C O N T E X T 1 7 4 : D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 2 43 remind readers of the consistently high quality of Context and the IHBCYearbook, our Historic Environment Services Provider Register (HESPR) and, more recently, the Conservation, Places and People All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). It is perhaps the APPG that for me epitomises the progress that we have made in evolving from what might have been perceived as a fringe organisation with enthusiastic members, to a significant player in the historic environment sector able to influence national organisations and governments.We achieve this in a number of ways, including our efficient consultations panel, active membership of organisations such as the Heritage Alliance and England’s Historic Environment Forum (HEF).We are also invited to government roundtables on heritage issues. Perhaps it is a tenuous parallel with the Young British Artists, but the IHBC has certainly moved from being fringe to mainstream. The progress we have made has been thanks to a highly committed membership and staff. We have moved forward with steady progress rather than radical changes. A prime example of this has been our up-dating of governance. After extensive consultations we were able to adopt new articles of association and now, with the benefit of a governance working party, we are developing detailed byelaws and regulations. This is very much a reflection of our do, learn, do approach, as has been the decision to continue with our existing committee structure, which generally works well. What changes are we likely to see over the next 25 years? I am reluctant to make any long-term predictions, knowing how easy it is to get them completely wrong. However, I will list some of the issues and challenges which we will be dealing with over the next few years. It is a personal view, not exhaustive and in no particular order. • Completion of our new governance arrangements and moving forward on chartership. • Provide leadership on climate change, from highlighting the issue of embodied energy to providing practical training, and considering how to work towards becoming a zero-carbon organisation. • Explore ways in which we can encourage diversity in the IHBC and attract more volunteers. • Continue our support for our branches, which have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. • Encourage international membership and links. • Be able to respond to a rapidly changing economic situation, and any legislation or policy changes that may occur. We will deal with these matters using our evolutionary approach. I should also like to draw readers’ attention to the article on page XX, where Sandy Halliday sets out some thought-provoking views. Sandy’s presentation was my pick of the presentations at this year’s annual school in Aberdeen. As I mused on the value approach of the do, learn, do approach, it occurred to me that it chimes in with the words of Jukko Jokilehto, the Finnish architect and writer, well-known to many IHBC members. He once described conservation as the ‘management of continuity’. That is exactly what I hope the IHBC will be doing. David McDonald, chair@ihbc.org Louis Hellman’s view
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