A word from the FIDIC president
Welcome to the fourth edition of MembershipMAtters, our digital newsletter for FIDIC members.
The last few months have been busy ones for FIDIC with further preparations and organisational activities being undertaken to prepare for our Global Infrastructure Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. FIDIC’s flagship annual event is a highlight of the year and we are developing an exciting conference programme, including some excellent sessions for our member associations which take place in the two days before the main event. If you have not done so already, please ensure that your MA has booked its place at the conference so we can have the largest yearly gathering of our global membership.
The past few months have been exciting with the welcoming of our new CEO, Susanna Zammataro, the successful third annual Global Leadership Forum and many FIDIC member and stakeholder engagements. As president, I enjoy supporting our members’ events and conferences either by speaking in person or virtually or by other board members taking part. In April we held our Global Leadership Forum in Madrid that advanced FIDIC’s Carbon Collaborative Initiative and explored other relevant industry topics. EFCA’s annual General Assembly and Conference took place in Luxembourg in May which was an excellent opportunity to spend time with our European members. I was joined by board members Alfredo Ingletti, Prashant Kapila and Adam Bialachowski and our new CEO, Susanna Zammataro. In addition, we held the inaugural meeting of the European Global Action Committee which we established as part of the FIDIC/EFCA partnership agreement signed last year.
May also saw a visit to the ACEC’s Annual Convention and Legislative Summit 2025 in Washington DC where I addressed the ACEC board. FIDIC’s June board meeting and strategy session was held in Poland where we were excellently hosted by our Polish board member Adam Bialachowski. As well as having an excellent board meeting and finalising our 2026 to 2030 strategic plan, we were able to meet with SIDiR, the Association of Consulting Engineers and Experts. A special highlight of our visit was a dinner where we were fortunate to be addressed by former Solidarity leader, Polish president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Lech Wałęsa. Also in June, I was delighted to be able to speak at the 60th anniversary event of OICE, the Italian Association of Engineering, Architecture and Technical-Economic Consulting Organisations to congratulate them on representing the industry in Italy for six decades. I just want to say a massive thank you to all our MAs who have hosted us over the recent period where we have always been welcomed and received with great warmth and kindness.
Finally, as always, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my fellow board members and the FIDIC secretariat for all their ongoing hard work and support over recent months. A massive thank you too to all our member associations, volunteers and stakeholders, for all the work that you do for FIDIC and for representing so well our global industry in every corner of the world.
Best wishes,
Catherine Karakatsanis President, FIDIC
Much for MAs to discuss at FIDIC’s Global Infrastructure Conference 2025
FIDIC’s Directors and Secretaries Advisory Council (DNSAC) is delighted to be again hosting a forum for all FIDIC’s member associations on Saturday 20 September 2025 in Cape Town, ahead of FIDIC’s Global Infrastructure Conference. This year’s programme builds on the success of last year, considering the feedback from members. In the morning, we’ll focus on association leadership and knowledge sharing. Please let us know if you have been working on something exciting that you could share with your global member association community (email ocohen@ fidic.org with your idea). In the afternoon, there will be a dedicated session with FIDIC’s leadership focussing on how member associations can leverage FIDIC’s global platform to enhance influence, expand networks, and deliver greater value to members locally and internationally. This will be followed by an evening networking event for FIDIC’s member associations, so please book your space for this ASAP when you register for the conference. It’s going to be a great day with much to discuss and the DNSAC looks forward to seeing as many member associations there as possible.
Click here to book your places at the FIDIC Global Infrastructure Conference 2025.
Please note that if you have any issues during registration, contact gic@fidic.org
Technology in the spotlight at 2025 FIDIC Asia Pacific Annual Conference in Bali
This year’s FIDIC Asia Pacific Annual Conference in Bali, Indonesia, will focus on technology and how the fast-moving areas of AI, machine learning and other digital developments are helping to transform the construction sector on a global scale.
