President Enemark and the Current Council and Commissions Give the Responsibility of FIG Administration to a New Team

FIG Handover Ceremony, Copenhagen, Denmark, 25-26 November 2010

The formal Handover Ceremony between the current and incoming FIG Councils and Commission chairs took place at the FIG Headquarters in the IDA Building in Copenhagen 26 November 2010. At the Handover Ceremony President Stig Enemark handed over the President's Chain of Office to the incoming President CheeHai Teo from Malaysia. Mr Teo was elected as the President at the FIG Congress in Sydney earlier this year. President Teo together with his Council, new Commission chairs and other officers will now take over the responsibility of FIG for the next four years.

The Handover Ceremony was attended by about hundred representatives from all over the world representing all continents to recognise the achievements of President Enemark and his team over the four-year period of administration 2007-2010. The festive ceremony was preceded by a farewell dinner at the San Marco restaurant in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen. The busy week included also number of meetings of the FIG Council, new Commission officers (ACCO) and with participating delegations focussing especially on the future FIG conferences.

The Handover Ceremony started with music presented by Thomas Praestegård, tenor and Esben Gade, piano, who entertained the audience with songs of Carl Nielsen, Giuseppe Verdi and Italian folk songs. The relaxed and professional atmosphere throughout the event was created by Robin McLaren from Scotland, UK who acted as the master of ceremony.

President Stig Enemark focussed in his keynote address and farewell speech on the FIG Agenda and Achievements in 2007-2010. The ambitious Council work plan has been implemented to almost the last detail. Just to mention few of the highlights there is the increased co-operation and achievements with the World Bank, UN-Habitat and GLTN and FAO and in total 20 new publications in the FIG publication series.

Greeting addresses were given by long-term contributors to FIG in Denmark: President Henning Elmstroem, the Danish Association of Chartered Surveyors; General Director Jesper Jarmbaek, KMS; and Dean Eskild Holm Nielsen, Aalborg University. The addresses from the FIG community were given by Vice President Matt Higgins (2007-2010); Dr. Chryssy Potsiou, Chair of Commission 3 (2007-2010) and Prof. Paul van der Molen on behalf of the FIG membership. 

President Enemark received thanks, appreciation and honour from delegates and representatives all over the world. In the speeches it was stated that all the time President Enemark has been ‘flying high’ but ‘with the feet on the ground’. As President of the leading NGO on land issues, Prof. Enemark is well-known and FIG is highly respected in UN organisations and in the World Bank. The surveying profession has an important role to play in facing the challenges of the global agenda. In their addresses the speakers spoke about more equal access to land and food, water, and other resources; the climate change and environmental crises and its impacts e.g. in coastal zones, and the rapid urban growth. They emphasised like President Enemark the key role of sound land administration and management in this regard. As President Enemark mentioned FIG is facing a time of change with three directions: From land measurement to land management, from cadastre to land governance, and from local to global. "No development will take place without the footprint of the surveyor”.

At the Handover Ceremony the new book "Land Administration for Sustainable Development " with a substantial contribution from Prof. Enemark was given to all participants thanks to ESRI that had published the book. The role of corporate members has been crucial in the success during the last years. At the Handover Ceremony platinum corporate members were presented by Keith Hofgartner from Trimble.

In his invited keynote presentation Dr. Juha Talvitie from Finland, FIG President 1988–1991, explained in a very nice way how the design, the foundation and the construction for such a truly global organisation have been developed over last twenty years. One very important change is that the Council is no longer related to the country hosting the next FIG Congress but is now directly elected by the General assembly with Stig Enemark being the first elected FIG President.

At the administrative meetings the work plans of the incoming FIG Council and Commissions were discussed and developed and the next conferences 2011-2014 planned.

