ITA Annual Meeting a Hit in Vancouver

Prof. In-Mo Lee from Korea was elected ITA President for the period 2010-2013 (Photo by Jon Benjamin Photography).

The International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association held its thirty-sixth meeting in Vancouver, B.C., May 14-20 in conjunction with the World Tunnel Congress 2010. The event, themed "Tunnel Vision Towards 2020," was organized by ITA and the Tunnelling Association of Canada. There were 950 participants at the Congress and representatives from 48 of the 58 Member Nations participated.

During the event, the ITA General Assembly has elected a new council. The President of ITA for the period 2010-2013 is Prof. In-Mo LEE from Korea. Other members of the Executive Council include: M. Knights, United Kingdom, Past President (until 2013); M. Thewes, Germany, First Vice-President (until 2013), Y. Bai, China, Vice-President (until 2013), S. Eskesen, Denmark, Vice-President (until 2013), I. Hrdina, Czech Republic, Vice-President (until 2013), A. Elioff, United States (until 2013), P. Kocsonya, Hungary (until 2013), R. P. Lovat, Canada (until 2013), C. N. Ow, Singapore (until 2013), D. Peila, Italy (until 2013), F. Vuilleumier, Switzerland, Treasurer (until 2010), F. Amberg, Switzerland, Treasurer (until 2013), C. Bérenguier, Secretary General (until 2011). Experts include: S. Calinescu, Romania, Internal Auditor (until 2011), P. Sarkka, Finland, WTC 2011 (until 2011) and S. Suwansawat, Thailand WTC 2012 (until 2012).

The ITA General Assembly gathers delegates from across the globe in a collaborative working environment (Photo by Jon Benjamin Photography).

ITA has registered the membership of three new Member Nations, Argentina, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro, and 40 new Affiliate Members (30 Corporate Members and 10 Individual Members); the total results to 58 Member Nations and 306 Affiliate Members (180 Corporate Members and 126 Individual Members) taking into account some resignations.

The next World Tunnel Congress is scheduled for Helsinki, Finland, from May 21-26, 2011, and is themed “Underground Spaces in the Service of a Sustainable Society." In 2012 the Congress will in Bangkok, Thailand, May 18-23, under the theme “Tunneling and Underground Space for a Global Society.” Geneva, Switzerland, was selected as the site for the 2013 Congress with the theme “Underground – the Way to the Future.”

The Opening Ceremonies featured a uniquely Canadian flair celebrating the different cultures that comprise the country (Photo by Jon Benjamin Photography). The new ITA executive council was elected in Vancouver (Photo by Jon Benjamin Photography).