AKHILESH JOSHI, CEO-HZL APPOINTED VICE CHAIRMAN OF INTERNATIONAL ZINC ASSOCIATION (IZA)

Mr. Akhilesh Joshi, CEO Hindustan Zinc, has been appointed as Vice Chairman of the International Zinc Association (IZA). A decision in this regard was taken by the Board of International Zinc Association (IZA) in their Annual General Meeting held on 23^rd October 2014.  Akhilesh Joshi is the first Indian CEO to be appointed as Vice Chairman of International Zinc Association (IZA).

International Zinc Association(IZA), a non - profit organization established in 1990 in Brussels, has been very actively pursuing globally the image of Zinc, from an industrial product to an essential element. The International Zinc Association(IZA) has also been instrumental in running a “Zinc Saves Kids” program in association with UNICEF. International Zinc Association (IZA) has a strong regional presence in USA, Europe, Latin America, Asia including China, South Africa and Australia, through 11 offices and more than 250 member companies, including big global mining companies like MMG, Teck Cominco, Boliden etc. and Zinc smelting companies like Korea Zinc, Votorantim to name a few.

International Zinc Association(IZA) has also been working very closely in India with National Highways Authority of India, Airport Authority of India, Indian Railways, Central Public Works Department, Central Road Research Institute etc. to highlight the importance and necessity of Galvanizing. Recently, in close association with Hindustan Zinc, International Zinc Association(IZA) organized the first International Galvanizing Conference in New Delhi. Later a Zinc College was also organized in Udaipur under the auspices of Mr. Akhilesh Joshi, which saw participation of 75 experts representing 32 countries.

At present International Zinc Association has Chairman as Mr. Andrew Michelmore, the CEO of MMG limited and  Executive Director as Mr. Stephen Wilkinson, who is an ex Teck Cominco executive.

ASIA'S FIRST ZINC COLLEGE BEGINS IN UDAIPUR, HOSTED BY HINDUSTAN ZINC

Asia’s first Zinc College began in Udaipur on 7th September 2014 hosted by Hindustan Zinc, India’s largest and one of the world’s largest integrated zinc producer.  About 75 participants from 30 countries around the globe are participating in this Zinc College which is scheduled till 11th September 2014.  Mr. Akhilesh Joshi, CEO – Hindustan Zinc is the Chairman for Zinc College 2014.

Zinc College is organized by International Zinc Association and involves lectures, working group sessions and a Zinc smelting plant visits. Discussions and debates are organized on zinc production, marketing and sales, applications, LME trading, statistics, communications, environment, health and crop nutrition and sustainable development. Senior executives from IZA Member companies and consultants from public and private organizations are instructors in Zinc College.  Besides lectures and discussions, the Zinc College will also discuss other usages of zinc like ‘Zinc Saves Kids’, ‘Zinc in Fertilizers’ etc. The global industry is looking towards India as a promising emerging market for Zinc and Steel and in view of this Zinc College plays a significant role. The last Zinc College was held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in 2012.

This year Zinc College speakers list include Stephen Wilkinson ( Exec Director – IZA), Dr Frank Goodwin (Global Director- IZA), Claire Hassall (Principal – CHR Metals) , Genevieve Begkoyian ( Chief of Health - UNICEF), Paul White (Director - International Lead Zinc Study Group), Tony Green (Grenvyn Consulting Inc), Mo Ahmadzadeh (INTL FCStone, USA), Graham Wood (Technical Director - AMEC Americas), Marc De Jonghe (Director – Umicore), Marianne Schönnenbeck (Rheinzink), Martin Gagné, IZA Canada), William Marques (Director - IZA Brazil), Ben Cattaneo (Accenture Risk Management), Martin Webb (GM - MMG Ltd), Sander de Leeuw (Commercial Director -  Boliden Mineral AB), Luis Eduardo Woolcott (Compañia Minera Milpo) and Berit Wirths (Manager Communications – IZA).

Other eminent speakers in the College from India would be Laxman Shekhawat (Chief Operating Officer – Mines, Hindustan Zinc), Akhilesh Shukla (Head – R&D, Hindustan Zinc), Rahul Sharma (Director India, IZA) and Dr Soumitra Das (Director, Zinc Nutrient Initiative - India, IZA).

A panel discussion for the benefit of participants with senior executives of Hindustan Zinc has also scheduled with Mr. Sunil Duggal, Deputy CEO – Hindustan Zinc and Mr. Amitabh Gupta, CFO – Hindustan Zinc as panel members.