by Brianna Crandall — May 11, 2012—The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) and Facility Management Nederland—the Dutch facilities management association, IFMA partner and first member of the new IFMA Alliance—formalized their partnership during an FMN General Assembly meeting April 26 in Breda, the Netherlands. The partnership intends to promote the FM profession in the Netherlands and abroad.
FMN became an IFMA partner when it merged with the Holland Chapter of IFMA on January 1, 2012. Members of the new association retain custom membership in IFMA. FMN is the first member of the IFMA Alliance, a concept that unites IFMA with other facilities management groups to work together for the betterment of the profession globally. IFMA says that the partnership “leads the way for IFMA to work with associations and others to provide flexible, demand-focused options for membership, education, credentials and networking that will enhance the profession,” and provides “a win-win relationship for both associations.”
To further promote Dutch international FM aspirations, FMN has created a Committee International consisting of both established facilities practitioners and young professionals from the Netherlands. Taking a strategic and innovative approach, their goal is to increase the Dutch footprint in the global FM community while improving the profession through alliances with IFMA, EuroFM and other professional organizations. Committee activities include participating in the European Facility Management Conference and the World Workplace Conference & Expo, hosting FM students from Africa, and establishing scholarships for Dutch students through the IFMA Foundation.
FMN is one of Europe’s largest and most widely recognized associations for FM professionals, supporting 2,400 members. The association’s members are represented in six regions (chapters) and eight knowledge circuits (councils). FMN offers more than 10 multilingual accredited FM educational courses, involving more than 5,000 bachelor and master students in FM on a yearly basis. Founded in 1980, FMN conducts research, sponsors university chairs and co-organizes events.
IFMA is seen as the world’s largest and most widely recognized international association for professional facilities managers, supporting 22,655 members in 78 countries. The association’s members, represented in 127 chapters and 16 councils worldwide, manage more than 37 billion square feet of property and annually purchase more than $100 billion in products and services. Formed in 1980, IFMA certifies facility managers, conducts research, provides educational programs, and produces World Workplace, reportedly the world’s largest FM conference and exposition.
