The ICorr Engineering Training Governing Board (ICorr-ETGB), in collaboration with R‑Tech and BSSA, is pleased to invite you to register for our one‑day training course, “Corrosion Mechanisms in Stainless Steel.”
Course details:
• Date: 22 April 2026
• Venue: NMC Birmingham, B70 6PY
• Time: 10:00–16:00
We look forward to welcoming you. Full details are included here.
The Institute of Corrosion (ICorr) proudly reinforced its international leadership and strategic influence as an Official Supporting’s Partner at the 5th Middle East Metallurgy, Corrosion and Coatings Conference and Expo (MECOC EXPO), held from 26-29 January 2026 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Formalised through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), ICorr’s role as a Supporting Partner highlighted the Institute’s long-standing commitment to advancing corrosion science, asset integrity, and professional excellence across the Middle East and global corrosion community. MECOC EXPO has rapidly established itself as a premier regional platform, bringing together industry leaders, researchers, technology providers, and decision-makers to address critical challenges in corrosion, metallurgy, and protective coatings.
High-Level Representation and Engagement
Upon invitation from the organisers, ICorr President, Dr Yunnan Gao, attended the full conference and expo programme, including the Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, and multiple technical sessions, engaging extensively with international stakeholders, speakers, and industry leaders. His presence underscored ICorr’s strategic intent to deepen collaboration and knowledge exchange within the region.
ICorr’s delegation represented a strong cross-section of its international membership and leadership, including:
Together, the delegation actively participated in technical discussions, networking sessions, and strategic exchanges with regional operators, asset owners, regulators, and technology providers.
Recognition of ICorr’s Contribution
In recognition of its leadership and support, ICorr was formally presented with the Supporting Partner Award by the Conference Executive Chairman, Juma Al Maskari. This award reflects ICorr’s growing global impact, its technical authority, and its commitment to supporting high-quality professional forums that advance corrosion management and integrity assurance worldwide.
Executive Summary – ICorr Exhibition and Outreach
As part of its Supporting Partner role, ICorr was offered a dedicated exhibitor stand, serving as a focal point for engagement throughout the conference. The ICorr delegation showcased the Institute’s professional offerings, including membership pathways, training and certification programmes, technical guidance, and global collaboration opportunities.
The exhibition stand attracted strong interest from regional organisations, operators, consultants, and academic institutions, enabling productive discussions on capacity building, professional development, and long-term collaboration across the Middle East and beyond. This engagement further strengthened ICorr’s visibility and influence within one of the world’s most strategically important corrosion and energy markets.
Thought Leadership in Digital Corrosion Management
A major highlight of ICorr’s technical contribution was the panel discussion hosted by Prafull Sharma, titled: “Digital Frontiers in Corrosion Prevention: Smart Monitoring, Predictive Analytics & AI Integration.”
The session generated lively and in-depth debate, reflecting strong industry interest in digital transformation, data-driven integrity management, and artificial intelligence applications in corrosion prevention. The discussion was very well received, reinforcing ICorr’s role at the forefront of emerging technologies shaping the future of corrosion engineering.
Celebrating Excellence and Professional Achievement
The conference concluded with outstanding recognition for ICorr members and affiliates:
These accolades reflect not only individual achievement, but also the depth of expertise, professionalism, and global impact of the ICorr community.
Value, Impact, and Lasting Contribution
ICorr’s participation at MECOC EXPO 2026 delivered significant value through:
Through its active engagement, technical leadership, and recognised contribution, ICorr continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of corrosion science, asset integrity, and sustainable infrastructure worldwide.
Photo 1: Conference Board Displaying ICorr as An Official Supporting Partner.
Photo 2: ICorr President Dr Yunnan Gao (Right 2) at the MECOC EXPO Opening Ceremony.
Photo 3: ICorr President Dr Yunann Gao (Left) and ICorr UAE Branch Chair Dr Muhammad Ejaz (Right), Receiving the Supporting Partner Award from Conference Executive Chairman Juma Al Maskari.
Photo 4: MECOC EXPO 2026 Supporting Partner Award Presented to ICorr.
Photo 5: ICorr Delegation at MECOC EXPO 2026. L-R: Hooman Takhtechian, Dr Prafull Sharma, Dr Yunnan Gao and Dr Muhammad Ejaz.
Photo 6: ICorr Delegation at the ICorr Exhibition MECOC EXPO 2026. L-R: Amir Attarchi, Dr Yunnan Gao and Dr Muhammad Ejaz.
Photo 7: Delegates at the Closing Ceremony of MECOC EXPO 2026.
On the 2nd December 2025, the Institute of Corrosion (ICorr) was proud to serve as a sponsor of the prestigious 72nd Hatfield Memorial Lecture, https://sheffield.ac.uk/cmbe/school/events/72nd-hatfield-memorial-lecture hosted at the University of Sheffield. ICorr’s President, Dr Yunnan Gao, attended the event on behalf of the Institute, demonstrating ICorr’s ongoing commitment to supporting academic excellence and advancing corrosion and materials science across the UK.
A Distinguished Lecture Delivered by ICorr Fellow Professor Mary Ryan
This year’s lecture was delivered by Professor Mary Ryan, CBE, FREng, FICorr, a Fellow of ICorr and Vice Provost (Research and Enterprise) at Imperial College London, https://www.imperial.ac.uk/about/leadership-and-strategy/provost/vice-provost-research/ who is renowned globally for her work in corrosion, surface engineering, and nanomaterials. Professor Ryan offered an insightful and forward-looking presentation entitled “Life and Death at the Nanoscale” that captured the attention of industry experts, academics, and students alike.
