mean, how good is that? We are positive contributors to civilisation and should be proud of the roles we have working with such a fascinating material but conscious too of the challenge we face in achieving net zero targets. Challenges bring opportunities and this our time to shine

Concrete technology is advancing and it is my ambition to elevate the status of the ICT internationally and to see you concrete technologists develop your roles and careers in delivering solutions to that exceed the demands placed on concrete today and to educate those who don't appreciate the importance and incredible virtues of concrete.

It was a great honour for me to take the role of ICT President at our AGM and Convention held in Trinity College Dublin in May. I am the first Irish ICT President of the ICT and also the first President not to reside in the UK. News of my appointment made the national news in Ireland, bringing great exposure for the ICT. Many thanks to Raman and the Events Committee for bringing us together for the FIRST internationally held Convention in Dublin. Thanks also to our immediate Past President, Colin Nessfield, who has led us with distinction, style, vision and humour over his term. It was great to support Colin as Vice President and really useful to learn from him over the last two years.

We are all volunteers in the ICT and I offer thanks to our employers, particularly my employer Ecocem, and all those other great companies who see benefit in facilitating your participation in ICT activities and offer support.

All volunteers that is apart from Edwin. Our continued good relationship with the Concrete Society will see us having more of Edwin's time at an additional cost of course, but I hope you agree when I say I think he's worth it. It is thanks to our membership, our activities and our supporting organisations that we have sound financial footing to do this and none of that is taken for granted.

The engine room of the ICT is our committees. We can always do with more power and if you feel that you can contribute, please come forward. One notable retirement this year is Rob Lewis, whose contribution to the ICT is simply outstanding. So much so that Rob received the rarely awarded but really well-deserved Silver Medal for service to the ICT. Thank you for everything Rob, you have led and been part of many successes for the ICT and leave Tech & Ed geared up for many exciting developments.

I feel the time for the ICT to enhance our function and the status of our membership is now. Demand is here. Action is needed. Ambition is critical. I represent generational change in the leadership of the ICT but certainly not the operations thereof. We are blessed with many dedicated experienced members whose contributions remain relevant and vital. However, time is unbeaten and so we are nurturing the next generation through SYPro. Mentoring this talent is key to the future of the ICT.

I am very pleased that Veronika Elfmarkova has been named Vice President and that she will succeed me in 2027 to become the first female president of the ICT. Veronika's global role with Holcim as Head of Commercial Ready-mix will be great exposure for the ICT internationally. Our appointments show that change is happening, it always is, and is evidence that there are no barriers to engagement for members in active participation in committees and Council.

We have a highly decorated history with over 50 years in the bank and unlimited potential to grow in the future. It is our ambition to see growth in membership numbers and demographics, growth in membership engagement and satisfaction, growth in individuals' development and advancement, growth in industry relationships and partnerships, growth of networks and friendships and growth in all our ambitions. I certainly didn't take on the Diploma in Advanced Concrete Technology in 2006 with the aim to be ICT President but I did have the ambition to develop my knowledge so my career path could grow. I encourage you to push your ambitions, fulfil your potential and see where you can rise to!

I'm delighted that after huge effort from those involved registrations for the MSc in Advanced Concrete Technology (Stage 4) at Heriot Watt took place in September with 16 participants on the course. This is the third home for the course following Queen's University Belfast (where I was a candidate) and Leeds. It no small task to move home and the same is true for moving this course. I hope to see many more candidates enrolling, as Heriot Watt has the ambition for two intakes each year.

Developing knowledge and expertise is what the ICT is about. The ICT is also about the professional network of membership. The ICT gives the opportunity to connect with people and it gives me a sense of belonging. I wish that all members will feel and benefit from that and I'll be doing my best to make sure you all belong.

Be ambitious, be curious and make new friends.

John Reddy
President, Institute of Concrete Technology 2023-25