43rd International Conference and Exhibition ICSOBA 2025

Biography

Kang Yi，Professor-level Senior Engineer; formerly Manager of Qingtongxia Aluminium Smelter, Deputy General Manager of China Nonferrous Metals Industry Corporation, and President of China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association.

Biography

Dr Liu Wanchao is the general manager of Zhengzhou Nonferrous Metals Research Institute Co., Ltd of CHINALCO, the executive director of the China Nonferrous Metals Society Light Metals Division. He is primarily engaged in the research of resource comprehensive utilization and environmental protection technologies in the aluminium industry.

He has achieved a series of industrialized technological advancements in areas such as the utilization of red mud, hazardous waste management from aluminium electrolysis, treatment of metallurgical flue gas, and carbon emission management.

Biography

Li Jie is a Level-2 Professor and PhD supervisor at Central South University, a specially appointed professor under the “Changjiang Scholars Program,” and Director of the National Engineering Research Center for Low-Carbon Nonferrous Metallurgy. He has long been dedicated to research and industrial application in intelligent and digital metallurgy (aluminium electrolysis).

He has published over 600 academic papers, holds more than 380 authorized invention patents, and has received 3 National Science and Technology Progress Awards and 8 First Prizes for Science and Technology Progress at the provincial or ministerial level.

Biography

Ron joined China Hongqiao Group in January 2020, following 11 years as Secretary General of the International Aluminium Institute (London). Previous roles include Executive Director of the Australian Aluminium Council (2002 to 2008), Chief Executive of the World Coal Institute London (1997 to 2001) and senior positions with the Minerals Council of Australia (1987 to 1996). Prior to these appointments, Ron was an economist with the Australian Government (1976 to 1987).  Ron is an Australian with a small beef cattle farm in Australia.

China Hongqiao Group is one of the largest fully integrated aluminium company in the world with extensive activities along the whole production chain, based on major direct investments and long-term strategic partnerships.  Production is dominated by operations in China, combined with key resource developments in Indonesia and Guinea.

China Hongqiao attaches great importance environmental protection, energy conservation and sustainable development.  with clean green production and higher value products as core business goals.  China Hongqiao seeks to continuously improve the full industrial chain by building unique aluminium industry clusters. Central to the industrial cluster philosophy is the development of surrounding enterprises and the cities in which the plants are located.

Biography

Bing Jiang is the Director of the Industry Information Centre at Sunstone Development Co., Ltd. With 20 years of experience in the prebaked anode industry for aluminium, he specializes in strategic analysis, policy insights, market trends, and price modelling. Bing maintains close collaboration with leading global aluminium companies and international consultancies. His supply-demand assessments and cost models are widely acknowledged, making him a key contributor and witness to the development of China's anode industry.

Biography

Bing Jiang is the Director of the Industry Information Centre at Sunstone Development Co., Ltd. With 20 years of experience in the prebaked anode industry for aluminium, he specializes in strategic analysis, policy insights, market trends, and price modelling. Bing maintains close collaboration with leading global aluminium companies and international consultancies. His supply-demand assessments and cost models are widely acknowledged, making him a key contributor and witness to the development of China's anode industry.

Biography

Miles Prosser is the Secretary General of the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), the only body that represents the aluminium industry at the global level. With more than twenty years’ experience working on various industry policy issues, Miles brings in-depth knowledge on resource allocation, sustainability and climate change.

Miles joined the IAI from the Australian Aluminium Council, where he served as Executive Director for more than ten years. He leads the IAI to promote the unique and valuable properties of aluminium in sustainable development. He holds an honours degree from the Australian National University. He is a member of the Institute of Directors in London.

Biography

Mr. Chunming Dong serves as General Manager of Sunlight Metal Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd, Advisor of ASI, China Coordinator for the Global Aluminium Foil Rollers Initiative (GLAFRI), and Founder of the China Magnesium Network. Mr. Dong previously held positions at the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA) and Antaike, where he was responsible for aluminium and magnesium market intelligence and industry research.

