The International Desalination Association (IDA) has announced that Carlos Cosin, CEO of Almar Water Solutions, has been elected President of IDA for the 2019-2021 Term. The Association is also delighted to announce a new slate of officers for the 2019-2021 term, finalised during the 2019 World Congress, “Crossroads to Sustainability,” hosted by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.
In addition to Cosin’s appointment as President, Devesh Sharma has been named 1st Vice President and Alejandro Javier Sturniolo has been named 2nd Vice President.
Cosin 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 Cosin worked at Abengoa between 2005 and 2016, ending his career as Chairman and CEO of Abengoa Water, the water subsidiary of the group. Cosin 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 IDA, myself and the board will work internally to respond to the growing demands of our industry,” said Cosin. “In the next two years, we intend to increase IDA’s reach, enabling the association to meet the needs of our members, affiliates, and the market at large.”
Cosin has been an active member of the IDA 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, IDA 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 Cosin.
“I think the current evolution of the desalination market is a key moment for IDA. It is time for the Association to extend their activities to new stakeholders in utilities, in legal firms, in financial institutions.” Cosin also added that, “IDA should reach out to new industry players, as well as deepen its involvement in reuse applications and innovative technology.”
