Speech of President of EVHA (Seppe Thys), Hamburg, 2024

Thank you for your renewed thrust in me as your president.

It is time to grow.

On the recent history of EVHA

The European Ventilation Hygiene Association (EVHA) was founded in 1999 by a small group of people representing a number of countries across Europe.

Our objectives are to promote the Ventilation Hygiene industry within Europe and lobby for improved legislation and standards.

The EVHA has a membership across a broad spectrum of companies that are actively involved in the ventilation hygiene marketplace, including; contractors manufacturers and university professionals. The aim is to unify our marketplace throughout Europe and become a single voice, for all those that care passionately about our industry and our environment.

Back in 1999, EVHA was created by an international group of colleagues. Kimmo has been president since 2013. During that period, we had 7 paying members. Now, continuing the work with the team of the board, the amount of members has risen to 50!

The way forward

We cannot make a difference alone, but together we can bring change, that will increase the awareness of the need for clean ductwork, and improve the standards of service to customers throughout Europe.

4 times creating impact:

1. Create impact: we have to become more important in being an absolute quality label for our members. Hence our efforts for training and the sharpened expectations for training towards our members.
2. Create impact: we have to cover some blind spots in Europe.
3. Create impact: inter-organizational impact by mutual membership of other air duct cleaner association and HVAC-associations like REHVA, NADCA, AISA, etc.
4. Create impact in our market: I would like more vendor members to join EVHA.

We see the future for the Association in the next 12 months and beyond as very exciting given the new focus on ventilation performance, design and hygiene /maintenance after COVID 19 and fighting against the energy crisis.

For professionalization, impact and focus, the basis has been laid during the last 3 years.  Your board of directors can promise we will continue to work hard to achieve even higher levels of professionalism and impact. Not to forget that the work done by the board is pro deo.

Now, for 2025, the theme I am proposing is GROWTH. Growth in financials, growth in amount of members, growth in the organization of our association. And I have put some goals to this growth.

For now, today and this evening, I expect a vivid discussion and information sharing on our profession, on our market and our association. Please have fun together.