Dear INCOSE Members,

Due to the uncertainties related to COVID-19-driven travel restrictions expected over the next four months, we have made the decision to move forward with the International Workshop, IW 2021 as a fully virtual event.   This was a particularly hard decision to make as IW 2021 was our first time planning to conduct the workshop outside of the USA, in the great location of Seville, Spain.  However, we need to continue to keep adapting our operations under the constraints imposed by the pandemic to provide our members with high quality INCOSE services, benefits, and opportunities.  This is just another example of our resilience and evolution as a technical organization.  The health and safety of our members, contractors and alliances continues to remain our highest priority. 

You will receive details over the coming weeks on how the International Workshop will be conducted through the various INCOSE news channels and on our IW website.  Within the IW timeframe we are still planning to hold an opening plenary, carry out the installation of the 2021 Board of Directors, run town halls as appropriate, and conduct a virtual “Working Group Market Place” at the conclusion.  Yet now, under a virtual program, we have the added advantage of scheduling workshops for many groups and communities without the restriction of needing to allocate physical rooms.  With this greater flexibility a group may be able to leverage the virtual format for IW 2021 by having more than one meeting, or could schedule a progressive workshop across various time zones, to name just a few possibilities.

To all our members and contributors to IW 2021, we understand the workshop is an important event to plan and progress the objectives of working groups and communities.  Moving to a virtual program will continue to provide a strong collaborative environment to support the workshop, including greater outreach to participants.  By building on the success of IS 2020 and our investment in its virtual platform, we are confident that IW 2021 will also deliver the value our members expect from the International Workshop.

If you have any general questions relating to this message, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]

Lastly, I would like to again thank all our INCOSE volunteers and members who continue to contribute to the success and wellbeing of INCOSE.  I wish the best to you and your families.

And, I look forward to catching up with you at IW 2021, the virtual International Workshop.

Keep well, keep safe.

Kerry Lunney
INCOSE President