About Us
Icsoba
The International Committee for Study of Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium
ICSOBA Presidents
Beginning in 2018 the ICSOBA President is elected by the Board of Directors and comes from the organization becoming the host sponsor of the annual event. In the 55 years of ICSOBA’s endeavor, 15 individuals enjoyed the honor of serving the society as President.
More than 200 years ago, in the south of France, geologist Pierre Berthier discovered a mineral containing more than 50% aluminium oxide - later known as bauxite, after the French village where it was found: "Les Baux de Provence". In 1854, Henri Sainte-Claire Deville carried out the first industrial production of aluminium in Paris. In 1859, he published a work on aluminium in which he predicted its future use: "Aluminium will probably become an everyday metal". Since then, France is proud to be part of the industrial history of alumina and aluminium. Therefore, on behalf of Alteo , Aluminium Dunkerque , Rio Tinto and Trimet, as well as the entire "Aluminium France" association, I have the honor and the pleasure to welcome you to the 42nd edition of ICSOBA. We are convinced that sharing our work and our knowledge will contribute to finding better ways to produce the aluminium the world needs to become even more sustainable. I wish you a good and fruitful conference!
Sergey Akhmetov
2023 ICSOBA President
Executive Vice President Midstream, Emirates Global Aluminium
Short BioOver last 60 years ICSOBA has developed into the most advanced technical forum for our global industry, with high quality technical papers and collaborative discussion between experts from around the world. I am honored to serve as President for 2023, when ICSOBA will take place in Dubai – one of the world’s leading cities, including in aluminium. 2023 is the Year of Sustainability in the United Arab Emirates. I welcome the global aluminium industry to Dubai to make new progress in how we all contribute to the development of a more sustainable society.
The importance of ICSOBA’s role is illustrated by the “bauxite to aluminium” production activity of the 2022 conference host, Mytilineos S.A. It has preserved its competitiveness over 5 decades through successive operational and technology improvements. In this journey, ICSOBA's events and "Travaux" papers have been a valuable source of inspiration
Aluminium is the metal of the future. We believe in partnering with associations such as ICSOBA to exchange knowledge and best practices. Through this, we aim to achieve cost-effective solutions that will help us stay ahead in global environment. This will translate Alba’s Vision ‘To be the number one aluminium supplier for the generations to come.
Containment strategies, travel restrictions and global economic situation challenge conference organisation at present time. However promoting industry collaboration through exchange of ideas and know-how is as important as ever for swift recovery from COVID-19 pandemiс. That is why ICSOBA 2020 is maintained and will be held as a virtual conference.
Technological leadership, environmental safety and waste recycling are the most important challenges for aluminum industry. It is essential to work together to solve them. ICSOBA gives opportunity not only to discuss these challenges but also to find answers to global questions and make steps for the prosperity of the industry for the years to come.
ICSOBA is well-known for promoting knowledge exchange in fundamental research, technology development and innovation in bauxite - to - aluminium value chain. Tangible benefits for member companies, including Hydro from the ideas promoted by ICSOBA are gains in throughput, operational cost and capital intensity: safety and environmental performance.
Dr. Claude Vanvoren
2016-2017 ICSOBA President
Vice President Strategic Projects, Technology and Projects Development, Rio Tinto Aluminium
Short BioOver last 55 years ICSOBA continues to unite aluminium industry professionals and organizations, providing a travelling forum for discussions and exchange of experience from research and current practice. Beyond this objective ICSOBA is striving towards its vision to be The Technology Conference of the Aluminium Industry, for the Aluminium Industry.
Dr. Ali Al Zarouni
2015 ICSOBA President
Senior Vice President, Jebel Ali Operations, Technology Development and Transfer, Emirates Global Aluminium
Short BioWe strongly believe in value of knowledge sharing for personal and professional growth and for continuity of expertise. We also believe in supporting the progress by participating in forums like ICSOBA, where we can not only showcase our own developments but also learn from other players. This exchange is key to sustainability of aluminium industry.
Dr. Frank Feret
2011-2014 ICSOBA President
Retired Senior Technology Consultant, Arvida R&D Centre of Rio Tinto Alcan
Short BioIt is a great honor to serve the members of ICSOBA. Together, we cover the entire spectrum of the aluminum industry and share a common conviction for its strategic role in global development. We find strength in the diversity of our respective social and economic frameworks, as we share research and influence progress at our annual conferences.
