Chris Smallbone, CEO of the Welding Technology Institute of Australia (WTIA), is a past President of the 54 member country International Institute of Welding (IIW) (2005-8) where he has played pivotal roles over the past 35 years. He is the recipient of welding industry awards from various countries, including the highest IIW award, the Edstrom medal, for his “remarkable and distinguished contributions to the IIW and the international community”.

He is a qualified Mechanical and Welding Engineer, a Registered Professional Engineer in Australia and the UK and a Fellow of Engineers Australia, Institution of Mechanical Engineers (UK), The Welding Institute (UK), South African Institute of Welding (SAIW) and WTIA.  In 2007 he was named amongst the 100 most influential engineers in Australia by Engineers Australia.

As SAIW President (1978 and 1979) and from 1980 as Executive Director, he built up SAIW, as featured in the 1992 publication, “Southern Africa: A worthwhile investment”. He immigrated to Australia in 1995, successfully building up WTIA through a series of innovative networking, research, development, educational, and training projects to support Australia’s technological needs.

He has developed, implemented and maintained many national personnel qualification and certification programmes including Welding Inspectors (SAIW and WTIA), NDT Technicians (SAQCC (NDT)), Fabrication Inspectors (SAQCC (IPE) and WTIA), In-Service Inspectors of Pressurised Equipment (AICIP) and other welding personnel.

Since 1993, as the IIW Director responsible for developing and implementing the IIW key strategy on Regional Activities and Liaison with Developing Countries, he has initiated many technology networking initiatives worldwide including the project “To Improve the Global Quality of Life through Optimum Use of Welding Technology” to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly development.

His vision and enthusiasm continue to energise people from a wide range of industry, organisational and government backgrounds to work together for the benefit of the global community.

Presentation Title:

WELDING AND NDT – ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE THE GLOBAL QUALITY OF LIFE

With world population predicted to top 7 billion in 2011 and 9 billion by 2045, the pressures on manufacturing, infrastructure and power generation, not to mention basic needs such as food, water, shelter and education, will become enormous common challenges.

Welding and NDT - as enabling technologies that play critical roles in almost every industry sector - are vital to the world’s ability to cope with these pressures and challenges. Welding and NDT technologies, whether basic or sophisticated, and the people skilled in their implementation and application, are thus the cornerstones to improved quality of life for all.

The challenges may arise from the demand for nuclear power generation for an emerging nation, the need to transport clean water to a village, or it could be the urgency of infrastructure and community reconstruction after natural disasters such as the floods, cyclones, fires and earthquakes occurring across the world.

The paper will cover the roles of the International Institute of Welding (IIW) and national welding and NDT institutes in meeting these challenges.  Examples of research and development, education and training, qualification and certification initiatives, and in particular, technology transfer activities in welding and NDT that assist in improving the quality of life throughout the world, will be given.