Notes from the Chair - Welcome from Adrian Feeney

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Society of Automotive Engineers - Australasia

ABN: 95 004 248 604

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PO Box 103, Werribee Vic 3030 Phone: 0403 267 166 Email: info@sae-a.com.au Web: www.saea.com.au

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Adrian Feeney

Board

Mohammad Fard – Technical Director Bernie Rolfe – FISIT & SAE Liaison Greg Shoemark – Gov’t & Industry Liaison James Soo – Autonomous/EV Vehicles Richard Taube – Board Director Michael Waghorne – Finances Gary White – Board Director

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Adrian Feeney

Chairman and CEO Society of Automotive Engineers – Australasia

With 2022 coming to a rapid close and this is obviously the last VTE edition for the year, I want to reflect on the amazing year SAE-A has had. Things didn’t start off as planned with Formula SAE cancelled again (due to Covid) and the APAC 21 conference delayed until October this year. There were also numerous face-face events either delayed or cancelled, but things quickly turned around as we regained our freedom to move and meet, then it was back to normal with a rush. Site tours resumed, webinars were held where travel was not possible for the majority, APAC was finally held, and the biggest success of them all, we just completed Formula SAE after three years of dashed hopes. It was an amazing event with all teams just glad to be back. Both organisers and teams were a bit rusty from the long layoff, but we did it and we did it well. Unfortunately, many teams from overseas had to withdraw at the last minute, typically from either a lack of funding or vehicle failures that could not be fixed due to supply chain limitations. Two teams from New Zealand took out the coveted overall awards; Waikato for petrol and Auckland for electric cars, our brothers from across the ditch are probably still celebrating and so they should, what a great effort. Already the Board has met in early December to look at opportunities for improving the service we offer our members and today I met with KE Creative to review the events from 2022 and to plan for 2023. We will have more to say on these matters early next year. We all need a break, there is no question about that, but we can do so knowing that as a Society we have learnt lots from this year and the Board is looking forward to growing our profile and our deliverables to make us even stronger. However, we need you to be involved, to renew your membership and to be an active member, we want to hear from you, and we want you to be engaged. As announced at the AGM earlier this year, I will be standing down as President of SAE-A at the 2023 AGM and so I encourage all members to give this some thought. We need fresh ideas and enthusiasm to take us forward and if that is you, please give it consideration. I personally found the role to be both rewarding and satisfying and it does help in developing certain skills – skills that may be of benefit to you in your career, think about it! So, on behalf of the Board, our staff and all our supporters, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a successful and rewarding New Year, enjoy your time with family and friends and I look forward to collaborating with you again next year