Technology focus at LEAA

Kat Moss will succeed Richard Money as chair of The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) in January 2022 having been a member of the Board for almost six years.

“Covid has made us do things in different ways and has, to a certain extent, brought forward LEEA’s digitalisation plans,” said Ms Moss, who cites technology and a general modern approach to operations as key principles she wants to promote.

“We need to ensure this continues. We have transitioned from the traditional face-to face, in-person meetings to new forms of communication. Those who may have questioned ‘doing a Zoom meeting’ prior to the pandemic are so much more open to the possibilities offered by the technology, to the point where in person meetings now need to be justified.”

”Digitalisation is also spreading into LEEA’s courses and audits. We have lots of individual projects for which I’ve been at the start of the ideas process. I want to focus on their delivery and keep them on track for the next 2-years.”

Future focus

While Covid has undoubtedly been the biggest trend for members globally, UK LEEA members have also been contending with Brexit.

“They need LEEA’s support in terms of explaining how relevant standards are being changed and tweeked. The Association’s technical team has put a great deal of effort into ensuring they are visible and accessible to members and are looking at these issues with a LEEA and UK perspective. I am pleased that LEEA has been active in taking measures to tackle issues created by both Covid and Brexit,” Ms Moss said.

Away from Covid and Brexit, Ms Moss has been the driving force behind the Lifting Equipment Technician apprenticeship. She said that the LEEA is looking to target those leaving school with some good observational skills and a hands on attitude who can be tailored for an industry that is “unfortunately too often overlooked but is nevertheless massive.”

Recruitment is one of those challenges lifting shares with other sectors and every company in every territory wants solutions, so Ms Moss said that the experience with the apprenticeship scheme in England can inform similar programmes in other territories including Scotland and Australia.

This is a priority for LEEA’s recently established Regional Council in Australia and New Zealand, part of LEEA’s strategy to be come more global through devolved management. 

Ms Moss started out as Business Development & QA Manager at Catena Inspection and Engineering Services on a week’s hire in administration back in 2010.

Oliver Auston will take Ms Moss’s previous role of Vice Chair.