FIDIC’s annual global gathering in Geneva will discuss the issues that matter for the international engineering, construction and infrastructure community.
Geneva is set to host one of the world’s most influential global gatherings of the construction and built environment sector when FIDIC, the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, holds its annual Global Infrastructure Conference in the Swiss city in September.
An expert lineup of industry specialists has been assembled to speak at the event which has been organised around the central theme of Transforming lives with infrastructure – Investing in and building a better world for all. The conference will discuss many of the key issues and challenges facing the industry including the transformational role of infrastructure in building a better world, de-risking and leveraging infrastructure investment, the specific challenges of emerging markets and developing economies, influencing governments and persuading politicians, the decarbonisation challenge and the role of leadership in creating a more effective and successful industry.
A packed agenda includes appearances from some of the leading organisations working in or influencing the international infrastructure sector. Some of the big names slated to appear at FIDIC’s annual event in Geneva include the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport, American Council of Engineering Companies, ARTELIA, Aurecon, Bentley Systems, Buro Happold, Fusion for Energy, Islamic Development Bank, Meridiam, Mott MacDonald, the UK National Infrastructure Commission, the Saudi Arabia National Infrastructure Fund, Ramboll, Stantec, The World Bank, United Nations and WSP Global.
Programme highlights at the event include a highly topical session on The politics of infrastructure – influencing governments and persuading politicians, which is sure to be especially relevant given the large number of elections taking place around the world this year. The session will explore a range of issues including how to deal with the political process to get things done, using social value and the ESG agenda to advocate for good infrastructure development, focusing on whole-life costs and the real price of delivery and working together and collaboration.
The conference’s keynote opening session, Transforming lives with infrastructure, will look at how infrastructure is transforming lives and nations’ prospects and examine what ‘good’ infrastructure investment looks like? Speakers in the session will outline how infrastructure development is being used by countries to revitalise their economies and ‘build back better’ in the face of economic challenges, the need for sustainable infrastructure for the long term and highlight the key role of engineers in ensuring that investment in infrastructure makes a positive difference to communities and society at large.
Speaking to Infrastructure Global, FIDIC president Catherine Karakatsanis urged global infrastructure professionals to register for the event. “I’m really excited by the programme and the speakers that we have put together for this conference and I know that it’s going to be a highlight in our industry’s calendar this year and a place where our industry can really get to grips with the challenges we all face.
“We come together as a global industry all too infrequently, so this 2024 FIDIC Global Infrastructure Conference will be an important opportunity for our sector to gather as one to discuss the issues that matter to us as businesses and an industry and to develop workable solutions to the key challenges that we face. Everyone who works in the global engineering, construction and infrastructure sector should sign up for the event and I hope to see many of my fellow industry professionals in Geneva in September.”
The FIDIC Global Infrastructure Conference takes place at Geneva’s President Wilson Hotel from 8-10 September 2024 and also includes the unveiling of the winners of FIDIC’s annual Global Infrastructure Awards.
Click here to visit the conference website for further information and to book places.
