World FM Day 2023: Linda Hausmanis on ‘Making a real difference’ in the Institute’s thirtieth year

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The World FM Day theme for 2023, ‘Making a real difference’, could not be more pertinent for the workplace and facilities management profession – a business enabler which transforms organisations and enhances experience. Current examples are plentiful, such as driving sustainability outcomes, implementing the new building safety requirements, adapting spaces, and changing how people work in the post-pandemic era.

As this year is also the Institute’s thirtieth anniversary, I find my mind drawn to the past with memories of your amazing contributions to the national effort during the pandemic – contributions that saw you receive due recognition from boardrooms and clients across the world. You were and remain heroes.

And IWFM, together with our volunteer members, proudly supported you with direct engagement and industry-leading insights and guidance which remain just as relevant today, such as our guidance on ‘Optimising workspaces’, ‘Leading successful workplace change’, ‘Compliance’, ‘Healthy buildings’, ‘Harnessing the power of data’, and our topical ‘Navigating turbulent times’ webinar series which is still going strong.

Back to the present

Now, as our latest Market Outlook research shows (free exclusively to members), the environment is quite different. And while celebrating 30 years of the Institute may invite reminiscence, it is the present and the future that are most compelling to me and my team; specifically, what members need from us to meet today’s challenges and prepare for tomorrow’s.

This is why our top priority in this landmark year was focusing our resources on delivering our new member-informed strategy. Our goal: bringing you extra value and enhancing your continuing professional development - this year and beyond.

For the rest of 2023, we will continue to provide the latest guidance, insights and training you need to be impactful in your role, like the new Net zero toolkit we released in partnership with Inenco just today or our course ‘Building Safety Act: what FMs need to know and do’ which we launched in March to help you meet your new responsibilities. We are boosting our member support further with a new mentoring programme coming soon.

Other initiatives are planned, too, particularly in our anniversary month of September when we release our thought leadership document on the future of the profession.

Beyond 2023

Nobody can know everything that the future holds, but it is safe to forecast more challenges ahead, and no challenge will be greater than the profession’s role in saving our planet.

On a professional level, there is a tried and tested remedy for uncertainty: having plans in place which must lead to action. Whether it’s risk management and business continuity planning, environmental sustainability strategies or workplace strategies, planning is key critical for circumventing inaction.

But on a human level, we can also take the chance to change. If we dedicate ourselves to creating the future we want to see, rather than being passengers of fortune, each of us has the capacity to contribute to a better, more hopeful tomorrow.

IWFM’s 30-year history is a story of embracing change to advance our critical profession. How can you embrace change to advance the world we live in?

Whatever the future holds, IWFM will ensure we are positioned to support and empower you in ‘Making a real difference’. Happy World FM Day.