JLG's Wayne Lawson elected president of IPAF

JLG's Wayne Lawson has been elected as the new president of IPAF, succeeding Steve Shaughnessy, who has decided to step down after one year of his two year presidential term.

Mr Lawson, who was deputy president, was elected at IPAF's annual general meeting held in Amsterdam on 14 April. The AGM took place before the IPAF Summit conference and IAPA awards dinner at the Grand Krasnapolsky Hotel in the city.

Speaking after his election, Mr Lawson, who is a vice president at JLG, paid tribute to Mr Shaughnessy; "Steve has brought some unique skills to IPAF, including strategic thinking. The industry cannot affort to lose people like him...thanks for doing a great job, and I think it is a shame it couldn't have been for the complete two-year term."

Mr Lawson said IPAF had several major opportunities in the years ahead, including continued growth of its global footprint into developing countries. He said this presented particular challenges with regard to the different levels of training required in different markets; "We will have to look at new levels of training - I don't have the solutions, but there is going to be a good discussion and debate about it."

He added that he would also focus on ways for IPAF to communicate its messages worldwide. "You can never do it well enough - I'll be working with Tim Whiteman, the IPAF council and members to increase the levels of communication that we already have today."

Tim Whiteman, giving the managing director's report, said that PAL card numbers issued in 2010 had recovered to record levels after falling in 2009, with 85605 cards issued in the year. The number issued in the UK was still below the peak in 2008, but grew by 31% outside the UK.

Next year's IPAF AGM, Summit and IAPA awards will take place in Rome, Italy, on 29 March.