IOM3 Advisory Council Meeting report March 2025
IOM3 President Christine Blackmore CEng CSci FIMMM reports on the 2025 IOM3 Advisory Council meeting.
IOM3 President Christine Blackmore CEng CSci FIMMM on the 2024 IOM3 Advisory Council meeting.
This was my first IOM3 Advisory Council as President, with everyone joining online on Tuesday, 11 March.
Four Council members joined the meeting for the first time – Dr Colleen Mann CEng FIMMM (Vice-President), Dr Sally Beken FIMMM (Polymer Group), Avery Cunningham AIMMM (IOM3 Pride) and Tony Palmer CEng FIMMM (Energy Transition Group).
After the opening formalities, the Council started the first of its rolling agenda items as previously agreed, covering equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). Jude Allan MIMMM talked through the work of the Institute on this, highlighting the new tool to collect EDI information and store it securely and the importance of filling this in so that IOM3 can better understand its members and their needs. Jude also reminded everyone of the five IOM3 member networks that bring together people who may be in an under-represented group in our profession.
Explore the five IOM3 Member Networks
Next, Graham Ormondroyd FIMMM, lead trustee for sustainability, led a discussion on what the Advisory Council wanted him to focus on in this role. Council members agreed to go back to their various groups and seek their views on priorities for Graham, which he will then digest and prioritise.
The Council then received a report on membership following the discussion of the overall strategy last time. It also received copies of some of the marketing and communication tools that are available to active supporters and volunteers, and an outline of the content themes being tackled by Materials World and the wider team across 2025.
Dr Ilija Rašović MIMMM gave an update on work to review the Institute’s vision and mission statement. Council members shared feedback on the ideas so far, including emphasising the importance of keeping a clear personal aspect.
Next, Dr Church introduced a paper explaining the international partnerships that IOM3 is involved with, such as those on ceramics, corrosion, materials, and mining. The paper also outlined many of the extensive UK-based partnerships that support IOM3 in delivering its charitable purpose to promote materials, minerals and mining.
Following the usual report on the work of the Executive Board, the Council briefly discussed what should be on the agenda of its September meeting. Under AOB, ideas were discussed about whether and how to integrate art into M3P3 in November.
The role of the Advisory Council is significant in providing advice and feeding in the opinions and views of the many groups and disciplines represented so that informed decisions can be made by the Executive Board. Please remember that, if you want to feed into its discussions, you can do so via any of its members, including me.
Contact the IOM3 Advisory Council
– Christine Blackmore CEnv CSci FIMMM, IOM3 President