Hosted by INKINDO, the National Association of Indonesian Consultants, the conference on 18-20 August 2025 is set to attract representatives from across the 23 member countries of FIDIC Asia Pacific and others from around the world. The conference theme, New Technologies, Transforming Engineering and Construction Industry, is very relevant and will see government officers, academics, consulting engineers and other industry professionals meeting up in Bali to discuss some of the key digital challenges and strategies to address them.
Click here to read more about the FIDIC Asia Pacific Annual Conference and to book places.
FIDIC Asia Pacific Mid-Year Conference in Pakistan
FIDIC Asia Pacific is also holding its Mid-Year Conference in Islamabad, Pakistan, from 15-17 July 2025. The conference, Use of FIDIC Conditions of Contract for transparency and efficient project delivery, is being organised by the Association of Consulting Engineers Pakistan and endorsed by FIDIC Asia Pacific, along with event partners the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation. At the event, international and regional experts will discuss the latest FIDIC standards in interactive sessions and panel discussions with a focus on sustainable infrastructure development and the role of FIDIC contracts in modern projects.
Click here for further information on the conference and to reserve places.
FIDIC Academy launches regional pricing for courses
FIDIC Academy is introducing preferential geographic pricing and discounts to enable the implementation of a geographically sensitive pricing model for its training courses, fully integrated with the Academy’s Learning Management System with the use of discount codes. The system is designed to promote equitable access to high-quality training and capacity-building resources by adjusting pricing based on a user’s country of residence. Recognising the economic disparities across regions, the plugin uses the World Bank’s country income classification to assign appropriate discount tiers, thereby ensuring that learners from low- and middle-income countries are not excluded from accessing vital training due to financial constraints.
Click here to find out more.
Meet the Members
The latest in our regular series where we meet leaders of FIDIC’s global member associations who answer questions on the key issues they face in their roles. This issue we speak with Christophe Longepierre, managing director of Syntec-Ingénierie in France.
Click below to view the video interview.
Commission for MAs referring their members for company training from FIDIC Academy
FIDIC Academy offers Company Training Packages providing quality professional development for companies in the global infrastructure sector. Companies looking to enhance their expertise in FIDIC contracts, best business practices and FIDIC values can tap into a comprehensive range of training packages designed specifically for companies and organisations working in the infrastructure sector. If a member association refers FIDIC Academy to a member of theirs who then buys a company training package(s), we will offer a 10% commission on the total value of the sale regardless of the level of the company training package bought. Proof of referral will be required to FIDIC Academy.
Click here for more information on FIDIC Academy’s Company Training Packages.
Special offers for MAs from FIDIC Credentialing
Since 2020, FIDIC Credentialing (FCL) has been offering certification to professionals working in the engineering, construction and infrastructure industry. This is part of FIDIC’s commitment to promoting capacity building for professionals across the globe and ensuring the highest standards are upheld in the engineering, construction and infrastructure sectors. FIDIC Credentialing is keen to partner with FIDIC’s member associations and the benefits of this collaboration include special offers, tailor-made packages and access to tiered discounts (based on the country of residence) which can be up to 50% reductions. The current offer covers the FIDIC Certified Consulting Professional (FCCP) and the FIDIC Certified Consulting Engineer (FCCE) certifications which are accepting applications in July 2025.
Click here to find out more about activating exclusive offers for FIDIC MAs.
You can also contact FIDIC Credentialing directly via email at fcl@fidic.org
Former FIDIC president Tony Barry honoured for significant services to engineering
Congratulations to immediate past FIDIC president Tony Barry, who has received an AM (Member of the Order of Australia) for significant services to civil engineering in the King’s Birthday Honours list 2025. Tony’s outstanding career in the engineering sector includes being a FIDIC board member from 2015-2023, serving as president from 2021-2023, and holding many senior roles at the global engineering consultancy Aurecon Group from 1985 onwards. Speaking to FIDIC about his honour, Tony said: “It is a great honour for me to become a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). I join FIDIC past presidents Peter Miller and Dick Kell in receiving an AM, which is very special. I really appreciate the recognition for my 40-plus years of serving the profession in so many voluntary capacities. I have been extraordinarily lucky to have had so many great people to mentor and support me over those years as well as so many wonderful colleagues to work with whose contributions are also reflected in this award.”
