INSTITUTE NEWS INSTITUTE NEWS
Institute’s strengths and purpose are clear, new President tells AGM
IHEEM’s 57th AGM took place at lunchtime on 8 October – the first day of Healthcare Estates 2024 at Manchester Central, and saw outgoing President, Alison Ryan, hand over to her successor, Nigel Keery. Alison looked back on the highlights of a busy two years in office, before IHEEM’s CEO, Pete Sellars, gave his own update, and Nigel Keery outlined his aspirations as President.
Alison Ryan, as the meeting’s Chair, began the AGM by welcoming attendees. IHEEM CEO, Pete Sellars, then read the notice of the meeting, and explained that the first Agenda item was to consider the Minutes of the 2023 AGM held on 10 October 2023, which were unanimously approved. Pete Sellars then asked Alison Ryan to report on some of her and the Institute’s achievements during her Presidency, noting that she had already covered some of the notable activities during her opening conference speech earlier in the day. Noting that it had been ‘an honour and a privilege’ to serve as IHEEM’s President for two years, Alison said the time had ‘flown by’. She told the AGM: “During the two years IHEEM has seen further continued growth in its membership – from a five-year perspective, we’ve seen a 22% rise.” She continued: “In terms of events I have attended, we have had a number of STEM events this year. I ran a number of workshops at Bedales School, and in conjunction with IHEEM Head Office, we now have standard presentation packs we can use at all such events, plus a similar pack detailing IHEEM membership benefits.” Alison Ryan went on to mention the IHEEM Northern Ireland Conference in May, the same month’s Wales Regional Conference at the ICC, the AE Conference at Epsom Downs Racecourse in July, September’s University and Healthcare Conference in Dublin, the IHEEM East Midlands Innovation in Healthcare Conference 2024 at Uttoxeter Racecourse in September, and ‘a host of other regional events and webinars’. She said of her time as President: “In what has been a busy and fulfilling two years for me, I’ve done my
8 Health Estate Journal January 2025
best to attend as many branch events as I can. I look forward to continuing my role on IHEEM National Council, to chairing the Mechanical Technical Platform, and to supporting IHEEM events going forward.”
Digital and AI-driven solutions
She explained that alongside its external programme of national and regional events, the Institute is looking to provide further coverage of digital and AI-driven solutions, telling attendees that ‘embracing the future of healthcare delivery’ would be ‘paramount to the success and relevance’ of the Institute. She said: “By focusing on innovation, CPD, interdisciplinary collaboration, advocacy, thought leadership, educational partnerships, and international engagement, IHEEM can ensure that it aligns with the evolving healthcare landscape.” Reiterating that serving as IHEEM President had been ‘an absolute honour’, she said: “It’s my pleasure to pass the reins to Nigel (Keery), who I know will
be an excellent President and ambassador at the Institute. Nigel Keery OBE, the Head of Estates Operations at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, has over 30 years’ healthcare estates management experience (see article, HEJ – November 2024). He started work as an apprentice before beginning his career in the NHS, and has contributed to and co-authored several health estate guidance documents as an Authorised Person. Nigel also established the Northern Ireland Estates Graduate Programme, initiated the Northern Ireland IHEEM Conference, and re-started the Branch after a period of non- activity.” With this Alison Ryan closed her brief report. Next, Pete Sellars said he would give a CEO’s update. Explaining that the Institute’s membership continues to ‘thrive and grow’, he said IHEEM’s total membership stood at around 2800, a ‘significant increase’ of around 600 members since the Institute launched its first Five-Year Strategic Plan. He said: “Our financial health remains robust, and continues to look quite
healthy going forward. Having these finances in place helps us to start to deliver some of our initiatives.”
The IHEEM CEO noted that Alison Ryan had already mentioned a number of successful partnerships this year, but he said he was proud to have been appointed to represent the Institute on EngineeringUK’s Board – ‘a significant milestone for IHEEM’. He added: “As a professional body, IHEEM became professionally recognised about 23 years ago, and for us – as a small professional institute – to sit on EngineeringUK’s Board, helping it structure the role of engineering to government, and working closely with the Royal Academy of Engineers and the Engineering Council, is a privilege. We are the very first small ‘PI’ elected to that position.” Pete Sellars said he believed this honour had been bestowed ‘because healthcare is such an important topic to everybody, and the Engineering Council realises it’s really important to its thinking moving forward.”
As a mark of thanks for all she had achieved as IHEEM’s President, Nigel Keery presented Alison Ryan with an engraved Montblanc pen and a Past-President’s Medal.
Head Office project Touching on the redevelopment of IHEEM’s Portsmouth Head Office, he said: “The Head Office had not had really had any investment for 25 years. Thank you to Council, and certainly some of our community, who have worked with us on the project to modernise it. We are effectively ripping the building apart, and completely re-building it. It’s a massive investment, and we’re on target to take possession in around two weeks’ time. It’s state- of the-art. Downstairs we have provided meeting and training space, and full A/V facilities – in fact everything you would expect of a modern organisation.” Pete Sellars emphasised that it had been IHEEM’s successful development over the past few years which had given it the funds to progress with such initiatives. He added: “Some of you may have seen this morning that IHEEM’s partnership governance software has been formally launched. There are around 30-40 NHS hospitals using it, and we’re now focusing on the specialist side for the AE activities with
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