18 WPC
Keynote address ( Part 2 )
We conclude the keynote address that was presented during the 11th World Plumbing Conference .
By
Shayne La Combre , chair of the World Plumbing Council
Water is life
The way forward All three of these components are important separate ingredients of the solution :
• Educating a plumbing workforce capable of taking advantage of contemporary products , technologies and techniques ;
• Harnessing industry capacity and connections all around the world ; and
• Designing effective and efficient regulatory frameworks that adequately reflect the safety requirements and facilitate investment .
Importantly , all are also co-dependent . Each element relies upon the others to be successful . For example , “ Regulations for sustainable plumbing ” — the very theme of this conference — is not in and of itself achievable in a meaningful way without the support of the relevant local industry and without the education facilities and capacity to ensure standards can be met .
Education Education needs to be supported by industry to ensure training is fit for purpose and effective . An industry can only grow and be sustainable in the long term in a wellregulated context and with a skilled workforce .
We need to continue to develop skills from the ground up if we are going to grow the global skills base . We need to look at growing models of success in terms of co-operative efforts .
Most Diepsloot residents rely on communal toilets , many of which are inadequate or not operating .
February 2017 Volume 22 I Number 12 www . plumbingafrica . co . za