With a new lease on life, Pump Industry Australia brought together over 100 members to celebrate a milestone anniversary.
At the Crowne Plaza in Melbourne’s Docklands district, Pump Industry Australia (PIA) members celebrated 60 years of advocacy and support for pump engineers, manufacturers, and suppliers nationwide. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) was an opportunity to reflect on the previous year, providing unique insights into what it had been up to.
Over 100 people attended the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Dinner, and Councillor Luke Biermann was an excellent host for both events. Several members tuned into the live stream of the AGM to engage from their offices.
First female president elected
For the first time in its 60-year history, a woman has been elected president of the PIA. Kylie Kinsella, the Managing Director of the Regent Holdings Group, was elected unopposed. Joel Neideck, the Managing Director of TDA Pumps, will serve as vice president.
At the dinner, Ms Kinsella discussed the opportunities that will arise for the PIA in the coming years as a younger cohort of council members joins her. It will be a year of growth and increased engagement with the broader pump industry to reassert itself as the peak body for the Australian pump industry.
Other councillors elected were:
- Michael Woolley (Tsurumi Australia)
- Alan Rowan (Life Member)
- Alex Calodoukas (Pump Strategy)
- Tim Yakup (Regent Pumps)
- Steve Bosnar (Pioneer Pumps)
- Keith Bowen (XTron Pumps)
- Luke Biermann (Mechanical Seals Engineering)
One committee spot remained vacant.
Reviewing the last 12 months
As the acting president for much of the last 12 months, Mr Neideck took the opportunity to assess the PIA’s activities.
“Congratulations to the new president, Kylie, and Tracey as Secretary and Treasurer,” he said. “Also, congratulations to new and existing life members and our new councillors.”
Mr Neideck reiterated the importance of having everyone in the industry as a member of the PIA.
“We are out there campaigning for the industry and its members all the time,” said Mr Neideck. “We want to grow and increase representation, and to do that, we need to expand throughout Australia and potentially into New Zealand.”
The PIA seeks to be Australia’s leading authority on pumps and pumping systems. It also aims to advance collective thinking and become a nation that recognises the importance of and invests more in its capital infrastructure.
“As we move into 2025, Pump Industry Australia stands revitalised with an energised council and a renewed outlook,” Mr Neideck said. “Under the leadership of the new president, Kylie, whose impressive credentials and natural aptitude make her a perfect fit for the role, we are excited to build a more connected and supportive industry network.”
The PIA’s focus for the coming year is to deepen its engagement with members, emphasising support and clear communication. This includes launching new events to foster networking, share industry knowledge, and build camaraderie across the pump community. These initiatives aim to create meaningful connections, enhance expertise, and ultimately reinforce the shared commitment to the pump industry.
“With Kylie’s leadership and the council’s dedication, we look forward to a vibrant, collaborative year ahead for Pump Industry Australia,” said Mr Neideck.
Standards and handbooks
Life member and councillor Alan Rowan addressed the AGM to discuss his achievements as an executive officer. He focused primarily on Australian standards, specifically pump pipe friction. His articles in Pump Industry are among the most popular online articles, with hundreds of people reading them weekly.
One thing that amused the attendees was Mr Rowan’s story about someone who examined a particular standard and wanted to know what it meant. These questions normally come in from the technical email address.
“Someone called up, saying that they don’t understand what is in the tables, as it relates to poly pipe,” Mr Rowan said. “He said that you call series ten pumps in this table, but all the manufacturers call them PN10 pipes. I looked at the most recent edition and could not see what he was referring to. I reviewed previous editions and could not find the reference. The gentleman sent through one of the pages, and we found what he was looking at. When we checked it on the Standards Australia website, that had ceased to be the standard in about 1986, which meant his version of the friction handbook was a first edition.”
Fellow life member Ken Kugler spoke about his work with Standards Australia. He discussed the difference between aged, withdrawn, and renewed standards for those who are getting older.
“We’ve been working with Standards Australia on a range of standards and requesting feedback wherever possible,” Mr Kugler said. “It can be pretty hard to get feedback from the industry, but we do what we can.”
He pointed out that many of the Australian and ISO standards are being examined by his committee and that he will continue to do so.
New life members
Two new life members were inducted into the illustrious list. Kevin Wilson has had a long and successful career in the Australian pump industry. Since joining FN Bethune at 20, he has worked at Kelly & Lewis, BTR Australia, and the Weir Group. He also served as the Secretary of the PIA and has worked for a wide range of companies.
Former president John Inkster joined Mr Wilson as a new life member of the PIA. Mr Inkster retired from Kelair Pumps earlier in 2024, and this nomination reflects his commitment to the industry, having started as a young pump engineer from Christchurch.
After an impressive career spanning an incredible 38 years with the company, he has left a legacy of unparalleled dedication and remarkable achievements. Under his guidance, Kelair Pumps and Brown Brothers Engineers evolved from a family-owned enterprise to a thriving member of the AxFlow Group with a diverse portfolio of successful companies.
The attendees enjoyed a few drinks, some excellent food, and canapes between the formalities. It was an excellent opportunity to reflect on the year that was for the PIA. Collectively, the energy of the room was one of youthful endeavour and spirit, with everyone gathered together and looking forward to an exciting future.