Further reading:

• Handover Programme
• Prof. Stig Enemark, FIG President (2007-2010): Building the Capacity - The FIG Agenda and Achievements 2007-2010
  • Handouts of the presentation
• CheeHai Teo, FIG President (2011-2014): Address of the Incoming President at the Handover Ceremony
• Dr. Juha Talvitie, FIG President (1988-1991) and Honorary President: Evolution of FIG during the last 20 years
  • Handouts of the presentation

Picture gallery

Handover Ceremony
Almost 100 participants attended the Handover Ceremony in the IDA Building where FIG has its headquarters.	Participants included FIG officers, representatives from member organisations, Danish and other partners.
Robin McLaren was the capable and entertaining MC that managed to keep a relaxed atmosphere throughout the event.	Musical entertainment was provided by tenor Thomas Praestegård and pianist Esben Gade.
President Henning Elmstroem, DdL has been hosting FIG in their headquarters since 1999 and is a strong supporter of FIG.	General Director Jesper Jarmbaek from KMS making his greeting to President Enemark. The co-operation and support from KMS was substantial to FIG when starting the office, KMS is an affiliate member of FIG.
Dean Eskild Holm Nielsen, Aalborg University has been a key partner to President Enemark during his presidency.	President Stig Enemark making his keynote presentation and farewell address in Copenhagen.
The full hall appreciated the work of President Enemark with standing ovation.	FIG Council members 2007-2010 were recognised with certificate of appreciation and small token: CheeHai Teo, Paul van der Molen, Matt Higgins, Chryssy Potsiou and Dalal S. Alnaggar.
All Council members that were present in Copenhagen: Stig Enemark, CheeHai Teo, Paul van der Molen, Matt Higgins, Chryssy Potsiou and Dalal S. Alnaggar. Ken Allred and Iain Greenway were not able to be at the ceremony.	Paul van der Molen, Matt Higgins and President Stig Enemark.
President Enemark and Office Manager Louise Friis-Hansen awarding the Commission Chairs (2007-2010).	Commission chairs receiving the tokens of appreciation.
Commission chairs receiving applause for a well implemented work.	Vice President Matt Higgins addressing President Enemark on behalf of the Council members. Vice President Higgins concluded his term of office in the Council.
Dr. Chryssy Potsiou making the speech of appreciation on behalf of all Commission chairs.	Prof. Paul van der Molen, FIG Honorary Member speaking to President Enemark on behalf of all FIG members.
Dr. Juha Talvitie, FIG President 1988-1991 made the invited keynote address focussing on the FIG development over the last 20 years.	Honorary President Talvitie talking about the great development that FIG has achieved in UN and other partnerships.
The official handover of the President's chain of office. Presidents Enemark and Teo were assisted by Honorary Presidents Robert W. Foster and Juha Talvitie.
Juha Talvitie and Stig Enemark having a toast for FIG's success after the handover.	CheeHai Teo making the address of the Incoming President.
FIG President CheeHai Teo (2011-2014).	The new FIG team for 2011-2014 consist of Council, Commission chairs and other officers.
The ceremony ended with Italian song that ...	... the audience participated.
Recognitions and meetings
President Enemark was recognised by the Malaysian delegation that also sponsored the handover reception after the ceremony.	Nigerian Institute of Surveyors that will host FIG 2013 recognised both President Enemark ...
... and President Teo with Nigerian art and painting.	President Teo together with Nigerian and Malaysian delegations that will host the FIG conferences 2013 and 2014.
President Teo and Malaysian delegation.	President Teo and Nigerian delegation.
Among participants were also many old commission chairs and officers like Niels Ostergaard, Chair of FIG Commission 8 (1990-1994).	Four Commission 3 chairs: Chryssy Potsiou, Yerach Doytsher, Helge Onsrud and Jes Ryttersgaard.
Handover Dinner
Group of invited guests filled San Marco restaurant for the handover dinner the night before the handover ceremony.	President Stig Enemark hosting the VIP table.
President Stig Enemark and Honorary President Juha Talvitie.
New Council and Commission Chairs
Incoming FIG Council at its first meeting in Copenhagen: Iain Greenway, Chryssy Potsiou, CheeHai Teo, Dalal S. Alnaggar and Rudolf Staiger.	New Commission chairs at the ACCO meeting in the FIG Office together with Vice President Rudolf Staiger (Chair of ACCO) and President Teo.
Meeting of Commission Chairs (ACCO)
ACCO discussing Commission work plans for 2011-2014.
Frances Plimmer, chair of Commission 9 and Vice President Rudolf Staiger.	John Hohol, President of the FIG Foundation awarded Prof. Steven Frank for his donation to the FIG Foundation.
ACCO Dinner in Tivoli Gardens.
Copenhagen
The Handover Ceremony took place in the snowy Copenhagen. Snow covered Tivoli made a unique surrounding for the meetings. A cruise in the canals of Copenhagen completed the successful event.

3 December 2010