Reflections on Our Membership and the Industry’s Future

Six months have passed since I became Chair of IBIA, and over that time I have gained an even greater appreciation of the association and the work it does. There is no doubt in my mind that IBIA is enjoying an exceptionally successful decade. 

The association is more relevant than ever, more engaged with the key stakeholders across bunkering and shipping and continuing to strengthen its position as the industry’s leading voice.

A great deal of the credit belongs to the Secretariat. While our Board members, and many non-board member, make invaluable contributions, it is the tireless and dedicated IBIA Secretariat that continues to innovate, raise standards and deliver for our membership, our industry and indeed the entire marine fuel supply chain.

In the months leading up to taking on the role of Chair, I made a conscious decision to be as active and accessible as possible, travelling whenever time allowed to meet members and non-members alike. That commitment took me to London, Singapore, Athens and Panama within the space of just two months.

This was important not only because I was following in the footsteps of highly engaged previous Chairs, but also because, on a personal level, I wanted to meet our members face-to-face and reconnect with the industry. It may seem strange to admit after more than 40 years in bunkering but having spent the last decade working as a consultant, removed from the day-to-day demands of the business, I wasn’t entirely sure I still knew who made up our industry. After all, even setting aside the multiple “black swan” events we have all experienced, the past decade has transformed our industry in ways few could have imagined — and that transformation is far from over.

So, what did I discover about our membership?

One of the first things I realised is that our members join IBIA for many different reasons. For some, it is the sense of community and the opportunity to connect through our events. For others, it is our work on regulation and advocacy. There are probably as many reasons for joining as there are members.

What also became clear is that our $200 billion value chain, with its 260 million metric tonnes of bunker deliveries, is made up predominantly of small and medium-sized companies. I can see that reflected in the growing stack of business cards I have collected over the past few months — introducing me to many companies I either barely knew or had never encountered before.

There is a real danger in taking these smaller businesses for granted while naturally focusing attention on the industry’s largest players. Membership associations will always seek to engage major companies because, by working together, we have a greater opportunity to influence change. IBIA should make no apology for working closely with many of the industry’s largest organisations and we will continue to do so. At the same time, it is equally important to recognise that much of the industry’s innovation and future growth comes from smaller companies, which are often the driving force behind new ideas and change.

One of IBIA’s strengths is its democratic voting structure, which ensures that our Global Board reflects the diversity of our membership, with both large and small companies represented. In fact, some of our most active and committed Board members come from smaller organisations, often driven by a genuine passion to improve the industry.

Of course, balance matters. If larger companies are absent from our boards, something important is missing and we should continue working to maintain that balance. Our Regional Boards also play an important role, sometimes helping to strengthen representation from larger organisations while equally ensuring that smaller buyers and suppliers continue to have a strong voice.

One area where I believe we still have an opportunity is encouraging more of the industry’s major companies to become part of IBIA. While not every large company is represented on our Global or Regional Boards, some are not yet members at all!

Over recent months I have spent many hours encouraging these companies to join and I hope more will recognise the valuable role IBIA now plays across the marine fuels value chain. Their participation would not simply strengthen the association; it would strengthen the industry’s collective voice. Furthermore, I believe they would benefit from the expertise, collaboration and influence that IBIA provides to its members.

This brings me back to the point I really wanted to make.

As IBIA continues to grow in influence and visibility, I hope none of our members feel that we are becoming overly focused on a more political or corporate agenda at the expense of their interests.

That certainly will not be the case during my time as Chair.

Although much of my own career has been spent in large companies, I have found real satisfaction over the past six months in seeing just how engaged, entrepreneurial and enthusiastic our small and medium-sized members are. They have always been central to IBIA’s success, and I firmly believe they will continue to shape its future.

They have my full attention and support. And if, at any point, you feel that is not the case, please let me know.

Adrian Tolson
IBIA Chair