Celebrating 20 years of IOM3

The Institute marks 20 years since its creation from the merger of the Institute of Materials and the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy on 26 June 2002.

The merger of the Institute of Materials (IoM) and the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy (IMM) to create IOM3 brought together two membership bodies with complementary interests. It took place after the memberships of both organisations had given their support of the move via Extraordinary General Meetings of their members. The focus was on creating an institute intended to become “the global network for the materials cycle” covering materials, minerals and mining interests and activities from cradle to grave.

In the upcoming July/August edition of our member magazine Materials World, we look back at the notable milestones since the summer of 2002, talk to Professor Sir Colin Humphreys CBE FREng FRS CEng FIMMM, the first President of IOM3 and search the archives for how the creation of IOM3 was covered in print at the time.

Sir Colin – ‘It was a huge pleasure and privilege to be the last President of IoM and then the first President of IOM3 from 2002-2003. The ground had been expertly prepared for the merger between IoM and IMM by the previous IoM President, Bruce Farmer, and the then CEO, Bernie Rickinson.

My main priority was to make this marriage happen and to cement the relationship between the two partners. This was greatly helped by the strong bond I formed with the last President of IMM, Jane Plant, who sadly died in 2016, and with their CEO. The two Presidents and CEOs formed a great team to plan and execute this merger.’

The roots of IOM3 go back to the Iron and Steel Institute which was established in 1869, over 150 years ago. View the Institute’s rich history by way of our official timeline or complete list of Presidents.