In 2006, he founded Sunlight Metal, specializing in industrial and market research, consulting, and business services for aluminium and magnesium, serving numerous domestic and international enterprises and institutions. He concurrently engages in public advocacy for the aluminium and magnesium industries, disseminating information on sustainability, and facilitating international exchanges and cooperation across the industrial chain.

Biography

Sébastien Fortin is currently Principal Advisor Research and Development for Bauxite and Alumina in the Strategy & Innovation team of Rio Tinto’s Arvida Research Centre in Canada. He obtained his PhD in chemistry nearly 25 years ago and has been with the company’s Bauxite and Alumina R&D division ever since, in various scientific, managerial and strategic roles. He complemented this with 3 years in operations at the QAL refinery in Australia. In October 2024, he was appointed Chairman of the International Aluminium Institute’s Bauxite and Alumina Committee, and that is in this role that he will speak.

Biography

Lance Myers is the Development Program Manager in Alcoa's Operational Excellence COE in Western Australia. He graduated with Honours in Chemistry from the University of Western Australia in 1998 and joined Alcoa as a Research Chemist. Over his 26-year career at Alcoa Lance has focused on refining technology development, taking on both scientific and managerial roles.

He earned a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Western Australia in 2009, and in October 2024 was appointed Vice-Chair of the International Aluminium Institute’s Bauxite and Alumina Committee.

Biography

Michael Ren is the President of Sunlightmetal Consulting Inc., a Toronto-based firm specializing in bridging the aluminium industries of China and the Western world. With over 20 years of experience in the aluminium sector, Mr. Ren has developed deep expertise in international business development, market strategy, and cross-border collaboration.

His career began with global technology providers, including Outotec, where he engaged closely with Chinese aluminium producers during a period of significant industrial growth. His consulting work emphasizes market localization, regulatory compliance, and fostering trusted partnerships in an increasingly complex industrial landscape.

Mr. Ren is recognized as a thought leader in the aluminium industry, frequently advising stakeholders on both sides of the global aluminium divide. His bilingual and bicultural background enables him to navigate technical, regulatory, and commercial challenges across markets effectively. As China approaches its aluminium production ceiling and seeks new green technologies, and as Western firms look to re-engage with China post-COVID, his insights are increasingly valuable.

Biography

NFC/NEUI is an important technology supplier and service provider in China's aluminum industry, making significant contributions to the rapid development of the industry and the large-scale and low-carbon development of core technology equipment. As one of the early companies in the global aluminum industry to develop and apply 600 kA aluminum reduction cell technology, NFC/NEUI has widely applied NEUI600 technology in domestic capacity replacement projects and overseas capacity
construction.

As of the end of 2024, a total of 15 potlines have been applied, with a total capacity of 6 180 ktpa. Following the first successful 600 kA potline in Weiqiao smelter at the end of 2014, the longest operating time has been over 10 years, the highest amperage can reach 630 kA or above, and rich experience in design, construction and operation has been accumulated.

Biography

Yang Cao has over 10 years of experience in the aluminium sector. He is the editor of the aluminium weekly tracker and senior research analyst at Fastmarkets. Yang holds a master’s degree from the University of York and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Biography

Sameer Nayak is the President & Cluster Head of Hindalco Industries Ltd , Renukoot , India which operates an Integrated Aluminium complex having a 410 ktpa Smelter, 830 MW Captive power plant, 720 ktpa Alumina Refinery and Fabrication plants (Rolled and extrusion plants). He has rich experiences in Metals and Mining and Power sector. He specializes in streamlining Operations of Big plants and has rich experiences in Projects erections and commissioning of Mega Projects.

He has made significant contributions to the business across plants improving volumes, productivity, quality and reliability and is passionate about driving safety and sustainability at plants. He is a Mechanical Engineering Graduate and has 28 years of Industry experience mostly in Metals and Power.

Biography

Mr. Zhang developed his career at Baotou Aluminum and has successively held deputy leadership roles overseeing production and technology at Shandong Huayu and Shanxi New Materials. He is familiar with the full-process production and technical management across the aluminum industry chain, including alumina, electrolytic aluminum, carbon, high-purity aluminum, and aluminum alloys.