Category: Community

ICL announced the passing of Dr Patricia Imas, the company’s renowned Chief Agronomist, on 17th December 2025.

The Sulphur Institute celebrates its 65th anniversary this year. In this article the organisation describes its lasting legacy and global impact.

Venkat Pattabathula reports on the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ (AIChE) Safety in Ammonia Plants and Related Facilities Symposium, held from September 7–11th 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

A summary of recent company appointments.

Delegates gathered in Morocco in September for AFA's Technical Conference. We present selected highlights from this year’s event.

Worley has announced changes to its Group Executive team to “simplify its structure, streamline governance and accelerate the company’s transition to an AIenabled organization”. Effective from November 1, 2025, Laura Leonard will take up the role of Chief AI and Enterprise Services Officer bringing together a number of corporate functions including Digital, Transformation, Risk, Sustainability, and Corporate Affairs, with three existing Group Executive members moving to report to Laura. This consolidates resources that support operations and reduces the size of Worley’s Group Executive team from twelve to nine.

BASF SE says that it has made changes to its board of executive directors in line with its “Winning Ways” strategy. The Supervisory Board has appointed Dr. Mary Kurian and Dr. Livio Tedeschi as members of the Board of Executive Directors effective from May 1, 2026. At the same time, Michael Heinz will retire as planned.

Venkat Pattabathula of SVP Chemical Plant Services, Taylor Archer of Clariant and Seshu Dharmavaram of Air Products, all AIChE Ammonia Safety Committee members, look back at some of the key lessons learned from the Symposium’s 70 year history.

bp Plc has appointed Albert Manifold as its new chairman and non-executive director, effective from 1st September 2025. He will replace outgoing chair Helge Lund, who leaves on October 1st this year. “His impressive track record of shareholder value creation at [building firm] CRH demonstrates that he is the ideal candidate to oversee bp’s next chapter,” said Amanda Blanc, the senior independent director who led the search for BP’s new chairman.

The Methanol Institute (MI) has appointed Alexander Döll as its new Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds Greg Dolan , who is retiring after nearly 30 years of service and leadership. Döll brings more than 25 years of international experience across the energy, chemicals, and sustainability sectors. He has held senior positions at leading companies such as Dow and OCI Global, with a strong focus on public affairs, policy, and commercial strategy. His career spans Europe, the United States, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia; regions that are key to the future of the methanol industry. Before this appointment, he served as MI’s Chief Operating Officer, helping to guide the organisation during a period of significant growth and momentum.