On this occasion, Venice, one of the most beautiful Italian cities, became a meeting point for the drilling and sawing professionals on 25 and 26 May. After months of preparation and careful coordination, we only had one goal left: to enjoy our time at the convention.

As we arrived in Venice, we were welcomed with a perfect atmosphere for the event. Late spring in Italy is a must-time for a visit, as its incredible views go accompanied by good weather. And so, the IACDS General Assembly and professional programme transpired in a quick, enjoyable manner. Several topics were discussed during that time, with the main one being the attracting of new talent to the drilling and sawing industry. Therefore, not only did we raise the questions relating to the industry, but also topics that could interest professionals in any given industry.

Moreover, the exhibitors deserve a special mention. Their collaboration, as well as beautiful setups, were an indispensable part of the convention. Throughout the networking sessions, we had an opportunity to approach and connect with each other as people, not just as professionals of the same industry, and the exhibitors provided an excellent atmosphere for that.

At this time, I would like to thank the Secretariat and the staff of IACDS for all their work and effort they put in getting this entire event together and running it without a hitch.

As always with these types of reunions, not everything is about work: we like to leave time for some fun as well! Therefore, to keep with tradition, a special formal dinner and leisure programme took place. A pirate ship took us through the canals of Venice, its beauty highlighted by the sundown. Without a doubt, a unique, breathtaking experience we couldn’t have seen in any other part of the world. For me, another benefit of this event was the fact that I came to Italy early and got to tour Rome and Florence also. Italy is such a beautiful country to visit, with great sites, food and wine.

This event has only reaffirmed something that we already knew: the years of virtual meetings are now in the past. Being able to meet face to face, converse, discuss and debate in an open, positive, and embracive environment possesses a unique value that we cannot achieve otherwise. This is a new beginning for all of us, and many more events and experiences are to come.

From the IACDS, we’d like to wholeheartedly thank everyone for your enthusiasm, and we hope to see you in Las Vegas during World of Concrete for our Annual Meeting 2024!