Trident Forum celebrates 10th anniversary

More than 70 senior decision makers from within the marine and waterfront industry gathered at the Royal Marines Museum in Portsmouth UK to celebrate a decade of constructive debate and a string of successful achievements.

‘The evening was a tremendous success. It was a great opportunity to reflect on our many successes and achievements, but also to look to the future,’ said Simon Ward, a chartered surveyor with real estate advisor Vail Williams, and chairman of the Trident Forum.

‘Our economy is highly dependent on port activity, and the UK is a leader in commercial and leisure marine activities. Regional growth plans and economic conditions have implications for a host of industrial and service sector firms, as well as our ports, marinas, canals and society’s water based leisure activity. It’s increasingly essential that we pool our knowledge, experience and resources to focus on new opportunities and the Trident Forum offers the perfect environment for this.

‘Our members frequently tell us they value the Trident Forum because it brings like minded professionals within the waterfront and marine industry together.’ Showing foresight a decade ago, The Trident Forum hosted a best practice seminar by Royal Haskoning regarding the issue of climate change and the implications of rising sea levels.

‘The engineering challenge at the land/water interface is of growing relevance to our clients, who have recognised the dangers that climate change presents to the industry’, said Royal Haskoning technical director John Andrews.

Another example of the Trident Forum’s success was a lunchtime briefing at the House of Lords, discussing the opportunities available to organisations and the public to benefit from £100m per year of investment by British Waterways in the canal network. Reflecting on the event, Phil Parkinson of PLC Architects commented, ‘New investment in this legacy of waterfront infrastructure is a catalyst for the economy and urban regeneration but the opportunity demands high standards of design.’

The Trident Forum has hosted dinners with Sir Robin KnoxJohnston CBE RD, Dee Caffari MBE, Mike Golding OBE and other adventurers that have inspired guests to expand their thinking and set stretching goals for themselves. One such evening inspired disabled sailor Geoff Holt to sail around the UK, a remarkable achievement for any sailor and a very special one for Geoff, who was sponsored by law firm Blake Lapthorn.

The Trident Forum welcomes contact with interested parties to debate the challenges of marine related business, the future of waterfront infrastructure and marine resources. Looking ahead, the group will continue to link decision makers, including public and private sector contacts to discuss policy pressures, business needs and supply chain relationships.

Members of the Trident Forum can be contacted via www.tridentforum.com.