I am aware of the honour that you have given me today and the responsibility that I have to maintain the achievements, influence and prestige of the AGS. I shall try not only to match the Association's past achievements, but also to broaden our fields of activity and build on our past successes. More on that shortly.

In his Chairman's Report Jan Hellings has described the Association's achievements during the past year. I endorse fully his praise for all concerned, especially the Chairmen and members of the Working Groups, the main committee and our Administrator Dianne Jennings and her team. They are the main powerhouse behind the Association and all it has achieved. A special mention must also be given to Jim Cook, our long-serving Treasurer who's input is largely un-sung but still essential to the Association's success; thank you Jim.

Jan Hellings has been Chairman for three years, rather than the usual two, and was also Chairman of the Contaminated Land Working Group before Hugh Mallett took over. During this period he has overseen substantial progress by the Working Groups on a wide range of issues and has built new links with the Construction Industry Council (CIC). On behalf of the AGS as a whole I thank you Jan for the enormous amount of time and energy that you have contributed to the Association, and I look forward to your continued input to our activities.

A new Strategic Plan has been prepared which sets out detailed objectives for the Association for the next two years (see separate sheet). For now I wish to consider the major issues that currently face the geotechnical and geoenvironmental communities, but before doing so let me summarise briefly the AGS's background in order to put the current issues in context.

The AGS was set up in 1988 with twelve founder members. The initial aims of the Association were to:

• "Promote and enhance the quality of professional practice of geotechnical engineering"

• "Ensure close liaison between organisations operating in the field of geotechnics"

• "Champion the views of the British geotechnical industry both in the UK and overseas"

The major issues in the early years included the quality of site investigation in the UK and the introduction of Quality Assurance certification. The Association's first guidance document (published in 1990) concerned Quality Management in Geotechnical Engineering.

Since 1988 the membership has expanded steadily and the range of issues tackled has broadened. The AGS's increasing focus on commercial issues, such as loss prevention and risk management, gave it a separate role to the learned societies and that role has been formalised more recently as the AGS has transformed itself into a 'fully fledged' trade association with a Code of Conduct and disciplinary procedure.

I believe that this focus on commercial issues is complementary to the activities of the learned societies and is why the Association has been so successful.

So what are the current major issues?

1. Firstly the issue of site investigation quality remains as much of an issue now as it was in 1988. Rates remain extremely competitive and this has restricted investment in new equipment and techniques. We must continue to encourage Clients to consider best value rather than lowest cost. I am also hopeful that our benchmarking initiative, under the Chairmanship of Gus Wallace, will help clients to appreciate the effects that their policies have on the quality of Site Investigations and will encourage practitioners to ensure that they are complying with the AGS's Good Practice Guidelines for Site Investigation.

2. The rapidly changing legislative / regulatory climate, especially with respect to health & safety, contaminated land and the standards of remediation required for brownfield land. The Association has two roles here, to represent the industry's views wherever relevant and to provide support and information to members. Three of our Working Groups are addressing these issues: the Contaminated Land WG, the Loss Prevention WG and the Health & Safety WG.

3. The growing skills shortage problem. This problem is especially severe for newly chartered engineers/geologists in their late 20s and early 30s because of the dip in recruitment during the recession in the early 1990s. The situation is compounded by the decreasing take up of civil engineering degree courses and the increasing trend for engineering graduates to enter more lucrative professions. This skills shortage issue is not unique to the geotechnics and geoenvironmental industry, and will be controlled substantially by market forces, but there remains a role for the AGS, in conjunction with Ground Forum, to lobby the government for action. The Association, together with everyone working in the industry, must also promote the rewards of careers in geotechnics and geoenvironmental sciences if current trends are to be reversed.

4. Reduced government funding of geotechnical MSc courses. Jan Hellings' report has already referred to this issue. Masters degrees are an essential part of geotechnical training and the loss of courses will further compound the skills shortage problem. Thus, Ground Forum has written to government requesting a re-think on the grounds that the civil engineering industry's 2% profit margin means that the industry is not able to fund these courses. Further lobbying by Jan directly to the minister responsible will reinforce the message.

5. Interpretative reports. Following a presentation by Sir John Knill regarding his concerns about the poor quality of interpretative reports he sees when acting as an expert witness a new Working Group has been set up to compile appropriate guidance.

6. The rapidly evolving role of e-commerce. Major changes in supply chain management are already under way and are likely to accelerate in the next two years. The AGS will monitor developments and will consider issuing industry-specific guidance once the situation has stabilised.

7. Sustainability issues. Sustainability is another issue that is increasingly topical, in particular the re-cycling of materials and the potential for re-use of old foundations when sites are re-developed. CIC is already active on this issue and AGS will monitor developments.

8. Changing business relationships, including partnering and the blurring of the consultant/contractor division. The Loss Prevention Working Group is currently preparing a Tool Kit paper on the latter issue.

In addition to these major issues, there are a host of on-going matters being addressed by the Working Groups. Our objectives in relation to those matters are detailed in the new Strategic Plan.

Certainly there are many continuing and new challenges for the Association to address. Above all, we must respond to the ever-changing trading conditions and to members needs. A membership survey has been carried out in order to establish members' views on our existing activities and future priorities for the AGS. The findings of this survey are reviewed in Malcolm Price's report and we will use the findings to assist with the setting of priorities for the Association.

To conclude, I look forward to the challenges ahead. In particular, I shall endeavour to develop further the services that the Association provides to our members and I shall strive to enhance the AGS's standing within the construction industry.

Keith Gabriel
21 March 2001

The plan has been developed by the AGS Chairman, Keith Gabriel, from a facilitated brain storming by the AGS Committee during which significant threats and opportunities relevant to Members work were identified and considered.

The Strategic Plan indicates how these will be incorporated into the activities of the AGS Working Groups to ensure that the AGS continues to meet the needs of Members.

Copies of the plan are enclosed with the newsletter - or can be found on the AGS website. Additional copies are available - free of charge - on request.

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