Guillaume de Goÿs
2024
Sergey Akhmetov
2023
Spiros Kasdas
2022
Dr. Abdulla Habib Ahmed
2021
Dr. Claude Vanvoren
2020
Viktor Mann
2019
Raphael Costa
2018
Dr. Claude Vanvoren
2016-2017
Dr. Ali Al Zarouni
2015
Dr. Frank Feret
2011-2014
Guillaume de Goÿs
2024 ICSOBA President
CEO, Aluminium Dunkerque
Biography
Guillaume de Goÿs is the CEO of Aluminium Dunkerque, one of the largest primary aluminium smelters in Europe, producing rolling slabs and alloyed ingots for the automotive, packaging and industrial sectors. He seats at the board of Aluminium Duffel, a rolling mill located in Belgium. He has held several management positions in France and abroad, as a senior executive and project manager for various global aluminium, graphite, and tyre companies.
He is also President of the French Association of Aluminium Producers and chairs the Primary Division of European Aluminium where he actively defends the interests of the profession and promotes a more sustainable production of aluminium through the decarbonisation and the development of a more circular economy.
Sergey Akhmetov
2023 ICSOBA President
Executive Vice President Midstream, Emirates Global Aluminium
Biography
Sergey Akhmetov has dedicated his professional career to Aluminium, working in the industry from 2001 and more than decade in EGA. During his career he enjoyed developing new technologies and optimizing reduction processes by leading research and development teams, making industrial implementation of developed technologies, and maximize efficiency of plants with operational teams. Sergey led JA Reduction team since 2014 and EGA Reduction since 2016. He is currently holding the position of Executive Vice President, Midstream from 2020, leading the Midstream Team of the EGA overseeing the Operations and a Member of the Executive Committee. He has graduated from Krasnoyarsk State Academy of Non-Ferrous Metals and Gold with two degrees: Metallurgical engineer/Alumina and Aluminium production and Economist/Management of organization. He has covered executive leadership courses in INSEAD and London Business School.
Spiros Kasdas
2022 ICSOBA President
Vice Chairman, Mytilineos SA
Biography
Spiros Kasdas is currently Vice-Chairman of Mytilineos S.A. During his over 50-year professional experience, he has worked as plant manager of Aluminium of Greece (AOG), as head of the Pechiney Primary Aluminium Research, as CEO of Tomago /Australia, as head of the Pechiney and later on Alcan Primary Aluminium Technology and as General manager of the Mytilineos Metallurgy BU, Chairman of the mining company Delphi - Distomon and CEO of AOG. He has graduated from the Polytechnic School of Athens with a degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering.
Dr. Abdulla Habib Ahmed
2021 ICSOBA President
Chief Operating Officer, Aluminium Bahrain
Biography
Dr. Abdulla Habib Ahmed is currently Chief Operations Officer, Aluminium of Bahrain (Alba). His work experience includes 25 years in various roles in Reduction Lines, R&D and Customers Technical Support. He has PhD in Chemical Engineering and Master in Aluminium Smelting and MBA from ESSEC/ French Arabian School and had his higher education from University of New South Wales, Australia.
Dr. Claude Vanvoren
2020 ICSOBA President
President, C2V Consulting
Biography
Claude Vanvoren held a Master in Solid State Electrochemistry and PhD in Mineral Chemistry. Dr Vanvoren joined Pechiney in 1981 as a carbon research engineer and held several R&D and operational positions in France and Australia. Claude returned to France to become GM of the AP Smelter Technology Center (LRF) in 2000 where he led the development of the new AP60 Pechiney reduction cell technology.
After successive acquisition of Pechiney by Alcan and Alcan by Rio Tinto, Claude successfully led two integration processes between the former Alcan, Alusuisse, Comalco and Pechiney legacy companies as Vice President, Research and Development.
Mid 2009, Claude was appointed Vice President Technology and R&D, Rio Tinto Aluminium (formerly Alcan), managing RTA R&D Centers of Excellence in Canada, France and Australia as well as corresponding Process Engineering organisations.
From March 2017, Dr Claude Vanvoren is proposing consulting services in Innovation Strategy and Management as well as in aluminium smelting.
Viktor Mann
2019 ICSOBA President
Technical Director of UC RUSAL
Biography
Viktor Mann is technical director of UC RUSAL responsible for R&D, development and implementation of new technologies, building and commissioning of new plants and modernization of operating plants in the fields of bauxite & alumina, aluminium smelting and downstream, as well as for technology support of existing operations of RUSAL.
Viktor has more than 40 years work experience in academia and aluminium industry in various positions. He is founder and first director of RUSAL Engineering and Technology Centre that is responsible for core technology development of the Company. Starting from 2005 he is Technical director of UC RUSAL.
Viktor has degrees from Krasnoyarsk State University and Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys. He is honorable metallurgist of Russian Federation.
Raphael Costa
2018 ICSOBA President
Technology Director, Hydro Bauxite and Alumina
Biography
Raphael Costa is the Technology Director for Hydro’s Bauxite & Alumina business unit, responsible for technology development, the R&D portfolio and technical support to operations in Pará, Brazil. He also serves as a member of the board of the Companhia de Alumina do Pará (CAP) alumina refinery project, and a member of the Paragominas mine board.
