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
|
2024-
|
Ville Alatyppo
|
FAME / Finland
|
2021-2024
|
Sanne Hieltjes
|
Stadswerk / Netherlands
|
2018-2021
|
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
|