DOTTED LINE: CMDR Paul Hornsby signing a Memorandum of Association bringing the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies into existence in Galway, Ireland last year.

CMDR Paul Hornsby has been confirmed as the first chairman of the newly established International Federation of Hydrographic Societies (IFHS).

He was Australasia’s representative at a meeting in Galway, Ireland last year where representatives from the US, UK, Europe and Australasia signed a Memorandum of Association bringing the Federation into existence.

“The Federation represents the broadest range of interests in hydrography, which uniquely encompasses the users, customers and indeed the general public,” CMDR Hornsby said.

“Many now see the benefits that professional societies can provide in this regard – and hydrographic societies in particular, as the common link to all maritime activity.”

CMDR Paul Hornsby joined a group in Galway that represented 2000 hydrographic practitioners in 70 countries and 300 corporate members, including the hydrographic services of the RN, RAN, US and others.

Eminent members of the group were on hand to witness and co-sign the pact, including Sir Tipene O’Regan NZ), RADM Sir David Haslam and RADM Steve Ritchie, RN Rtd.

Professional institutes and societies are again being seen as an economic way of exchanging ideas on best practice, governance and external benchmarking with comparable industries that understand the maritime environment.

Although these are dry subjects at best of times, they are fundamental to the way Navy manages its resources and therefore deploys its ships and employs its sailors.

In his keynote address, CMDR Hornsby, who is responsible for Navy’s improvement strategies, introduced new protocols on exchanging ideas on values based management, external benchmarking and de-confliction of international maritime publications.

He stated that the existing national groups that made up the federation had agreed a framework for sponsoring prospective new institutes and societies in most parts of the world.

CMDR Hornsby emphasised that in Australasia, organisations like the Australasia Hydrographic Society AHS) and the Australian Naval Institute (ANI) took promoting maritime learning and interests very seriously.

CMDR Hornsby has been President of the Australasian HS since December 1999.

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