AN EXPANDING AGENDA

My predecessors in the HVCA presidential chair have often spoken of this office as a baton – one that is passed from one individual to another – and there is much to be said for this view. After all, many of the issues faced by the HVCA are, by their nature, long-term.

At the same time, fresh challenges and fresh opportunities continue to present themselves on every front – with the result that our agenda goes on expanding, and seems as infinite as the universe itself.

That said, meaningful progress is made on key issues on a regular basis, and results are achieved that are positive, valuable and enduring.

This Annual Report revisits some of the principal milestones reached in the past 12 months. Equally importantly, it identifies the areas where action is most crucially and most urgently required if the Association is to achieve the four core objectives contained in its current Strategic Plan.

These are:

• to improve the commercial environment in which its members operate;
• to equip its members to operate efficiently and profitably;
• to improve professional standards throughout the industry; and
• to ensure and maintain a skills pool adequate for the short and long-term needs of the industry.

In my inaugural address, delivered in July of last year, I stated that, when I relinquished my presidency, I wanted to be able to assure my successor that I had progressed the HVCA agenda – that, during my term of office, I really had made a difference.

I believe that the contents of this Annual Report go some considerable way towards proving that, broadly speaking, I have achieved that goal.

Mike McCloskey
HVCA President 2006/07