Raphael has more than 30 years of experience in the aluminum industry, working in various technical and managerial positions with Alcoa and Hydro in Brazil, US, Spain and Australia. He also has 4 years of experience in the steel mini-mill industry in the US, working with the steelmaking company Gerdau.
He has a chemical engineering degree from University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil and a master’s degree in business administration from University of Houston-Victoria in the US.
Dr. Claude Vanvoren
2016-2017 ICSOBA President
Vice President Strategic Projects, Technology and Projects Development, Rio Tinto Aluminium
Biography
Claude Vanvoren held a Master in Solid State Electrochemistry and PhD in Mineral Chemistry. Dr Vanvoren joined Pechiney in 1981 as a carbon research engineer and held several R&D and operational positions in France and Australia. Claude returned to France to become GM of the AP Smelter Technology Center (LRF) in 2000 where he led the development of the new AP60 Pechiney reduction cell technology.
After successive acquisition of Pechiney by Alcan and Alcan by Rio Tinto, Claude successfully led two integration processes between the former Alcan, Alusuisse, Comalco and Pechiney legacy companies as Vice President, Research and Development.
Mid 2009, Claude was appointed Vice President Technology and R&D, Rio Tinto Aluminium (formerly Alcan), managing RTA R&D Centers of Excellence in Canada, France and Australia as well as corresponding Process Engineering organisations.
From March 2017, Dr Claude Vanvoren is proposing consulting services in Innovation Strategy and Management as well as in aluminium smelting.
Dr. Ali Al Zarouni
2015 ICSOBA President
Senior Vice President, Jebel Ali Operations, Technology Development and Transfer, Emirates Global Aluminium
Biography
Dr. Ali Al Zarouni holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from University of Arizona (U.S.A.), a Master’s degree in Quality Management from University of Wollongong, a Doctorate (Ph.D.) from the University of New South Wales, Australia and completed a Program for Executive Development in IMD, Switzerland.
Having joined Dubai Aluminium in March 1991, Ali has served at the company for 24 years. During his tenure, Ali has been involved in all of DUBAL’s expansion projects – from the Falcon project (1995) to the Potline 5B expansion project (completed August 2007), and thus holds extensive knowledge and expertise in the aluminium smelting industry.
Ali was appointed General Manager: Smelter Operations mid-2007 and was promoted to the post of Vice President: Smelter Operations in 2008 (making him a member of DUBAL’s Executive Management team). Conceptualised and implemented amperage creep projects that enabled DUBAL to increase its hot metal production by 15% to 30% across different technologies with minimal investment.Following the integration of DUBAL and Emirates Aluminium (“EMAL”) in 2014, coincident with the formation of Emirates Global Aluminium (“EGA”), Ali was initially appointed as Senior Vice President: Jebel Ali Operations, Technology Development & Transfer and was holding the position of Executive Vice President, Midstream, leading the Midstream Business Unit, comprising of Energy, Technical, Reduction, Carbon & Port, Technology Development & Transfer and Maintenance.
He has published numerous technical papers in industry journals and regularly delivers presentations at trade conferences.
Dr. Frank Feret
2011-2014 ICSOBA President
Retired Senior Technology Consultant, Arvida R&D Centre of Rio Tinto Alcan
Biography
Dr. Frank Feret is an Independent Analytical Consultant. In this role, he provides insight into the characterization of materials for metallurgical process control from bauxite exploration to metal recycling. Frank published over 50 scientific papers and contributed in three books.
Prior to his retirement in 2011, he was Senior Consultant at Rio Tinto Alcan, Arvida Research and Development Centre in Quebec. In 2012 he became President and now is CEO and Vice - Chairman of ICSOBA.
Frank provides a perspective and deep understanding of Canada, which is one of the top global producers and leaders in innovation, efficient technologies and predictive simulations.
Board of Directors
Since October 2022 Director’s election the Association leadership is organised around a two level structure as follows:
Supervisory Board of Directors
A Supervisory Board consisting of the 13 Directors elected in October 2022 for a duration of 2 + 2 years. This group under the leadership of its Chairman, is responsible to steer the Executive Committee (ExCom) to ensure that strategy and values of ICSOBA are upheld. The Supervisory Board appoints/revokes the association CEO.
