IIW History 1990-2015

Vice-Prime Minister Zou Jia-hua of P.R. China opening the 47th IIW Annual Assembly in Beijing, 1994

Boyd was replaced by Mr John Hicks as Secretary General of IIW in 1990. Hicks worked particularly hard at establishing himself in that position and through his editorials he was a keen observer and commentator on world politics. Aware of the pressures of the Secretariat he worked assiduously to protect its image and to present it in the best way possible. Nor was there any certainty that Hicks would remain as Secretary General should TWI be successful in winning the bid for the single secretariat. There was considered opinion circulating that Hicks had already been informed that someone else would be taking on the future role of Secretary General should TWI be successful. Hicks, clearly, was a seasoned and shrewd reader of the political landscape and was aware that he did not have the full support of Mr Bevan Braithwaite who was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TWI. Correspondingly he did not play a part in the TWI bid for the single secretariat, which was prepared entirely by Braithwaite’s office. 27 Considerable time and effort was expended in gaining support for the TWI proposal, as one might expect, with Eaton coming into consideration for the position of Secretary General on account of his wide experience of IIW affairs. 28 The pressure for the resolution of the secretariat crisis intensified as the date on which a final decision would be made approached. The scene was set to clear up any further uncertainty at the next meeting of the Governing Council in Stockholm on 11 June 1995 where TWI and Institut de Soudure would each present their case for undertaking the duties of a single merged secretariat. As President of IIW, Timerman was to preside over the proceedings. After the initial formalities had been completed the proposal for restructuring the secretariat was addressed.

TOWARDS 2000