Click here to read more on Tony’s award.
More contract
translations completed in collaboration with FIDIC MAs
Further translations to FIDIC contracts have recently been completed by FIDIC MAs. FIDIC is grateful for MAs’ support in translating the following documents in different languages so that FIDIC contracts can reach a wider audience.
• FIDIC Red Book (Second Edition, 2017) 2022 Reprinted with Amendments - newly translated into Arabic, Bahasa, Korean, Slovak.
• FIDIC Silver Book (Second Edition, 2017) 2022 Reprinted with Amendments –newly translated into Bahasa, Korean, Lithuanian.
• FIDIC Yellow Book (Second Edition, 2017) 2022 Reprinted with Amendments –newly translated into Bahasa, Korean, Lithuanian, Slovak, Greek, Bulgarian.
• FIDIC White Book (Fifth Edition, 2017) – newly translated into Bahasa .
• FIDIC Green Book (Second Edition, 2021) – newly translated into Lithuanian, Bulgarian.
All newly translated editions, including the latest French, Spanish and Portuguese translations, are available through FIDIC’s online bookshop. Hard copies are available from relevant MAs and electronic versions directly from FIDIC.
Click here to access FIDIC’s online bookshop.
Addressing the issue of poorly managed risk driving up construction costs
FIDIC has been receiving reports from a number of sources that poorly managed risk is fueling disputes, driving up costs and threatening construction industry stability. The issue of risk management and developing effective strategies to better manage it are a perennial challenge for the global construction sector and one of the reasons why FIDIC advocates for good procurement practices and the use of its standard global construction contracts. Commenting on the issue, Consult Australia CEO Jonathan Cartledge said: “Risk is rising across Australia’s construction industry – but risk management isn’t keeping up. As projects grow in complexity, the dispute culture has become deeply entrenched. The talk of collaboration and risk-sharing is not translating into practice. Risk is being used as a throwaway justification for unfair contracts, when what we really need is communication, accountability and meaningful reform.” A recent Consult Australia report, Unravelling Risk, explores the underlying causes of disputation in Australia’s construction industry and its growing impact on design, advisory and engineering consulting businesses. The report is well worth a read and could help other MAs whose members face similar challenges.
Click here to download the Unravelling Risk report.
Take part in the Global Infrastructure Resilience survey
FIDIC is supporting the Global Infrastructure Resilience Survey (GIRS), launched by the International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). This timely initiative is gathering insights from infrastructure professionals across sectors and geographies to assess how national systems are responding to climate risks, disasters and resilience challenges. The findings will feed into the next edition of the Global Infrastructure Resilience Report, becoming a critical reference for policymakers, practitioners and investors working to advance climate- and disaster-resilient infrastructure worldwide.
FIDIC member associations are encouraged to support the survey by: -
• Sharing the GIRS survey with your members through your regular communication channels (newsletters, email bulletins, or social media).
• Encouraging participation among professionals in your networks to help us gather a truly representative global picture.
• Highlighting that the survey is short (10 minutes), anonymous, and available in multiple languages.
Your support is key in ensuring strong engagement from across the FIDIC community and making the sector’s collective voice heard on the global stage.
Can you recommend someone for a 1-to-1 interview?
As part of the research, ICSI is also conducting individual interviews with infrastructure professionals to gain deeper insights into local experiences. Interviews are open to anyone in the industry - from engineers and financiers to planners, regulators and contractorsespecially those with experience in emerging or climate-vulnerable contexts.
Interviewee suggestions welcome by 15 July 2025
If you would like to recommend participants from your network or region, please contact Basma Eissa at FIDIC at beissa@fidic.org
Click here to take the survey now.
