At our AGM in Seville, Grzegorz Rusak shared the work SPETECH’s young engineers are doing on gasket leakage testing and gasket characterization. It was encouraging to see early career engineers entrusted with technical questions that matter across our industry.
Our industry is working through demanding questions on emissions, materials, standards, and sustainability. These are opportunities for experienced specialists and younger engineers to work together. Mentorship is especially valuable when it happens around a problem that needs solving.
That is why the Young Engineers Initiative gathering in Katowice on 21–22 October matters to me. It gives young colleagues a chance to share their work and connect with people across the industry. ESA’s scholarship and university projects have already given us a foundation to build on.
I would like to invite each member company to take one practical step: give a young engineer a meaningful project, pair them with an experienced colleague, and encourage them to share what they learn through an ESA division.
My thanks to Grzegorz and everyone for giving their time to this initiative. I look forward to hearing the participants’ ideas and seeing them take a growing role in ESA’s work.
Our commitment to young engineers also owes much to Sandy Van den Broeck, who has devoted considerable time and energy to this initiative as our ESG Director. His support for university connections and practical research projects has helped create opportunities for young talent to contribute to our industry.
As Sandy steps down from his position for family reasons, I would like to recognize his many years of service to ESA. His contribution spans the chairmanship of our Packings and Flange Gaskets divisions, involvement in technical programs, and representation of our industry on PFAS and drinking water matters. As ESG Director, he has also helped advance our work on sustainability and responsible business practices.
On behalf of ESA, thank you, Sandy, for your dedication and expertise over the years. On a personal note, I am grateful for your friendship and the commitment you have brought to our work together. You and your family have our warmest wishes and support, and you will always be part of the ESA community.
Ozan Devlen,
ESA Chair