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A Different Perspective from New UKLPG Chair

Nikki Brown of Cavagna Group UK takes over as chair of UKLPG for two years in January 2012. Here, she talks about the role and her aspirations for her tenure.

I have been involved in the lpg industry for many years, working as managing director for Cavagna Group UK for the last eight years. The Cavagna Group is a world-leading manufacturer of equipment and fittings for compressed gases, gas storage and control.

Cavagna Group UK has been a member of UKLPG and its predecessor organisations for 20 years, and I have served on the board for six years. I am delighted to be taking on the prestigious role of chair and I intend to work hard to engage with as many of our members as possible.

As an equipment supplier to the lp gas industry, UKLPG membership has enabled me and my team to meet and develop relationships with key players in the marketplace we serve. Networking is something that often gets talked about as a benefit of membership, but is often difficult to quantify. My own experiences have shown that it is paramount when looking to develop your business – whether it be meeting potential customers or simply sharing experiences – and so I hope to encourage as many UKLPG members as possible to get more involved during my tenure.

As a membership organisation, we must never forget that the decisions the UKLPG board make are taken on behalf of the wider membership, and therefore transparency and communication are vital. One of my key priorities going forward is to ensure that all of our existing members are aware of the work both the board and the UKLPG team are undertaking on their behalf, and that they are able to contribute. We must also work to find new ways to talk to and engage with our members, whilst recognising that traditional methods, like reading LP Gas magazine, are favoured by some whilst others want more electronic driven contact.

I would also like to widen our membership. This offers numerous benefits – we will be in a stronger financial position and our collective voice will have more clout.

The advocacy and lobbying work we undertake mustn’t be undervalued. To date, UKLPG has worked extremely hard to build effective relationships with a range of statutory bodies, government ministers and senior civil servants, achieving some excellent results for members. UKLPG speaks for the lpg gas industry with one voice and, in the coming months, with the Green Deal, Building Regulations Part L and Energy Company Obligations, this voice will be crucial in ensuring that the environment for lpg is as good as it can be.

World LP Gas Forum 2013

The 2013 World LP Gas Forum and Joint European LPG Congress in London will be one of the highlights of my tenure and, as the hosting country, we have an enormous responsibility. However, this forum brings with it unprecedented opportunities for lp gas, equipment and service businesses in the UK, and I will be working with my peers at the AEGPL and the World LP Gas Association to get the best deals for UKLPG member companies.

As an equipment supplier and one of the few women within the lpg industry, I believe that I offer a slightly different perspective to that of lpg gas businesses and will be working to encourage other equipment suppliers to join. That said, I have an extremely capable and representative board to support me in my endeavours, and vice chair Henry Cubbon, chief executive of Flogas, and treasurer Pat Ardis, managing director of Cambrian Gas, can always be relied upon to provide wise council.

Lpg faces challenging times and I take over the role of UKLPG chair mindful of this. But I am clear that we have a good product, provided, supplied and supported by great companies employing talented individuals, and so I look forward to my time as chair and working with all of you.

Outside of work, my family keeps me pretty busy – my time is often taken up providing a taxi/laundry/hotel service for my daughter and her friends, and let’s not forget the bank of mum! I’m a keen gardener and, when I get a chance, I enjoy walking in the Peak District, which is just on my doorstep.

Contact UKLPG on www.uklpg.org