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For Immediate Release
Andrea Sanchez
IFMA
1-713-623-4362

10/29/2008

IFMA Strengthens Ties to BIFM, FMA  Australia

The International Facility Management Association has renewed its Partners in FM Excellence agreements with the British Institute of Facilities Management and the Facility Management Association of Australia. Representatives from the three groups signed the new agreements at an Oct. 16 press conference during IFMA’s World Workplace 2008 Conference & Expo in Dallas, Texas.

Originally signed in 2004, the new agreements call for collaboration between the organizations on services, standards, research, professional development and advocacy. The agreements also expand upon the benefits available to the membership of each organization.

“Bringing our individual strengths together as one provides considerable benefits to our combined 30,000 members and helps advance the FM profession globally,” said John McGee, MBA, chairman of the IFMA board of directors. “We look forward to seeing major, positive impacts on the built environment coming from our shared efforts — those that impact sustainability, global research and knowledge sharing.”

David J. Brady, IFMA president and CEO, and McGee signed the agreements on behalf of IFMA; Ian Fielder, BIFM CEO, and Iain Murray, chairman, signed on behalf of BIFM; and David Duncan, FMA Australia CEO, and Andrew McEwan, chairman, signed on behalf of FMA Australia.

"Renewing our Partners in FM Excellence agreement with IFMA confirms a strong relationship based on teamwork and trust,” said Fielder. “Our respective memberships benefit through this collaboration and access to the member area of each organization's Web site. I look forward to working with Dave Brady and his team for the benefit of our members.”

“Some four years ago, the IFMA, BIFM and FMA Australia boards of directors had the foresight and initiative to enter into Partners in FM Excellence agreements,” said Duncan. “Now, their legacy is alive and well and will ensure many more value-added services and other benefits accrue — today and in the future — for our combined memberships.”

For more information about IFMA’s strategic partnerships, visit: www.ifma.org/strategic_partners.cfm.

About IFMA: IFMA is the world’s largest and most widely recognized international association for professional facility managers, supporting more than 19,500 members in 60 countries. The association’s members, represented in 125 chapters and 15 councils worldwide, manage more than 37 billion square feet of property and annually purchase more than US$100 billion in products and services. Formed in 1980, IFMA certifies facility managers, conducts research, provides educational programs, recognizes facility management certificate programs and produces World Workplace, the world’s largest facility management conference and exposition. For more information, visit the IFMA press room or www.ifma.org.

About BIFM: The BIFM is the “natural home” of facilities management in the UK. Founded in 1993, the Institute provides information, education, training and networking services for over 12,000 members — both individual professionals and organizations.

The Institute is inclusive, working across related disciplines and forming alliances with like-minded professional bodies. Increasingly international in outlook, the BIFM is a founding member of both EuroFM and Global FM.

BIFM’s members are responsible for many of the services that support business and other organizations, including business continuity, health and safety, space planning, energy management, maintenance and catering.

For more information, visit www.bifm.org.uk.  

About FMA Australia: Since FMA Australia was established in 1989, the association has seen significant growth, with branches in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.

FMA Australia provides a range of member services including networking and professional development opportunities and a national annual conference, ideaction, including the opportunity for members to develop special interest groups associated with particular expertise or sectors of the facilities management industry.

Through taking a leading advocacy role on behalf of its members, FMA Australia:

•represents the interests of the profession and industry to government and regulatory bodies;

•encourages the development of university courses in facility management;

•and promotes the facility management profession to senior management and the media to increase understanding of this important area across business and the wider community.

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