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The Young Professionals Implementation Group had a very successful meeting in Madrid on 11 November 2005, hosted by David Romero at Puertos del Estado. The final conclusion of the meeting was that the YP's are very active in PIANC and that they became an important group of PIANC since the Young Professionals Implementation group was set up in 2003.

PIANC YP's meet in Madrid, hosted by David Romero (left on picture)

National Young Professional groups are actively working in Spain, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Austria, US, UK, South Africa and The Netherlands. They organize technical visits, technical conferences, annual meetings and national paper awards. Hence, the vitality of these national sections significantly increased and many new (young) members are attracted to PIANC. Other countries (such as France, Portugal, China, etc.) are encouraged to follow these countries to set up national YP-groups and to send national representatives to the meetings of the International Young Professionals Implementation Group.

Young Professionals are also actively working in many PIANC working groups of MarCom, EnviCom, RecCom and InCom. The number of YP's in working groups has significantly increased during the last years. National sections are encouraged to send experienced YP's to PIANC working groups, in order to prepare modern and high quality scientific, technical and informative PIANC products. In addition, the Young Professionals Implementation Group is consulted by ExCom and other commissions for different topics related to the future role and activities of PIANC.

The Young Professional Implementation group will be present at the PIANC congress in Estoril, organizing a number of events, such as the YP-paper competition award, a YP social event and a YP-session. A YP-flyer was prepared, describing the objectives and the strategy of the YP-group. PIANC members are invited to visit these events and to discuss future activities of the Young Professionals Implementation Group.

In Madrid, the YP's also expressed their need for a permanent "YP-Com", in order to meet future needs and to review PIANC activities by YP's on a permanent basis. The activities of the YP-groups are very much in accordance with the internal and external goals of the new PIANC strategic plan for 2006-2010. Therefore, they should keep up the good work. This is not possible on a temporary basis, hence the need for a permanent YP-commission.

The next YP-meeting will be held either in Rome/Palermo or in Vienna. The date of the next meeting was not decided yet. More detailed information will follow.

Holger Schüttrumpf, German YP-Section