Once a year, the members of the International Water Mist Association meet for their annual member meeting. Part of the meeting are usually the elections. Most of the time, there are some members of the board who seek confirmation in office. However, this year the meeting was special as a new chair had to be elected. The last time this happened was in 2018, when Are W. Brandt (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) had taken over from Ragnar Wighus.
This year, Are W. Brandt had to vacate the position. The articles of the association require this move after two terms, i.e. six years.
Kristian Hox (RISE Norway) and Max Lakkonen (IFAB) had applied for the position as chair in July and during the member meeting, Max Lakkonen was elected. At the same time he had to step down as chairman of the IWMA Scientific Council.
The members of the IWMA Board of Directors are now (from left to right):
- Dirk Sprakel (Fogtec), IWMA Vice-President
- Luciano Nigro (Jensen Hughes), member of the board
- Henrik Bygbjerg (Danfoss Fire Safety), member of the board
- Ann Micheli (Ultra Fog), member of the board
- Dirk Laibach (Johnson Controls International), member of the board
- Max Lakkonen (IFAB), IWMA President
- Markku Vuorisalo (Marioff), member of the board
- Robert Harley Mostad (RISE), member of the board
- Jonathan Carpenter (FM Approvals), member of the board
As there was a certain chance that Max Lakkonen would be elected IWMA President, the IWMA Board had also requested applications for the position as chair of the IWMA Scientific Council. Elected was Bogdan Raciega (Baltic Fire Laboratory).