At its meeting in South Korea, in the latter part of 2008, the WPC’s Executive Board arrived at a three-year strategic plan for the organisation, designed not only to build on the achievements of the previous Board, but to increase WPC influence worldwide.

The plan, which will take the organisation up to the next triennial Conference – to be held in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2011 – focuses particularly on WPC’s role in promoting awareness of the links between plumbing, public health and the environment.

There are nine principal objectives within the plan and these have clear definitions, in each case followed by outlines of the action required to achieve them.

From international plumbing standards to training and research, the strategic plan represents an ambitious program, the achievement of which will place the World Plumbing Council in a pre-eminent position within the world plumbing community.

The plan starts off by recognising that, in many countries, plumbing and plumbers are not held in particularly high regard, usually due to public ignorance of their importance to public health through the provision of safe water supply and sanitation.

The key to remedying this mistaken perception, the plan says, is to publicise through all available means the professionalism required for success in the plumbing industry, while also reinforcing the vital role that plumbers and plumbing play in the community.

The plan goes on to highlight the importance of research and technology, making provision for WPC to widen its involvement through links with research and development organisations as well as working closely with its own membership.

At the same time, it is intended to disseminate relevant information via www.worldplumbing.org, international plumbing publications and this newsletter.

The WPC Board has also identified training as an area which is important in achieving its goals. The Lecturer/Trainer Scholarship programme and WPC’s close relationship with WorldSkills will continue to be developed while the training packages which are being developed jointly with the World Health Organisation will also play an important role.

Plumbing’s ecological responsibilities are covered with proposals to publish a WPC position paper, setting out the role which the industry must play in water conservation and other environmental issues.

This wide-ranging strategic plan sets out a clear path for the World Plumbing Council, a path which in some respects will echo the past: there will continue to be a regular World Plumbing Conference, for example and as is mentioned above, the relationships with other international organizations will continue and be enhanced.

In other areas, there are bold new ideas which, when achieved, will provide a centre of plumbing reference to which the world’s plumbers and plumbing industry can look for guidance and leadership.

The strategic plan’s 9 objectives:
• To develop and promote the image and professional standards of the world plumbing industry;
• To encourage, participate in and facilitate the exchange of research and technology information applicable to the world plumbing industry;
• To promote plumbing education and training worldwide;
• To promote the plumbing industry’s role in improving public health through the provision and protection of safe water and sanitation;
• To promote the plumbing industry’s role in safeguarding the environment through proper management, care, reuse, and conservation of natural resources;
• To meet at a World Plumbing Conference at least every three (3) years;
• To increase membership and participation in the World Plumbing Council;
• To enhance the status and influence of the World Plumbing Council;
• To ensure adequate resources to achieve the Mission and Objectives of the World Plumbing Council.