The Institute of Corrosion gathered on 4^th November 2025 for its Annual General Meeting (AGM), hosted this year by the Henry Royce Institute in Manchester. The North West Branch ensured the day ran seamlessly from start to finish. ICorr extends sincere thanks to the ICorr team and to all members who travelled – some from considerable distance -to contribute to a lively and well-attended event. The venue’s bright spaces and thoughtful catering choices set a warm tone for the day.

Photo: All Attendees of ICorr AGM in Manchester on 4^th November 2025

After a welcome lunch and time to reconnect, the programme opened with the presentation of two distinguished ICorr awards. Professor Damien Feron (as reported already on ICorr CED Announces Professor Damien Féron as the Winner of the 2025 Paul McIntyre Award – Institute of Corrosion) received the 2025 Paul McIntyre Award, recognising his longstanding impact on corrosion science, while the 2025 H.G. Cole Award was presented to ICorr Past President Brian Wyatt (as reported already on H.G. Cole Award 2025 – Institute of Corrosion) for his sustained contribution to corrosion engineering practice. ICorr President Dr Yunnan Gao presented to Awards and congratulated both recipients for their work in advancing the field

Photo: ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao (Left) Presenting 2025 Paul McIntyre Award to Professor Damien Feron (Right) at the ICorr AGM on 4^th November 2025.

Photo: ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao (Left) Presenting H.G. Cole Award to Brian Wyatt  (Right) at the ICorr AGM on 4^th November 2025.

The technical programme supported the AGM with four talks spanning current research, industry experience, and lessons from challenging case studies.

• Fabio Scenini (University of Manchester) introduced attendees to the breadth of facilities and research capabilities at the Henry Royce Institute, offering a glimpse of the tools shaping the next generation of materials development.
• Steve Hodges (Johnson Matthey) explored contrasts and shared challenges between oil & gas and chemical process sectors, particularly in materials selection and corrosion control.
• Dr Beatriz Mingo (University of Manchester) presented research into innovative coating deposition methods with promising applications across medical, aerospace, and other high-performance industries.
• Andrew Piercy (Intertek CAPCIS) closed the session with an assessment of publicly available findings from the Kashagan oil field failure investigations—an unflinching look at the complexity’s corrosion engineers must navigate, and the critical importance of identifying root causes.

Following the technical sessions, the formal 2025 ICorr AGM kicked off by ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao, gave a presentation on ICorr’s successes and achievements in 2025, including national and international growth, developments across the events programme, and the Institute’s newly awarded licence status with the Engineering Council – an important milestone in strengthening ICorr’s professional framework. After that, ICorr Treasurer George Winning updated the members with ICorr’s annual accounts and financial position.

Photo: ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao, Giving A Presentation on ICorr Successes and Achievements in 2025 at the Formal ICorr AGM on 4^th November 2025.

During the 2025 ICorr AGM, members carried out the election of the 2025/2026 ICorr Trustees and Council. The vote was unanimous, confirming that all members serving in the 2024/2025 term have been re-elected to continue in their existing roles for the year ahead.

Before the close out the AGM, ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao officially recognised several individuals for exceptional service to ICorr. ICorr Presidents, Stuart Lyon, Brenda Peters, and Paul Lambert were awarded Honorary Life Fellow status for their enduring contributions in 2025. Special thanks were extended to John Fletcher, stepping down from Council, and to David Harvey, Raju Narayan, and Jane Lomas for their considerable work in shaping what has been an energetic and forward-looking year for ICorr. Appreciation is also due to Hempel for supporting the AGM, and to ICorr’s Sustaining and Corporate Members for their continued commitment.

Members can find full minutes – covering proceedings, discussions, and formal votes-within the ICorr Members Area: www.icorr.org/members-area/

The 2025 AGM closed with a sense of momentum, reflecting a community steadily building the future of corrosion science and engineering.

The Institute of Corrosion (ICorr) was honoured to participate in the 19^th Middle East Corrosion Conference (MECC), held on 11-13 November 2025 in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where ICorr President Dr Yunnan Gao attended as a VIP guest at the invitation of the Chairman of the Materials Engineering Association (MEA) of the Kingdom.

Widely recognised as one of the region’s premier corrosion and materials engineering events, the biennial MECC event brought together industry leaders, technical experts, academics, and innovators from around the world. Dr Gao engaged in extensive discussions with global stakeholders and met with senior figures across the Middle East’s energy and industrial sectors.

Photo: VIP Attendees of the 19^th MECC, held on 11-13 November 2025 in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

A major highlight of the visit – both for ICorr and for the wider corrosion community – was the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ICorr and MEA, held during the conference. This agreement, already published on the ICorr website, establishes a framework for enhanced cooperation, technical exchange, and joint initiatives between the two organisations.

The MoU marks an important milestone in strengthening international collaboration and supports ICorr’s strategic goal of deepening engagement with global partners.

Photo: ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao (Right) and Chairman of MEA, Dr Tariq A. Alghamdi (Left), at the MoU Signing Ceremony on 12^th November 2025 during the 19^th MECC in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

L-R: Rashed Alhajri (MEA Education and Training Committee Chair), George Winning (ICorr Treasurer), Muhsen Elhaddad (FICorr of Qatar Energy), Dr Tariq A. Alghamdi (MEA Chairman), and Dr Yunnan Gao (ICorr President) Attended the ICorr-MEA MoU Signing Ceremony on 12^th November 2025 during the 19^th MECC in Dhahran, Saudi.

The conference also provided a valuable opportunity to reconnect with AMPP leadership, including the AMPP CEO, Alan Thomas, for Dr Gao to share insights on global trends and collaborative opportunities between ICorr and AMPP.

