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ICE revamps how it delivers knowledge programmes for its members

Date
07 August 2023

The institution restructured its Community Advisory Boards and Knowledge Networks to spearhead delivery of content, insights research, events and activity.

ICE revamps how it delivers knowledge programmes for its members
Community Advisory Board and Knowledge Network members debate key issues in support of research for ICE reports.

The ICE Council has restructured its Community Advisory Boards (CABs) and Knowledge Networks to better support delivery of its knowledge programmes.

This includes a streamlining of its networks to match each CAB’s remit and provide more diverse input to ICE activity.

To deliver the ICE’s five-year plan, the council has established seven strategic CABs.

Each comes with a parallel supporting Knowledge Network to drive the production of trusted, authoritative, independent insight into the major issues facing the industry.

Led by specialists and spearheading the ICE's knowledge programmes, the CABs coordinate their Knowledge Networks to support the institution’s development and insights activity.

Led by industry experts, this restructure now provides a CAB and Knowledge Network for:

  • Decarbonisation – led by Rachel Skinner (WSP) and Lewis Barlow (WSP)
  • Productivity (sponsored by Bluebeam) – led by Darren James (Keltbray) and Andy Alder (Jacobs)
  • Sustainable, Resilient Infrastructure – led by David Smith (Stantec) and Fiona Barbour (Mott MacDonald)
  • Low Carbon Energy – led by Ian Parke and Julie Wood (Arup)
  • Transport and Mobility – led by Sue Kershaw (Costain) and Mark Frost (Fern Consulting)
  • Water and Sanitation (Sponsored by Wavin) – led by Jo Parker (Institute of Water)
  • Engineering Fundamentals – led by Tim Chapman (Arup) and Julie Bregulla (TEDI London)

What do the CABs do?

Each CAB provides direction to the ICE in creating engaging knowledge programmes for its members. The ICE’s online Knowledge Hub provides free online learning programmes to facilitate continued professional development (CPD). The hub is currently undergoing maintenance, expected to finish in the autumn.

The ICE’s CABs also support the development of strategic insight reports mandated by its council, such as the annual State of the Nation report.

Each CAB’s programme is designed to ensure that, each week, members can access at least one knowledge event or item of content that is relevant to them, whatever their position or experience.

Each CAB works to deliver its own programme, but also collaborates with other CABs, Knowledge Networks and Specialist Knowledge Societies on projects that have multiple target audiences.

In addition, the CABs identify gaps in knowledge or dissemination and propose the development of new content, events or activity to tackle the issue.

What do the Knowledge Networks do?

All CABs now have an adjacent Knowledge Network, designed to engage a wider range of specialists in the ICE Plan’s projects.

ICE members and infrastructure specialists on the Knowledge Networks will collaborate and contribute to the research and development of content for the ICE’s key programmes.

There are engagement opportunities, both online and in person, at Knowledge Cafes, roundtables and technical events.

Knowledge Network members will be consulted on projects included in the ICE’s strategic plan at the first phase of development.

A call for evidence will be circulated to members who hold a professional interest in that topic.

Knowledge Network members are also invited to special events at the ICE, where there are opportunities to debate and contribute to ICE activity.

How to join a Knowledge Network?

ICE members and non-members who work on the construction, design and management of infrastructure projects are invited to apply to join a Knowledge Network by completing and submitting an application form.

Applicants are limited to selecting one Knowledge Network from the seven options, matching the CABs. Applicants are advised to select the network that best suits their professional interest.

For further information on the Knowledge Network that is right for you, please visit the Knowledge Network section of the ICE website.

Why has the ICE established CABs and Knowledge Networks?

The ICE is run by its members, for its members.

The ICE Trustees have set out their vision and strategic direction for the institution in its five-year plan.

In it, it’s confirmed that the ICE’s purpose is to improve lives by ensuring the world has the engineering capacity and infrastructure systems it needs to allow our planet, and those who live on it, to thrive.

The trustees want the institution to be an externally facing, global beacon of excellence, respected for being exciting, trusted, authoritative, insightful, proactive, ethical, fair and, above all, independent.

Staff, volunteers and members work together to help deliver that vision. It’s a joint effort that cannot succeed unless the ICE synchronises its efforts seamlessly.

The CABs were established as an intrinsic part of this strategy and vision to identify problems and challenges faced by engineers, the environment and society.

They provide governance, support and direction to the ICE’s Knowledge Networks, and collaborate with the ICE’s Specialist Knowledge Societies, such as the British Tunnelling Society, the Railway Civil Engineers’ Association and other industry stakeholder groups.

CAB members serve a term of no more than three years, and future CAB members will be identified from the active specialists within the ICE’s Knowledge Networks.

Each CAB’s activity facilitates:

  • relevant expertise from Knowledge Networks to be identified and leveraged to contribute to knowledge programmes
  • coordination among Knowledge Networks to support insights research and CPD content development for its knowledge programmes
  • development and evaluation of project proposals that meet the ICE Plan’s directives
  • oversight of content attributed to the CABs’ knowledge programmes
  • oversight of Knowledge Network applications

For further information about the Knowledge Networks and how to get involved, please contact [email protected] to arrange a call.

  • Adam Kirkup, engineering communities manager at ICE