THE PRESIDENT’S LETTER

By Neil Mackay, STATS Group, UK

Hello All! It’s fair to say we are in a period of significant change, perhaps at the fastest pace we’ve seen in decades. Geopolitical events continue to shape our industry in 2026, alongside the rise of AI and an evolving workplace. Yet the importance of inspection and maintenance of the assets that keep the world up and running has never been more critical.

It’s with great pleasure that I write to you for the first time in my new capacity as President of PPSA. Before we get into it, I’d like to thank our now Past President, Neil McKnight, for his dedicated leadership and continued support. Thanks, Neil! I’m also delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Elliott as Vice President, who has already jumped into the role with both feet, bringing a wealth of industry experience.

We’re also pleased to welcome two new Directors who are bolstering our numbers. Michelle Unger from ROSEN Group and Thomas Wolf from Intero Integrity. Great to have you both on board.

Thank you to everyone who completed the recent surveys. You spoke, we listened. I’m delighted to announce that this year’s Seminar will, on a trial basis, move to Amsterdam from 17th to 19th November at the Leonardo Royal Hotel. The infectiously enthusiastic Hywel Williams of the UK HSE is confirmed to share his expertise on the importance of safe pipeline operations management. Very much looking forward to it, Hywel! As usual, we will also have a packed programme of industry leading papers from global pigging experts. That said, please get your abstracts submitted for review by the 15th May.

Sadly, cybersecurity risks continue to increase and thanks to our vigilant members I’ve been made aware of several phishing attempts involving impersonators of Diane and myself. These attacks are becoming ever more convincing, likely driven in part by our new friend (or foe?) AI. Please remain vigilant and reach out if in any doubt.

The world of work is changing around us at pace, driven by technological advancement and geopolitical events effecting our industry. Time will tell how this may affect the pigging industry. Possible deferment of inspections and maintenance, or disruption within the supply chain. However, one thing is clear. We have always adapted and innovated, and we will continue to do so. Staying ahead of the curve and adding value for the Operators we serve remains central, and the passion, knowledge and experience across our membership shines through year after year. Human connection and networking are more important than ever, and in that vein, please remember that PPSA is here to support you, to connect industry peers, and to provide Operators with access to our free enquiry service across the pigging products and services supply chain.

For the younger generation navigating the early years of their careers in the pigging industry, it’s our pleasure to support you too, with upcoming sponsorships of the YPP USA Symposium and YPPE Mini Conference. We would also love to hear from you if you have ideas on how PPSA can support you further.

As we head deeper into 2026 and all the change unfolding around us, PPSA remains here to connect, support and represent you. We’ll see you all soon as we exhibit at the ptc conference. And on that note, there’s just one thing left to say… Keep on piggin’, folks.