Her lecture continued the long-standing tradition of the Hatfield Memorial Lecture series, which honours metallurgist Professor William Hatfield and has become a cornerstone event for the UK materials and corrosion community.
Presentation of the Hatfield Award
During the event, Professor Mary Ryan was formally recognised for her significant academic and professional achievements. She received a commemorative award presented by Professor Joan Cordiner, Head of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CMBE) at the University of Sheffield, marking a highlight of the evening.
ICorr’s Role and Presence at the Event
As one of the official sponsors, ICorr’s support was prominently acknowledged throughout the night, including on the main auditorium screen and event materials. The presence of the ICorr President reinforced the Institute’s mission to promote collaboration, scientific excellence, and knowledge exchange across the corrosion and materials community.
ICorr’s involvement with the Hatfield Memorial Lecture reflects its dedication to fostering innovation and supporting both established and emerging experts in the field.
On 4th June 2025, TÜV Rheinland, Shanghai, successfully hosted multiple sessions of ICorr PCI (Protective Coating Inspector) Level 2 and Level 3 training courses, providing Chinese professionals with advanced knowledge in coating and corrosion protection.
These internationally recognised certification programs equipped participants with critical skills to excel in industries such as oil & gas, marine and infrastructure.
The intensive training covered key topics including coating inspection standards, failure analysis, and quality control, enabling attendees to enhance their technical expertise and career prospects.
Two participants, who were voted as outstanding candidates in 2025 H1, shared their experiences.
•“The trainer combined theory with real-world case studies, making complex concepts easy to understand. Earning this Level 3 certification has significantly boosted my credibility in the industry. Beyond the course content, TÜV Rheinland’s training organisation was impeccable—from venue facility to accommodation arrangement. Their team provided seamless support throughout the program” — Qianwei Zhu, Technical Service Supervisor, Jotun, China.
•“L2 course gave me a solid foundation. The hands-on practice and detailed feedback from instructors were invaluable. I now feel confident to take on more responsibilities at work.” — Lu Taijin, Quality Assurance Department Manager, Guangxi Jingdian Steel
Structure Co., Ltd.
Contact
TÜV Rheinland, Shanghai offers a wide range of ICorr approved training courses and maybe contacted at:
Tel.: +86 10 8524 2141
Fax : +86 10 8524 2200
Mobile : +86 139 1179 0253
Email: Jing.Fang@tuv.com
TÜV Rheinland (China) Ltd, Room 301, 3F and Room 403, 4F, Building 4, No. 15, Ronghua South Road, Beijing
Economic-Technological Development Area, Beijing, China.
www.tuv.com
Photo: (From Left to Right): Tiger Hu (Tutor), Lu Taijing, Zhu Qianwei, David Wang (TUV Rheinland Industrial Inspection VGM).
On 26th March 2025, Carboline’s Srijith Nair captivated the audience by delving deep into the world of Passive Fire Protection. Leveraging over 20 years’ technical experience in the domain, Srijith gave a detailed presentation on the topic “PFP – The Benefits of Blending Organic and Inorganic Technology”. He provided insights on the state of the art regarding PFP and explained how new technologies are providing fire protection on assets.
April’s technical meeting further deepened attendees’ knowledge of coatings and linings. Simon Daly, a Coatings Consultant at Safinah Ltd. with 35 years’ industry experience, delivered a seminal presentation on “Selection of internal coatings for pressure vessels” on 30th April 2025. Simon’s presentation covered the chemistry of internal linings, discussed testing protocols and provided a preview on the publication of a new standard on internal linings.
Simon Daly explaining challenges in Applying International Linings to Process Vessels
We have now finished assembling the Young ICorr Committee, so as Chair I’d like to first welcome and introduce all of the Young ICorr Committee members: Joshua Owen, Izabela Gajewska; Alyshia; Ben Hudson; Danny Burkle; Kaivalya Borwankar; Lauren Sayer and Harry Tookey!
The members of the Young ICorr Committee have met several times to discuss our plans for the coming year, with our current priority being the plan for the 2026 Young Engineers Programme!
Some of the committee also had the pleasure of attending the annual AMPP conference alongside the winners of last year’s Young Engineers Programme, in Nashville, where we attended several informative talks in a range of corrosion fields, attended the Emerging Leaders event where the winners were given their awards and attended an ICorr dinner where we discussed what the future of Young ICorr could look like!
We’ll be announcing the details of next year’s Young Engineers Programme in the next few months and will be looking for sponsors to support the education of the next generation of corrosion engineers, so if you think this is something your company may be interested in – please get in touch.
YICorr will also soon be launching a mentorship scheme and hosting several social events. There are also a few other exciting things on the cards that we can’t announce yet – so watch this space!
The Young ICorr Committee is actively seeking further proactive and enthusiastic individuals to join and contribute to the future of ICorr’s young members. If you’re looking for an opportunity to make a difference, now is the perfect time to get involved!
Let’s all join in welcoming Kathy to her new role and look forward to the exciting journey ahead for Young ICorr!
Please contact Kathy on youngicorrchair@icorr.org to register your interest in joining the Young ICorr committee.
