Message from the Chair of the IPEIA Board of Directors – 2026
Dear IPEIA Members and Industry Colleagues,
It continues to be an exciting time for IPEIA. Our association is evolving, and with that comes opportunity – opportunity to strengthen our impact, better serve our members, and continue fostering excellence in the pressure equipment industry. As we move forward, we remain committed to IPEIA’s vision: to lead, grow, and sustain an interconnected community that supports the pressure equipment industry.
This past year was our first full year operating under the Board of Directors structure. As a key part of our Strategic Plan, this transition has strengthened our governance framework, enabling more effective decision-making and better support for our members. With the leadership of our Executive Director Christi Marcine and the operations team, our dedicated volunteers can stay focused on what they do best – sharing real-world knowledge and experience – while the day-to-day work of the organization is handled more efficiently.
2026 IPEIA Conference & Exhibition – Getting It Done
This year’s Conference & Exhibition showed the resilience and strength of our community. Despite the challenge of a very tight timeline, the event was delivered successfully with record attendance, over 80 exhibitors, 55 conference & corporate sponsors, and a significant increase in participation from across the industry. The new venue also allowed us to increase technical presentations by 42%! We made some practical improvements, including providing Exhibition Only Access Passes, and bringing back Student Day to help connect with the next generation coming into the trades and professions.
We capped off the conference by giving out awards for best presentations to some very deserving presenters: 2026 IPEIA Presentation Award Winners
- Asset Integrity Management – Kelly Creasy, IPC Canada
- Failure Case Study – Rick Marsden, Acuren Group Inc.
- Material Selection/Properties – Ahmad Raza Khan Rana, Integrity Products & Supplies Inc.
- NDE/New Technologies – Patrick Ho, CWB Group
- Regulatory / Codes – Bruce Stewart, Technical Heat Treatment, and
- Student Poster – Caio Cesar Siqueira Romani, SAIT
The move to Calgary aligned with our long-term growth strategy, improving accessibility and positioning IPEIA within a major international hub. While this transition introduced cost and planning challenges, it was well received by attendees and sets us up well for the future.
Pulling off an event of this scale in record time took a lot of commitment and effort. A huge thank you to our operations team, sponsors, volunteers, partners, and everyone who showed up and made it happen.
Looking Ahead
The Board remains focused on the basics—delivering value to members, strengthening connections across the industry, and supporting the next generation of workers and professionals.
We know this year came with both wins and challenges, and we’re taking those lessons forward. We’re also keeping things moving with a strong lineup of upcoming webinars led by experienced industry professionals. Be sure to check the schedule here: IPEIA Webinars
Thank you for the work you do and for being part of IPEIA’s continued evolution. Your experience, skills and commitment are what keep this industry safe and moving forward.
Sincerely,
Laurent Charron
Chair, IPEIA Board of Directors
