John Ball elected IPAF president

John Ball, newly elected president of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), said his priorities during his two years in office would be to raise IPAF's profile in developing access markets such as central and eastern Europe and to see "tangible" progress in its North American activities.

Mr Ball, group managing director of Height for Hire in the Republic of Ireland and pictured (on the right) with his predecessor as president, Andrew Reid, speaking at IPAF's AGM and annual conference, said that he would like to see "greater awareness of the Federation in areas like eastern Europe where there is phenomenal growth in the use of access. The need for safety training and awareness is only just beginning."

He said IPAF also needed to adapt the needs of other developing access countries like India and in Asia Pacific. "IPAF has to address [these markets] if it is going to consider itself a global success."

IPAF has expanded dramatically in the past three or four years - including a doubling of its membership - and has made expansion into North America a major part of its growth strategy. Mr Ball said the establishment of IPAF in North America would remain a priority, and that during his presidency it had to pay its way; "We have to bring some of the bigger players [in access] on board."

Mr Ball, who has worked with IPAF for ten years, including two years as deputy president and a spell as chairman of the Federation's Irish Council, said he wanted the growth of the organisations PAL card training scheme to continue. Around 75000 operators were trained in 2007, and Mr Ball said; "I think the PAL card numbers are creeping towards 100000 per year. I don't think that's unrealistic over the next year or two."

Also during the AGM, Mr Ball paid tribute to outgoing president Andrew Reid, "whose sterling work has ensured the organisation has grown substantially. We owe Andrew a substantial debt of gratitude."