The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) has announced the appointment of its new President, Matthias Kuhn, who has set out a vision for the national trade body for his two-year term in the role.
Matthias takes up the leadership position within the membership body for the multi-billion-pound industrial and medical gases industry 16 years after his first term as President of the BCGA ended in 2010.
A specialist in hydrogen with 40 years of gas industry experience across Europe and India, Matthias aims to bolster BCGA’s activities by raising the profile of the industry and representing the interests of its members on key issues.
Matthias said: “BCGA is a strong voice for the compressed gases industry, providing advice and guidance to governing bodies and regulators as well as its own members and the wider public.
“The Technical Sub Committees are the backbone of the Association, offering safe practice information and technical support as well as ensuring BCGA has the pool of expertise needed to represent the interests of its members on issues such as environmental regulation, PFAS, gas abuse and metal theft, alongside coordinating responses of its member companies in potential crisis situations.
“New transformational technologies create both challenges and opportunities for the association, its members and the compressed gases industry and my aim is to see the BCGA help to develop solutions that improve the service it provides to its members.
“The BCGA represents an industry that is largely invisible but vital for the many industrial sectors it serves.
“We have great people working in our member companies at all levels, but we face challenges in attracting talent and it is crucial that the BCGA continues to raise the profile of the industry in support of its members.”
With a commitment to stringent quality, safety and environmental measures, BCGA members employ 19,000 people directly and account for an annual turnover of £2.7 billion.
The national trade body announced the appointment of a new President at its Annual Conference in Manchester. Simon Fisher, the Managing Director of Gas Con, was also elected as Vice President.
Speaking at the event, Matthias thanked out-going President Chris Street.
Matthias said: “I’m honoured to be the new President and would like to thank Chris Street and the Council for their confidence in me and Chris in particular for the excellent work he has done over the past two years.”
