I thought after my time as Chairman of the ESA had expired it would be good to write a small piece for the newsletter. I have served 2 terms and a few extra months, and in that time the ESA and the world has gone through many changes. In that time we have introduced a Technical Director (Ralf Vogel), a Standards and Legislation Director (David Mitchell), have got much more involved with Europe, have experimented with different AGM formats (thank you Simone Wilson), and taken on new initiatives such as the Plastic Pollution Project (thank you David Edwin-Scott), and we have sadly said goodbye to some old friends.
We have all been through some pretty dramatic economic swings, and we have all faced and now live with probably the most life changing challenge we have all ever experienced. Through all of this, we and our companies have remained in business, have serviced our customers and have remained true to the core values of the ESA. Oh yes, and we still have Brexit to look forward to as well!
Taking on the role of Chairman was actually quite daunting, there were some very big shoes to follow, and the last thing you want to do is get it wrong. The General Secretary was also new in the role at the same time, so for both of us it was bit of a learning exercise, but I would like to thank Mark for his council, the Association works far better since he took his broom to the old process and practices and bought us into the 21st century. The Executive Committee was, and in fact remains, full of experience and knowledge, and I think it is fair to say that they are the most important people in keeping the ESA running, a lot goes on in the background that we should all be very pleased about, and if we dare step a foot out of place, Wolfgang Bommes is there to remind us of the ESA Statutes, and why we can’t do that!!
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Chairman and have got a lot out of it both personally and professionally and I have enjoyed working with you all. I will be remaining on the Exec as Vice Chair, and I would like to wish the incoming Chairwoman Simone from IDT the very best and I know the Association is in safe hands.
To end with, I would like to thank you all for your support over the last 5 years, to wish you and your families well as we approach the end of this calendar year, and hope that for all, a semblance of reality returns quickly in 2021 and we can all get about our lives and our business with the enthusiasm and vigour that I believe has been missing this year.
John Morton, Vice Chair, ESA