Clearview Midlands March 2014 - Issue 148 | Page 24

INDUSTRYNEWS

GGF marks its 21st
with new president
At the beginning of this year,
Brian Baker of Glassolutions
Saint Gobain became the GGF’s
21st President, taking over
from Mark Warren of Lister
Trade Frames who finished
his two year term of office.
Brian’s association with the
Federation has lasted for three
decades, almost as long as his
35 year involvement in the
industry.
During the last five years in
particular, with many issues
coming to the forefront of the
Federation – and the industry’s
agendas - he has shown huge
energy and commitment, tackling
a formidable volume of work with
the Federation, contributing to
more than 20 GGF Groups and
Committees.

‘Brian will continue
to offer his input
and drive to
many Glazing
Executive groups’
Now, in addition to his
demanding new role as President,
Brian will continue to offer his
input and drive to many Glazing
Executive groups such as Safety and
Security, Fire Resistant Glazing,
Insulating Glass Manufacturers - as
well as to several key committees
including Marketing &
Communications, Standards and
Finance and Membership.
Despite these many pressures,
Brian found time to tell us about
his role at the Federation.

24

MAR 2014

THE HIGHLIGHTS

Your background of work
at the GGF is considerable
across the many groups and
committees you have worked
on, and are continuing to
work on: what would you
say have been the highlights
of your work during your 30
year involvement with the
GGF?
It’s difficult to pick out one
or two highlights because all
the Groups and Committees
are important in their own
right. Some of the work I have
been involved in has been very
visible. For example, when
I see the publication of the
GGF Safety and Security Good
Practice Guide, which took a
lot of time and effort, it is very
satisfying. However, I am just
as pleased with the many other
technical documents that I
have played a part in producing
for the Federation. Documents
such as datasheets for specialist
sectors such as Balustrades,
Floors and Stairs and Window
Film have proved essential for
the industry. When architects,
specifiers and installers use
these technical datasheets it
underlines the GGF’s position
as the industry authority.

I should also mention that
my input into the Strategy
Review steering group was
also a contribution that I felt
immensely worthwhile. As part
of the implementation of the
Review, we have developed
a liaison group that includes
FENSA, BFRC (British
Fenestration Rating Council),
GGF and representatives from
both the Glazing Executive
and the Home Improvement
Executive. This group has vastly
improved inter-company and
inter group understanding and
communication between all
elements of the GGF.
Another Group which is worth
mentioning is the Security
Glazing Group which I helped
form in 2008. Security glazing
in construction has generally
become more critical after a
number of high profile terrorist
attacks. This Group really brought
a new focus to the subject and
since then it has been extremely
proactive in terms of publications,
presentations at events and
consultancy. The Security Glazing
Group has now combined its
activities with the Laminators &
Tougheners Group to encompass
both Safety and Security in one
forum.

‘it is a huge
advantage being in
a position to crossfertilize information,
knowledge and ideas’
To sum up, I feel my
involvement in so many GGF
Groups and Committees has
benefited both the GGF and
myself, as it is a huge advantage
being in a position to crossfertilize information, knowledge
and ideas between groups.
CULTURE CHANGE

What have been the most
positive changes you’ve seen at
the GGF?
I have noticed a significant
change in culture at the GGF.
It has gone from being a quite
insular, fairly passive and reactive
organisation to being much more
proactive and collaborative with
Members being right at the heart
of key issues, consultations and
key decision-making. That’s not
to say the GGF staff don’t do an
incredible job, but I feel it has
improved since the GGF have
encouraged Members to become
more involved in these activities.

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