The survey closes on 31 July 2025.
Update on new member association toolkit
FIDIC’s Directors and Secretaries Advisory Council (DNSAC) is preparing a toolkit of guidance and resources to uplift the capability of all FIDIC’s member associations. The toolkit will help countries that don’t have a member association to effectively establish one and will support established member associations to grow enduring resilience and sustainability. It covers topics from developing your member value proposition, to governance, drafting your constitution, membership fee models, sponsorship strategy, harnessing AI and getting the best out of your volunteers. It’s all about sharing knowledge and best practice so that, together, we are building a stronger global engineering and consulting sector no matter where we are starting from.
The toolkit will have three modules, each made up of around 7-9 different topic areas. We’ll soon be sharing with members draft guidance notes covering the first six of the toolkit’s topic areas and we’ll be asking for your feedback to ensure we are on the right track. The six topic areas we will be sharing guidance notes on for your feedback are as follows:
1. Effective advocacy.
2. Leveraging and managing volunteers.
3. Developing an effective sponsorship programme.
4. Setting your association’s objectives and purpose.
5. Setting your member value proposition, and
6. Establishing your member association governance framework.
Keep an eye out for our email sharing these resources for your feedback and we look forward to hearing from you!
Contracts update given at FIDIC/ CICA workshop in Washington
FIDIC together with CICA, the Confederation of International Contractors’ Associations, organised a workshop in Washington DC on 29 May 2025 which was attended by FIDIC president Catherine Karakatsanis, FIDIC board member Manish Kothari and FIDIC’s chief legal and contracts officer Daduna Kokhreidze together with Bradley J. Saull , ACEC vice president (federal and international programmes) representing FIDIC’s MA in the USA. This in-person workshop was an opportunity for FIDIC to provide the latest updates and initiatives and discuss any feedback and ongoing partnership opportunities with CICA. At the event, participants from MENA, LATAM and EU regions spoke about how FIDIC contracts were being used and suggested improvements and modifications to them.
FIDIC board elections 2025
FIDIC held a townhall meeting for member associations on 2 July 2025 to meet the board candidates taking part in the 2025 FIDIC board elections. A healthy total of 12 candidates from 12 different countries are standing for election to fill up to four places on the board. Voting will take place online and full details of how to vote will be sent to all FIDIC MAs shortly. The voting platform will open on 18 July 2025 and all votes need to be cast no later than 1700 hrs SAST (South Africa Standard Time) on 20 September 2025.
CEAI NEWSLETTER
PRESIDENT’S DESK
Dear
smart energy systems, or advising on policy frameworks, our work has a direct and lasting impact on the well-being of societies.
As members of CEAI, we share a collective responsibility to not only respond to the challenges of today, but to anticipate and build for the needs of tomorrow. The world is looking to us for leadership-not just technical, but ethical and visionary.
In line with this, I am pleased to inform you that CEAI is preparing an extensive calendar of trainings, webinars, and seminars for the second half of the year. These programs are being carefully curated to address the most urgent and relevant issues facing our profession-from climate-resilient infrastructure and digital transformation to contract management, ethics, and international standards.
These sessions are designed to serve all segments of our membership-from young professionals seeking exposure to cutting-edge knowledge, to senior consultants looking to share insights and mentor the next generation. The full schedule is being continuously updated and will be made available through our website and member communications.
This is not just about professional development-it is about building a resilient and future-ready engineering community in India. I strongly encourage each one of you to participate actively, contribute ideas, and take ownership of this shared journey.
CEAI is also deepening its engagement with international bodies and expanding its advocacy on key policy matters to ensure that the voice of consulting engineers is heard where it matters most.
Membership and Stakeholders Services Team
Oro Cohen, Senior Executive, Membership and Stakeholder Services, ocohen@fidic.org
Abs Toyinbo, Membership and Stakeholder Administrator, atoyinbo@fidic.org
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