IFHE WORLD CONGRESS 2018
edge of design and technology that will change the face of service delivery for years to come. However, it would be remiss of me not to mention the very popular Technical Tours, that gave participants a valuable behind-the-scenes insight into local innovative facilities. Queensland Health was generous in sharing access to a number of the local healthcare sites which had significant recent refurbishment works, which showcased some of the great work being done by healthcare architects, engineers, and construction professionals. Linked to this was a focus on ‘Emergency management’, and a visit to the Queensland Emergency Management control centre was also made available to delegates. This coincided with the shared plenary session with the International Hospital Federation Congress being hosted in Brisbane by the Australian Healthcare and Hospital Association. The IHF Congress brought together another group of international delegates responsible for executive management, clinical delivery, and emergency medicine. Some of the IFHE Executive Committee were able to meet with the directors of the IHF to establish connections for greater sharing of ideas and capabilities into the future. These two bodies (IFHE and IHF) represent and support some of the greatest and most advanced healthcare delivery organisations around the world, so the common themes are strong, and cooperation is an objective to be pursued with vigour.
Memories and connections As with any IFHE event, the opportunity to relax together in good company creates many wonderful memories and connections. The gala dinner on Tuesday evening was held in the Brisbane City Hall – a delightfully restored and maintained building with character and charm suitable for such an occasion. Delegates donned their finery, and were transported by coach to the venue for pre-dinner drinks, before being welcomed to the gala dinner by the evening’s sponsor. Special thanks was offered to the team from Iceberg Events who had worked tirelessly in the planning and delivery of a fantastic Congress – work that had spanned more than four years. The attention to detail, and the ‘nothing-is-too-hard’ attitude, meant that the IHEA was able to host what some have described as ‘the best IFHE Congress ever’. The gala dinner was a sumptuous feast of Australian cuisine, accompanied by high quality beverages for which ‘the Land Down Under’ is somewhat famous.
Throughout the evening entertainment was provided by live music from ‘The Accidents’ – a local Brisbane band with an impressive repertoire of music to suit the tastes of all the delegates. The enjoyment
26 Health Estate Journal May 2019
The gala dinner saw live music from ‘The Accidents’ – a local Brisbane band.
of all was obvious once the dance floor came to life, and it was evident that no international borders were being protected, as those with the moves danced the night away. The musicians were gracious enough to allow our newly appointed 2nd Vice President, Steve Rees, from Canada, to join in with his harmonica when ‘The Accidents’ cranked up an all-time, foot-tapping favourite. This was truly a night to remember for everybody in attendance, and a great way to wrap up the formalities of the 2018 IFHE Congress.
Evening of ‘Australiana’ Following the technical tours on Wednesday morning, an optional social event was coordinated at ‘The Australian Outback Spectacular’. This award-winning dinner show is located on the famous Gold Coast, and after a relaxing coach trip, the 100 or so delegates who opted for another night out with friends were treated to an evening of ‘Australiana’.
Darryl Pitcher
IFHE President, Darryl Pitcher, has been active within healthcare engineering for over 30 years, with 19 of them spent at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where he was director of Engineering and Building Services, having joined the organisation as part of the Electrical Engineering and Maintenance team. He subsequently spent three years as Contract manager with United Group at Modbury Hospital in Adelaide’s north east, where he was responsible for engineering, maintenance, and refurbishment projects. He is currently CEO of Bethsalem Care, a not-for profit residential aged care and retirement living provider.
He has held Board and Executive roles within the IHEA for more than 10 years, and has served as President, as well as being an active member of the South Australian State Committee. He is currently National Secretary, and editor of the IHEA journal, Healthcare Facilities.
In addition to his work at a state and national level in Australia, Darryl Pitcher is perhaps better known for his role on the Executive Committee of the International Federation of Hospital Engineering, and is currently serving as the International President. He led the team and presented the winning bid to host the IFHE Congress in Australia in 2018, and assumed the Presidency of IFHE at the Brisbane event. On a personal level, he says he ‘relishes his opportunities to connect and support healthcare engineering professionals around the globe, and help grow a thriving, sustainable industry across the world’.
In a covered stadium, hosting a sand-filled arena, guests were treated to a three- course Aussie meal, while enjoying the enthralling stories of the Australian outback, with live action unfolding within metres of their dining experience. Horses and acrobats, racing quad bikes, and all manner of circus-style entertainment, created a fun-filled atmosphere that many will remember for a long time to come. A ‘big thank you’ to our Congress planning committee who volunteered many, many hours to bring us such an engaging international event. To our sponsors who financially supported the Congress, and to our speakers who delivered engaging, thought-provoking presentations, our collective thanks go to you. And to all those who made the trip to sunny Queensland (especially those that endured long flights in small seats), thank you for being a special part of the 25th Congress of the International Federation of Hospital Engineering. See you all again in Rome in 2020!
hej
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