Judging panel announced for IAPAs 2023

The judges for the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) 2023 have been confirmed. Entries are now open for the awards, which will be hosted alongside the Summit of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) on 20 April 2023 at the H4 Hotel Berlin Alexanderplatz, Germany.   

Comprising five long-standing access industry experts, with a wealth of knowledge across the sector, the independent panel will consider entries across the categories, which include new products, digital and technological development, safety and sustainability. There will also be the usual Rental Company of the Year award and IPAF-specific categories for approved Training Instructors and Training Centres. 

The 2023 award categories include: The Sustainability Award; Access Rental Company of the Year; Contribution to Safe Working at Height; Innovative Technology Prize; Digital Development Award; IPAF Training Centre of the Year; IPAF Training Instructor of the Year; Products of the Year – Mast Climbing Work Platforms & Hoists, Scissor Lifts & Vertical Masts, Self-Propelled Booms & Atrium Lifts, Vehicle and Trailer-Mounted; and the IPAF/Access International Lifetime Achievement Award. The judging panel has now been announced as follows: 

Xu Shugen, Chairman of Dingli: China-based Dingli is a company that has grown over its 20-year history to become one of the largest access equipment manufacturers in the world. Founded by Xu Shugen, the company offers a full range of scissor, boom and vertical-mast lifts and has seen a comprehensive expansion of its electric and hybrid rough-terrain equipment over recent years. 

Wayne Taylor, Managing Director of Safelift, based in Abu Dhabi. Wayne Taylor has extensive industry experience, including at Grove Cranes and Manlift, UK access rental companies including Nationwide Platforms and Hi-Reach, before becoming Managing Director of Safelift. He is also vice chairman of IPAF’s Middle East Regional Council. 

Karin Nars, Managing Director of Finland-based Dinolift and President of IPAF. Nars joined the IPAF Council in 2010. Roll forward to 2022 and Karin Nars now steers Dinolift as its Managing Director, with its range of specialist lightweight boom lifts, truck-mounts, spider lifts and trailer-mounts. 

Marco Govoni, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Service at Italy-based manufacturer CTE. Marco Govoni started his career in 1990 at Italian truck-mount manufacturer Bizzocchi, where he rose to become export manager, before moving to Socage in 2000. Govoni returned to Bizzocchi until it was acquired by CTE in 2007. Since 2021 he has been Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Service at the truck-mount and spider-lift specialist. 

Sandra Franco, Founder of Chile-based ALO Group. ALO operates in Chile, Argentina, Peru, Panama and Colombia, and has a rental fleet of more than 1,600 units. She was instrumental in opening the first IPAF-approved Training Centre outside Europe: ALO Training, in Santiago, Chile. Today, she is focused on developing the industry in Central America from ALO Group’s operational hub in Panama. 

Peter Douglas, CEO & MD of IPAF, comments: “The 2022 IAPAs saw a record number of entries across the categories and led to a fantastic awards event in London, so we are very much looking forward to another strong set of entries this time around and we are excited to take the event to Berlin, Germany, for the first time, in spring 2023.  

“We are very grateful to all our judging panel; their expertise and knowledge of the industry always make for a very credible shortlist for each IAPA category leading to a superb set of winners at the awards gala dinner.” 

● IAPAs are now open for entries, with a deadline of 3 January 2023. Entries must be submitted in English using the official entry form available via the specific award category page on the www.iapa-summit.info website. Entrants are requested to supply a company logo when submitting the form(s).