This month marks the end of an era for the IANGV with the retirement of Dr. Garth Harris, the inaugural Secretary-General of the Association. Garth has been with the IANGV since even before it was formed, having played a key role in the formation of the Association and bringing about some funding arrangements from the New Zealand government that allowed the organisation to be formed in New Zealand in 1986. Since that time Garth has held the position of Secretary-General, and it would be fair to say he had seen the industry goes through several evolutionary stages, reaching the point where we now have more than 9 million natural gas vehicles operating around the world.
At that time New Zealand had more than 100,000 natural gas vehicles on its road, an impressive 10% of the total vehicle fleet. So it was fitting that the Association should find its home there. With an involvement in alternative transport fuels that stretches back as far as 1974, Garth’s passion for natural gas vehicles in particular has been unwavering.
During his independent consulting career, much of which has run in parallel with his time at the IANGV, Garth has undertaken CNG implementation studies in New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland, Australia, the Philippines and Indonesia. He also spent time as Chief Executive of the New Zealand government funded Energy Research and Development Committee.
Rough calculations suggest that Garth will have travelled more than 1,000,000 miles during his years of service to the IANGV, spreading the message about natural gas vehicles or working behind the scenes in the various committees, councils, etc that he has been involved in.
Most will know Garth as a moderator or a presenter at the many natural gas vehicles and other related conferences that have been held over the years. It is at events such as these that Garth has forged many long-lasting friendships with industry stakeholders all over the world.
I take this opportunity on behalf of current and past Executive Committees of the IANGV to thank Garth for his many years of dedicated and passionate service to the industry and to the organisation. Thanks also go to his wife Margaret for her support of Garth in this role.
Garth will not be bowing out entirely from IANGV activities as he will be continuing to act as a consultant to us in relation to the harmonisation of standards process currently under way, a process he has been involved with since it commenced. We wish Garth a successful and well deserved retirement and many successful hours on the ski slopes and golf course in the years ahead.
Garth will be superseded in the role by Brett Jarman, who will take up the newly formed position of Executive Director from January 1. Brett will be known to many NGV Global subscribers as the Editor of NGV Global.
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