By Katherine Bethany – President, SAVE International
As I write this article, I am preparing to leave to visit SAVE International’s largest chapter, the Gulf Chapter. They invited me to attend the upcoming Saudi Council of Engineering’s International Engineering Conference and Exhibition and give one of the keynote addresses. To quote from the conference chairman,
“This initiative will be the largest gathering of engineers in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to enhance the engineering standards, transfer knowledge, bench mark the best practices implemented whilst at the same time discussing the challenges and innovation in the engineering sector. The International Engineering Conference will have 12 dedicated engineering tracks spanning from Aerospace, Industrial, Mechanical and Electrical to renewable energy. This platform will allow engineers to communicate, learn and build relationship to work towards a common objective of achieving the 2030 vision.”
What an opportunity to have Value Engineering as one of the tracks at this event. Congratulations to our Gulf Chapter for this achievement!
I am really looking forward to this event for both the potential to promote, advocate and educate about the Value Methodology, but it also gives me the personal opportunity to revisit Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I lived in Riyadh as a teenager/early college when my father was stationed there 40 years ago. My first engineering position (actually a glorified summer intern) was on the US Army Corps of Engineering construction site of the Saudi Arabian National Guard Headquarters building. So, I’ve been thinking about how much has changed in these last 40 years, and marveling at the chance to assist in even a little way as Saudi Arabia contemplates big changes by 2030.
I look forward to meeting with our Gulf Chapter colleagues to determine how SAVE International can continue to assist them meet the challenges outlined and discussed in this four-day meeting.
In other news – please keep working on those papers, ideas for topics, etc., for our upcoming 2018 Value Summit in Austin this coming June. Also, we are always seeking volunteers to help us promote, advocate, certify and educate – so if you haven’t yet responded to the e-mail blast seeking help, please do so now.
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