From the CEO: Memorandum of Understanding with SFMA and FMTech

News

 

Dear members,

As the sector’s leading professional body, a core objective is to develop the profession, which includes helping to upskill workplace and facilities management (WFM) professionals to our leading global standards framework. IWFM has been supporting individuals and businesses across the world, including, for several years, in Saudi Arabia.

In line with our international strategy a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Facilities Management Association (SFMA), a professional body, and FMTech, a company owned by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, was developed to explore the potential for cooperation in opportunities of mutual interest to advance WFM in that country, a young and rapidly growing market.

Balancing matters of trade and ethics is complex and emotive. At all times we have acted in line with our 2023-25 strategy and the objectives of our Articles of Association so as to grow and advance the interests of the Institute and its members and to reach the best outcome.

The MoU has caused significant concern in parts of our community who questioned its compatibility with the Institute’s values and stance on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). 

After a period of careful consideration IWFM has decided that the interests of the Institute and our members are best served by withdrawing from the arrangement.

IWFM is a diverse, inclusive and progressive community. We did not get the engagement and presentation right on this occasion and I sincerely regret the dismay this has caused within our community and from which we have learned lessons.

We want to be able to progress professionals in WFM everywhere while remaining loyal to our values, helping to integrate standards and fairness.

To inform the next phase of its international strategy IWFM is developing a set of principles to provide a framework for market selection, working collaboratively with stakeholders, including its international communities and EDI Focus Group.

The framework will support balanced decision making that enables ethical implications to be understood and evaluated within the Institute’s overall strategy of growth.

We remain committed to professionalising workplace and facilities management practice via the Standards and to promoting inclusion in our profession and the wider sector.

Linda Hausmanis
CEO