'Everything hinges on sharing knowledge to keep the industry alive'

New chairman of Vereniging Wapeningsstaal Nederland Peter Megens

Since September, there has been a new man at the helm of the Society for Rebar Steel Netherlands (VWN). The 53-year-old Peter Megens, who has been on the board for several years, will now take over as president. In his daily life he works as Manager Testing Metals and is involved in R&D at the company Concrefy. How will he fill his role as chairman of the VWN? We asked him.

Why did you become president?

"I had been closely involved with the association for several years. Moreover, from my regular working life, I have a lot of expertise in concrete and reinforcement. So the knowledge is there. However, the fact was that we had not had a president for some time. It was time to fill that vacancy, to continue to function properly as an organization and to give direction to the vision of the association. By the way, the previous president did a great job; he devoted an incredible amount of time and energy to the association. But as I said, the position had not been filled for a while and I am very motivated to fill the presidency."

Most newly appointed presidents - anywhere - often say they spend the first 100 days of their board term "going out into the country" to talk to constituents and lay a foundation for future policy. What did this look like for you?

"I already know the association well, of course, through my active role on the board for several years. But also through my involvement in the Engineering Committee. So I don't speak so sharply of 'the first 100 days'. Of course, it is true that I have consulted on this beforehand and will always do so. In Michel Tonino, director of the association, I have a good sparring partner, but it must be clear which direction we are going in. How do we give direction to our vision and mission? And, are we able to define our goals clearly enough and communicate them to the members? I think we need to organize more internal meetings with the goal of encouraging mutual knowledge sharing and obtaining feedback from members. That kind of meeting helps to ensure that we - as a board, and I as president - will discover even more what's going on, but that's actually an ongoing task that I set myself. I wouldn't set that one so sharply at 100 days. The bottom line is: more contact with the members." 

What are the main challenges for the association now?

"If I reason it out from a technical point of view, we continue to actively follow the development of standards and regulations. We are represented in all kinds of consultative bodies to be able to promote the interests of the members and as an association we also take the initiative to develop guidelines. I am thinking, for example, of the assessment guideline for braiders. This has been developed to provide guidance within the framework of the Building Quality Assurance Act (Wkb) in order to give proper shape to inspections and registrations. From the perspective of training, we want to encourage education. It is important to have enough professionals in the sector. We will therefore have to further promote our profession in education. And then I automatically come to the third perspective: the promotion of our industry. Unknown makes unloved. We must show today's students more about working in the rebar industry. For example, we were on the student square on November 16 during the Concrete Event. So, in fact, here I am talking about personnel recruitment for the future."  

What may we judge you on in a few years?

"I strive for continuity of the association, where membership growth is important. And I aim for more commitment to sharing knowledge within and outside the association. I want to literally make the VWN more alive."

About the Nov. 22 election... Formation of a new cabinet begins. What would you like to say right now to a future new minister of construction or infra?

"Outgoing Minister de Jonge announced in 2021 that 900,000 homes must be built before 2030. This will require an increase in the number of homes to be built each year, but in practice it appears that there is even a decrease in the number of new homes to be added in 2023. The new minister will have to focus on achieving this target. When construction stagnates or shrinks, it negatively affects contractors and supplying companies. This can result in the outflow of skilled workers who may not return when the market rebounds. We must avoid that scenario at all costs."