IPAF president and board confirmed

IPAF has confirmed its new presidential team, with Norty Turner of United Rentals officially instated as president during its AGM today, held for the first time ever as a virtual meeting, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Norty Turner succeeded Brad Boehler, who stepped down in October 2019 after leaving his role with Skyjack, while Karin Nars, from Dinolift was confirmed as the International Powered Access Federation’s (IPAF) deputy president and JLG’s Karel Huijser, from JLG, was named vice president.

AFI-Uplift’s Nick Selley continues in an ex officio role on the IPAF Board, while three new members, who were seconded last year, were also officially confirmed in place: Pedro Torres of Riwal, Julie Houston Smyth of Lolex and Ben Hirst of Horizon Platforms. The AGM was the first since Peter Douglas became IPAF CEO and managing director in December 2019.

In his inaugural address, Turner said, “I would like to reiterate our thanks to Brad Boehler, who selflessly stepped down last year after leaving his role with Skyjack. His tenure as president was shorter than planned, but his leadership and dynamism over many years with the Federation will not be forgotten, and we at IPAF wish him well in his future endeavours.

“It is traditional for an incoming IPAF president to set out some key objectives for their term in office. Of course my first priority, working together with the IPAF Board, Council and senior management, will be to support our entire team and all the Federation’s members worldwide through this global public health crisis, and to assist our industry in whatever way we can to recover from this challenging situation as quickly as possible.

“Beyond that I am particularly looking forward to supporting Peter and the rest of the team in increasing sustainability in our industry, embracing and integrating new technology into everything we do.

”The way the world learns is evolving due to the pandemic, and ever adaptable, IPAF will bring forward new innovations, including but not limited to a digital app for operators and managers, paperless IPAF courses, and adapting more of IPAF’s training program into both eLearning and virtual reality applications.

“During the next two years IPAF will consolidate and bolster its core markets and membership such as in the UK, while continuing international growth in developing markets and new territories such that the federation realizes at least 50% of its revenue beyond the UK.

“Additionally, I will keep championing initiatives such as the IPAF Roadmap to Qualified Service Technician or Engineer Status and new industry-relevant apprenticeships to both attract young people into our great industry and assist our members in retaining, developing and planning for succession in their workforce.”

● The IPAF Annual Report 2019 has been published to coincide with the AGM, and is available in English to read now or as a digital download via www.ipaf.org; printed copies and translations into core IPAF languages have been deferred owing to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak but will be produced at the first opportunity.