Prof. Houshang Alamdari
Affiliation:
Laval University, REGAL
E-mail:houshang.alamdari@icsoba.org
Najeeba Al Jabri
Affiliation:
Emirates Global Aluminium
E-mail:najeeba.aljabri@icsoba.org
Bernard Allais
Affiliation:
Yandiah Consulting
E-mail:bernard.allais@icsoba.org
Matthieu Arlettaz
Affiliation:
R&D Carbon
E-mail:matthieu.arlettaz@icsoba.org
Dr. Efthymios Balomenos
Affiliation:
Mytilineos
Serge Despinasse
Affiliation:
Fives Group
E-mail:serge.despinasse@icsoba.org
Marc Dupuis
Affiliation:
Genisim
E-mail:marc.dupuis@icsoba.org
Dr. Frank Feret
Chairman of Supervisory Board, Treasurer
Affiliation:
ICSOBA
E-mail:frank.feret@icsoba.org
Dr. Andrey Panov
Affiliation:
Rusal
E-mail:andrey.panov@icsoba.org
Michel Reverdy
Affiliation:
Emirates Global Aluminium
E-mail:michel.reverdy@icsoba.org
Dagoberto Severo
Affiliation:
CAETE Engenharia
E-mail:dagoberto.severo@icsoba.org
Dr. Bijoy Satpathy
Affiliation:
Indian Institute of Technology
E-mail:bijoy.satpathy@icsoba.org
Dr. Claude Vanvoren
Affiliation:
C2V Consulting
E-mail:claude.vanvoren@icsoba.org
Executive Committee
An Executive Committee consisting of 7 members appointed by the CEO, who, under his/her leadership, are responsible of the activities and affairs of the association. The association CEO is responsible and accountable for ICSOBA operations to the Supervisory Board.
| Name | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Najeeba Al Jabri | Communication Director | najeeba.aljabri@icsoba.org |
| Matthieu Arlettaz | IT Director | matthieu.arlettaz@icsoba.org |
| Bernard Allais | Program Director | bernard.allais@icsoba.org |
| Marc Dupuis | Operation Director | marc.dupuis@icsoba.org |
| Dr. Andrey Panov | Deputy CEO, Director - Strategy | andrey.panov@icsoba.org |
| Michel Reverdy | Program Director | michel.reverdy@icsoba.org |
| Dr. Claude Vanvoren | CEO | claude.vanvoren@icsoba.org |
Technical Committee
The Executive Committee is advised and supported by a Technical Committee in charge of the technology content and agenda of the ICSOBA conferences. The technology Committee under the leadership of the Program Director, consists of a team of experts contributing to the ICSOBA Conference as Subject Organisers and of a Program Editor in charge of TRAVAUX and other publication edition.
1. Program Director, Program Organizers: Michel Reverdy and Bernard Allais
2. Subject Organizers:
| Subject | Subject Organizer |
|---|---|
| Keynote | Bernard Allais, Michel Reverdy |
| Bauxite & Alumina | Sébastien Fortin, Andrey Panov |
| Bauxite Residue | Thymis Balomenos |
| Aluminium | Vinko Potocnik, Dagoberto Severo |
| Carbon | Houshang Alamdari |
| Smelter Casthouse Operations | Joseph Langlais |
3. Programme Editor: Serge Despinasse
Bertrand Allano
Reduction Principal Advisor, Aluminium Technology Solutions, Rio Tinto
Country: France
Domain: Aluminium
E-mail:Bertrand.Allano@icsoba.org
Dr. Anupam Agnihotri
Director of Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development & Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur, India
Country: India
Domain: Aluminium
E-mail:Anupam.Agnihotri@icsoba.org
Jose Gomes
Chemistry Specialist at Fortescue Future Industries
Country: Australia
Domain: Bauxite
E-mail:jose.gomes@icsoba.org
Hendrik Lee
Researcher, Indonesian Institute of Sciences
Country: Indonesia
Domain: Bauxite
E-mail:hendrick.lee@icsoba.org
Michael Ren
Managing Director, Sunlightmetal Consulting Inc
Country: Canada / China
Domain: Alumina, Aluminium
E-mail:Michael.ren@icsoba.org
David Roth
President, GPS Global Solutions
Country: USA
Domain: Aluminium, Downstream
E-mail:david.roth@icsoba.org
Sergei Sementsov
Process Engineer, VPG
Country: Israel
Domain: Bauxite & Alumina
E-mail:Sergey.Sementsov@icsoba.org
Roberto Seno Junior
Technology Manager, Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA)
Country: Brazil
Domain: Bauxite & Alumina
E-mail:Roberto.Seno@icsoba.org
Andre Felipe Schneider
Senior Researcher, Hatch
Country: Canada
Domain: Aluminium
E-mail:andre.schneider@icsoba.org
Dr. Yi Xiaobing
Vice Chief Engineer, GAMI, CHALIECO, CHINALCO
Country: China
Domain: Aluminium
E-mail:yi.xiaobing@icsoba.org
Dr. Yin Zhonglin
Chief Engineer (Alumina) of Aluminum Corporation of China (CHINALCO)
Country: China
Domain: Bauxite & Alumina
E-mail:Yin.Zhonglin@icsoba.org