DUBAI, The United Arab Emirates, October 20, 2019 – The International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) announces that Carlos Cosin, CEO of Almar Water Solutions, has been elected President of IDRA for the 2019-2021 Term. The Association is also delighted to announce a new slate of officers for the 2019-2021 term, finalized during the 2019 World Congress, “Crossroads to Sustainability,” generously hosted by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.
In addition to Mr. Cosin’s appointment as President, Mr. Devesh Sharma has been named 1st Vice President and Mr. Alejandro Javier Sturniolo has been named 2nd Vice President.
Mr. Cosín is currently the CEO of Almar Water Solutions. He is responsible for strategic management of Almar, whose main investor is Abdul Latif Jameel, a company whose aim is implementing and promoting its activity in the water sector. Before that, Mr. Cosín worked at Abengoa between 2005 and 2016, ending his career as Chairman and CEO of Abengoa Water, the water subsidiary of the group. Mr. Cosín also spent seven years (1997-2004) at Veolia Water Systems. Before this he held several high-level positions, most notably the ownership of a private company that developed and designed heat exchangers.
“As president of IDRA, myself and the board will work internally to respond to the growing demands of our industry,” said Mr. Cosin. “In the next two years, we intend to increase IDRA’s reach, enabling the association to meet the needs of our members, affiliates, and the market at large.”
Mr. Cosin has been an active member of the International Desalination and Reuse Association Board of Directors since 2013. In 2018, he was elected no. 1 Top Water Leader among 50 Top Water Leaders.
“After many years of prestige and recognition, IDRA needs a strategic change that addresses a wider network of stakeholders to help ensure the solutions provided by desalination and water reuse technologies play a role in the development of water sustainability in new geographies and niches such as the industrial sector. The association must aim to attract new members that contribute to its growth from a business and academic perspective to develop a multidisciplinary and sustainable association with high added value to its members.” said Mr. Cosin
“I think the current evolution of the desalination market is a key moment for IDRA. It is time for the Association to extend their activities to new stakeholders in utilities, in legal firms, in financial institutions.” Mr. Cosin also added that, “IDRA should reach out to new industry players, as well as deepen its involvement in reuse applications and innovative technology.”
For more information, please contact Shannon McCarthy, IDRA Secretary General, smccarthy@idadesal.org.
About IDRA
The International Desalination and Reuse Association (www.idadesal.org) is the point of connection for the global desalination and water reuse community. A non-profit association, IDRA serves more than 2,600 core members in 60 countries and reaches an additional 4,000 affiliate members. Its membership comprises scientists, end-users, engineers, consultants and researchers from governments, corporations and academia. IDRA is associated with the United Nations as part of a growing international network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).