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.

Guillaume de Goÿs

Guillaume de Goÿs

2024 ICSOBA President
CEO, Aluminium Dunkerque
Short Bio
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

Sergey Akhmetov

2023 ICSOBA President
Executive Vice President Midstream, Emirates Global Aluminium
Short Bio
Over 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.
Spiros Kasdas

Spiros Kasdas

2022 ICSOBA President
Vice Chairman, Mytilineos SA
Short Bio
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
Dr. Abdulla Habib Ahmed

Dr. Abdulla Habib Ahmed

2021 ICSOBA President
Chief Operating Officer, Aluminium Bahrain
Short Bio
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.
Dr. Claude Vanvoren

Dr. Claude Vanvoren

2020 ICSOBA President
President, C2V Consulting
Short Bio
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.
Viktor Mann

Viktor Mann

2019 ICSOBA President
Technical Director of UC RUSAL
Short Bio
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.
Raphael Costa

Raphael Costa

2018 ICSOBA President
Technology Director, Hydro Bauxite and Alumina
Short Bio
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

Dr. Claude Vanvoren

2016-2017 ICSOBA President
Vice President Strategic Projects, Technology and Projects Development, Rio Tinto Aluminium
Short Bio
Over 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

Dr. Ali Al Zarouni

2015 ICSOBA President
Senior Vice President, Jebel Ali Operations, Technology Development and Transfer, Emirates Global Aluminium
Short Bio
We 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

Dr. Frank Feret

2011-2014 ICSOBA President
Retired Senior Technology Consultant, Arvida R&D Centre of Rio Tinto Alcan
Short Bio
It 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

Guillaume de Goÿs

2024

Sergey Akhmetov

Sergey Akhmetov

2023

Spiros Kasdas

Spiros Kasdas

2022

Dr. Abdulla Habib Ahmed

Dr. Abdulla Habib Ahmed

2021

Dr. Claude Vanvoren

Dr. Claude Vanvoren

2020

Viktor Mann

Viktor Mann

2019

Raphael Costa

Raphael Costa

2018

Dr. Claude Vanvoren

Dr. Claude Vanvoren

2016-2017

Dr. Ali Al Zarouni

Dr. Ali Al Zarouni

2015

Dr. Frank Feret

Dr. Frank Feret

2011-2014

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

Prof. Houshang Alamdari

Affiliation:
Laval University, REGAL

E-mail:

Najeeba Al Jabri

Najeeba Al Jabri

Affiliation:
Emirates Global Aluminium

E-mail:

Bernard Allais

Bernard Allais

Affiliation:
Yandiah Consulting

E-mail:

Matthieu Arlettaz

Matthieu Arlettaz

Affiliation:
R&D Carbon

E-mail:

Dr. Efthymios Balomenos

Dr. Efthymios Balomenos

Affiliation:
Mytilineos

E-mail:

Serge Despinasse

Serge Despinasse

Affiliation:
Fives Group

E-mail:

Marc Dupuis

Marc Dupuis

Affiliation:
Genisim

E-mail:

Dr. Frank Feret

Dr. Frank Feret

Chairman of Supervisory Board, Treasurer

Affiliation:
ICSOBA

E-mail:

Dr. Andrey Panov

Dr. Andrey Panov

Affiliation:
Rusal

E-mail:

Michel Reverdy

Michel Reverdy

Affiliation:
Emirates Global Aluminium

E-mail:

Dagoberto Severo

Dagoberto Severo

Affiliation:
CAETE Engenharia

E-mail:

Dr. Bijoy Satpathy

Dr. Bijoy Satpathy

Affiliation:
Indian Institute of Technology

E-mail:

Dr. Claude Vanvoren

Dr. Claude Vanvoren

Affiliation:
C2V Consulting

E-mail:

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 E-mail
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

ICSOBA Regional Ambassadors

To support its strategic objectives, ICSOBA aims to increase its worldwide visibility and capacity to regularly interact with Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium players around the world.

For this purpose, ICSOBA aims to deploy a network of regional “ambassadors”.

ICSOBA Regional Ambassadors (IRA) are persons demonstrating the willingness to support ICSOBA future by successfully identifying new Corporate Members as well as contributing to the success of ICSOBA annual conference. There could be several IRA for the same region in order to cover all subjects of forthcoming ICSOBA conference (for example: B&A, Smelting, Academia, …).

ICSOBA Regional Ambassadors demonstrating the willingness to be associated to ICSOBA on the long run and achieving results will be rewarded and incentivised.

ICSOBA Regional Ambassadors (IRA) are proposed to the Board and are appointed by the Board.

Feel free to contact any Board Member to further discuss those positions.

Bertrand Allano

Bertrand Allano

Reduction Principal Advisor, Aluminium Technology Solutions, Rio Tinto

Country: France

Domain: Aluminium

E-mail:

Bertrand Allano

Dr. Anupam Agnihotri

Director of Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development & Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur, India

Country: India

Domain: Aluminium

E-mail:

Bertrand Allano

Jose Gomes

Chemistry Specialist at Fortescue Future Industries

Country: Australia

Domain: Bauxite

E-mail:

Bertrand Allano

Hendrik Lee

Researcher, Indonesian Institute of Sciences

Country: Indonesia

Domain: Bauxite

E-mail:

Bertrand Allano

Michael Ren

Managing Director, Sunlightmetal Consulting Inc

Country: Canada / China

Domain: Alumina, Aluminium

E-mail:

Bertrand Allano

David Roth

President, GPS Global Solutions

Country: USA

Domain: Aluminium, Downstream

E-mail:

Bertrand Allano

Sergei Sementsov

Process Engineer, VPG

Country: Israel

Domain: Bauxite & Alumina

E-mail:

Bertrand Allano

Roberto Seno Junior

Technology Manager, Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA)

Country: Brazil

Domain: Bauxite & Alumina

E-mail:

Bertrand Allano

Andre Felipe Schneider

Senior Researcher, Hatch

Country: Canada

Domain: Aluminium

E-mail:

Bertrand Allano

Dr. Yi Xiaobing

Vice Chief Engineer, GAMI, CHALIECO, CHINALCO

Country: China

Domain: Aluminium

E-mail:

Bertrand Allano

Dr. Yin Zhonglin

Chief Engineer (Alumina) of Aluminum Corporation of China (CHINALCO)

Country: China

Domain: Bauxite & Alumina

E-mail: