Annual Review 2020: Linda Hausmanis on a year nobody will forget

News

  • COVID-19,
  • Employment and Skills,
  • Facilities,
  • Workplace

26 August 2021

Annual Review 2020

Last year the world faced an unprecedented crisis which stole lives, closed businesses, cost livelihoods and hamstrung the economy. It was also a situation which brought workplace and facilities professionals to the fore like never before.

 

IWFM Annual Review 2020

 

Many of you provided critical help in the national effort against the pandemic. We knew too that many of you were experiencing the impacts of COVID-19. Uncertainty ruled.

IWFM’s second full operating year was anything but effortless. We might easily have hibernated in this period, lowered our pulse and mothballed Head Office. But we decided that our priority was to support our members who were doing so much to help the national effort.

We focused our energy on providing targeted assistance to those furloughed or in financial difficulty, and to our learners who we granted more time to complete qualifications. In fact, we adapted our entire offering to the virtual world; from our AGM, Impact Awards and Conference which appeared on screen for the first time, to a free weekly webinar programme, ‘Navigating turbulent times’, featuring new research, insights, as well as our policy work, good practice guidance and even personal development.  We further helped CPD and professional development to continue by switching face-to-face Academy training courses to ‘virtual face-to-face’ delivery with a new platform and bespoke offers.

IWFM was not immune to the pandemic’s effects and we sought to cut costs where possible without affecting our offering or operations, accessing help where necessary. Our actions were guided by an Extraordinary Finance Committee that supported the Board and Executive. It helped us to strike a balance between prudence and sustenance, whilst supporting the profession to build on the ‘workplace opportunity’ presented by the pandemic response.  

2020 was a very tough year, but it was also one of the most stimulating I can recall. I hope the insights, influencing, learning and development opportunities we provided, underpinned by strong member support, made a difference and that you enjoy reading about them.

I’ve been immensely proud to be associated with the profession this year and I am looking forward to working more closely with you to ensure IWFM provides the leadership and support that our members deserve.