History

IFME was established over 60 years ago

IFME had its beginnings in 1960 when the inaugural Assembly of the Federation took place at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. It is a Federation open to professional municipal engineers and public works professionals through their own national municipal engineering associations.

The inaugural event in Paris followed a two-year preparatory phase during which contacts were developed between the National Societies of Municipal Engineers of Belgium, France, Great Britain and the Netherlands.

The idea of grouping Municipal Engineers from different countries was conceived by the French and the Belgian Associations of Municipal Engineers in 1957.

The annual membership fee of 10,000 NF per delegate sitting on the General Assembly of the Federation was adopted. [Note: In 1960 10,000 New Francs equated to approx. £725]

The first congress of IFME was held in the UK in 1961, and this was the commencement of the triennial IFME congresses.

In 1962 associations from Sweden, Denmark and Israel joined IFME.

Since the inaugural meeting of IFME the following countries have provided IFME presidents: France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Israel, Denmark, Sweden, USA, Spain, UK, Canada, Norway, South Africa, Italy, Australia, Finland, and New Zealand.

A list of the current member countries of IFME can be found here.

History 1955 - 1965

We are fortunate that the history of IFME was documented for the period 1955 to 1965. This was prepared by Louis Gertoux.

The original version is in French and can be downloaded below. It has been translated into English by Brian McNaughton.

History of IFME 1955 - 1965 (French)

History of IFME 1955 - 1965 (English translation)

A further chronology of the history of IFME was written by Marcel Caseau, Honorary President Association of Engineers of the Cities of France and Honorary Member IFME:

1976_IFME_History_-_Caseau.pdf

IFME Presidents

Year(s)

Name

Organisation

2018-

John THOMSON

ICE / United Kingdom

2015-2018

Doug DREVER

APWA CPWA / United States

2012-2015

Ross VINCENT

IPWEA NZ CE / New Zealand

2009-2012

Jorma VASKELAINEN

FAME President / Finland

2006-2009

Chris CHAMPION

IPWEA CEO / Australia

2003–2006

Renato CECILIA S.MARIA

INASA President / Italy

2003

Alwyn LAUBSCHER

IMESA President / South Africa

2002

Tom Van ZYL

IMESA President / South Africa

2001

Nick PRETORIUS

IMESA President / South Africa

2000

Piet PAANTJENS

STADSWERK Representative / Netherland

1999

John HERMES

STADSWERK President / Netherland

1998

George SMEETS

STADSWERK President / Netherland

1994–1997

Asher SHULMAN

IAME President / Israel

1991–1994

Lloyd LILLENG

NFK President / Norway

1988–1991

Michael SHEFLIN

IME/APWA President/North America

1985–1988

Andrè LIUTAUD

AIVF President / France

1982–1985

Arthur W. JACOMB

AME-ICE Representative / U. K

1976–1982

Sebastian DE LA RICA

AIMPE President / Spain

1976–1979

E. VAN VIANEN

STADSWERK President / Netherland

1976

John BERGACKER

APWA President / USA

1975

Oscar HANSSON

SKF President / Sweden

1973–1975

Steen PETERSEN

KTC President / Danemark

1970–1973

Joseph KOEN

Israel Union Municipal Engineers

1967–1970

R. JOTTHIER

ARDIC President / Belgium

1964–1967

A. VAN WALRAVEN

Holland Union President

1961–1964

Marcel CASEAU

IVF President / France

1960–1961

Mr BECKETT

Institute of Municipal Engineers of Great Britain