ICES Commercial Management Practices Committee

Derek Smith FInstCES has been appointed as Chair of the Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES) Commercial Management Practices Committee (CMPC).

Derek, who has been a member of the Institution for over 25 year's, works for the Contract Services Division of international construction and management consultants, Turner and Townsend.

He has succeeded the chairmanship from David Carrick FInstCES who now reverts to Vice Chair.

In his new role, Derek will take on the responsibility of developing the recently completed major restructuring of the CMPC and will seek to retain the benefits of the historical collaborative working relationship developed with David during the restructuring period.

The Commercial Management Practices Committee functions to represent the interests of those studying and employed within the field of commercial management and to promote standards of excellence within the profession.

This is achieved by raising the Institution's profile and the profession of commercial management and through working in collaboration with other interested professional bodies within the industry, including the joint ICE and ICES Commercial Management Board (CMB).

At its quarterly meetings, CMPC will typically debate developments, make recommendations, promote initiatives and to carry out investigations for the Institution's governing board, the Council of Management, concerning professional practices of the Institution's affairs.

The specialisms included within the discipline of commercial management are represented by a series of specialist panels who underpin the objectives of the CMPC.

Derek looks at what the CMPC believes will be achieved through the committee restructuring: "A decision was made by the Practices Committee to consolidate and restructure, building on the foundations laid by the former CMPC Chairman, now Vice Chairman, David Carrick.

This was seen as a fundamental to the overall strategic direction of the committee to reflect industry developments in order to progress and to continue to successfully represent the interests of the Institution's commercial management members in a proactive and professional manner.

Derek adds, "A key objective of the restructuring process is to ensure the cross-fertilisation of CMPC activities with those of the various specialist commercial management panels, the Institution's regional committees and like-minded fellow professional organisations.

We also want to widen the participation of its commercial management members in Institution activities, nationally and regionally." With the restructuring now complete, Derek believes that CMPC, through its specialist panels, has created a platform to: Provide improved specialist support to its commercial management members.

Improve communication with the ICES regional committees.

Strengthen links with fellow professional organisations to expand the voice of the Institution, building on the experience of existing activities with ICE.

Develop the level of participation, in particular, of Institution members who specialise in non-core activities.

Derek concludes, "We see this being achieved successfully through the preparation and implementation of co-ordinated business action plans.

I am impressed by the quality of representation and industry standing of individuals that currently forms the CMPC and its panels.

We aim to pursue the successful delivery of our goals.

I am looking forward to the many challenges that this will present.".

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