In addition to high-level meetings, MECC offered an extensive technical programme showcasing leading-edge developments in corrosion science, inspection, and mitigation. Particularly notable were sessions focused on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into corrosion monitoring, predictive modelling, and asset integrity management. These developments demonstrate the accelerating role of digital technologies in shaping the future of corrosion engineering and management.

Photo: ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao (Right), and AMPP CEO, Alan Thomas (Left), at the 19^th MECC in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

Reflecting on the conference, Dr Gao said: “It was a great honour to attend MECC as a guest of the MEA and to experience the scale, depth, and technical excellence of this important regional event. The signing of the MoU between ICorr and MEA represents a significant step forward in our international collaboration efforts. The insights gained, especially in emerging areas such as AI-driven corrosion management, will help strengthen ICorr’s global outlook and create new opportunities for our members.”

ICorr extends its appreciation to MEA for the invitation and hospitality and looks forward to developing this partnership through the initiatives set out in the newly signed MoU. Further updates, photos, and follow-up activities will be shared with members in due course via ICorr communication channels

ICorr Strengthens UK-China Corrosion Collaboration at the 13^th China Corrosion Conference in Xi’an, China

November 2025 marked another major step forward in international engagement for the Institute of Corrosion (ICorr), as President Dr Yunnan Gao was invited by the President of the Chinese Society for Corrosion and Protection (CSCP) to attend the 13^th China Corrosion Conference, held from 8-9 November in Xi’an, China.

The event, China’s most significant national biennial corrosion conference, brought together more than 1,300 experts, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss developments across corrosion science and engineering, materials innovation, and emerging industrial corrosion challenges.

Photo: Opening Ceremony of the 13^th China Corrosion Conference on 8^th November 2025 in Xi’an, China.

Recognition of Leadership in International Collaboration

During the conference’s opening ceremony and awards session, Dr Yunnan Gao was honoured with the International Collaboration Award, presented by the president of CSCP, Professor Xiaogang Li, in recognition of his leadership in strengthening cooperation between the corrosion communities of the UK and China.

The award highlights intensified engagement between the two organisations in the recent years, marked by high-level exchanges, jointly hosted events, and meaningful technical dialogues.

Photo: CSCP President, Professor Xiaogang Li (Left) Presenting the International Collaboration Award to ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao (Right), During the Opening Ceremony of the 13^th China Corrosion Conference on 8^th November 2025 in Xi’an, China.

ICorr President’s Presentation on ICorr, Young ICorr and YEP

A key moment of the conference occurred on 9^th November, when Dr Gao delivered a presentation introducing the Institute of Corrosion, its global mission, and – of particular interest to the audience – its flagship programmes the Young Engineer Programme (YEP) organised by Young ICorr.

The session generated strong engagement from Chinese research students and early-career practitioners from universities, research institutes, and industry. Many expressed their enthusiasm for potential participation in future ICorr activities, signalling a promising new channel for nurturing the next generation of corrosion professionals across the UK and China.

Photo: ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao, Giving A Presentation on Introduction of ICorr, Young ICorr and YEP on 9^th November 2025 during the 13^th China Corrosion Conference in Xi’an, China.

Building on the Momentum of the UK-China Corrosion Summit

In meetings with CSCP President Professor Li Xiaogang and senior CSCP representatives, both parties reflected on the success of the 1^st UK-China Corrosion Summit, hosted by ICorr and CSCP in Manchester in September 2025. The summit, focused on “AI Impacts to Corrosion Management within the UK–China Energy Industry,” showcased the value of collaborative thinking on shared industrial challenges.

Discussions in Xi’an reaffirmed a shared commitment to expand this cooperation, including future summits, technical workshops, research partnerships, and increased engagement between young professionals in both countries.

Photo: ICorr and CSCP Official Meeting Held during the 13^th China Corrosion Conference in Xi’an, China.

Welcoming Newly Elected ICorr Fellows

A highlight of Dr Gao’s visit was the presentation of FICorr (Fellow of the Institute of Corrosion) certificates to newly elected Fellows based in China. Among them were:

• Professor Chaofang Dong
• Professor Anqing Fu

Their election as Fellows reflects ICorr’s recognition of their significant contributions to corrosion science and their leadership within the global corrosion community.

Photo: ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao (Left) Presenting FICorr Certificate to Professor Chaofang Dong (Right).

Photo: ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao (Left) Presenting FICorr Certificate to Professor Anqing Fu (Right).

Dr Gao commented: “It was a privilege to welcome Professors Dong and Fu as Fellows of ICorr. Their achievements and influence extend far beyond China, and their fellowship strengthens ICorr’s global network of excellence.”

Strengthening a Shared Vision for the Future

The Xi’an Conference showcased the strong foundation of trust and collaboration between ICorr and CSCP. Dr Gao emphasised the importance of continuing this momentum:

“Our communities face similar challenges and share the same ambition – to advance corrosion science and engineering for the benefit of society. This partnership between ICorr and CSCP is producing real impact. I look forward to deepening our collaboration and creating more opportunities for researchers, professionals, and students in both countries.”

Future initiatives currently under discussion include:

• Joint training programmes and career professional development activities
• Collaborative technical committees and research exchanges
• Co-hosted conferences and thematic workshops
• Greater mutual recognition of expertise and professional accreditation

A Growing Partnership with Global Impact

ICorr’s participation in the 13^th China Corrosion Conference reflects the Institute’s long-standing commitment to international cooperation. As the corrosion challenges facing industry become increasingly complex and interconnected, ICorr’s engagement with organisations like CSCP ensures that knowledge, resources, and innovation flow freely across borders.

The success of the Xi’an conference marks not an endpoint but a further catalyst for collaboration – one that will strengthen corrosion science and engineering for both nations and for the global community.