Staff

Director of Technology: HAL STILLMAN

Hal leads research, development and commercialization initiatives at the ICA aimed at creating new applications for copper.

He began his career at General Electric; moved on to consulting on technology strategy and using entrepreneurial ventures to achieve business growth. He received the Industrial Research Institute’s highest achievement award in recognition of his accomplishments.

At ABB he held the positions of Senior Vice President, New Ventures and Senior Vice President, Technology and Innovation and was involved in many new product and new business development initiatives.

Hal has an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from New York University and pursued MBA studies at NYU’s Stern School of Business.

Deputy Director of Technology: WENSON ZHENG

As ICA's Deputy Director of Technology, Wenson is responsible for research, development and commercialization initiatives in Asia. He emphasizes achieving business results and rapid technology commercialization by involving the entire industry supply chain throughout the R&D process. In addition, he coordinates the transfer of copper-related technology developed though ICA's global activities into Asia and from Asia.

Wenson began his career as an engineer affiliated with the China National Space Administration. He later joined a trading company in Shanghai. Wenson began working for the ICA in November 2000 as a project manager focusing on power cable economic sizing and underground cabling. His early work also included developing opportunities and programs with original equipment manufacturers and establishing a new business function in ICA China. He was appointed as the Deputy Director of Technology in 2006 and is currently overseeing a range of R&D programs, including air conditioning system innovations, industrial heat exchangers, enhanced Li-ion battery thermal management using a metallic copper lattice, and marine aquaculture.

Wenson received his undergraduate degree in electronic engineering from Zhejiang University in China and his master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Singapore. He is based in Shanghai, China.

Aquaculture Commercialization Manager: LANGLEY GACE

As ICA's Aquaculture Commercialization Manager, Langley works with the global aquaculture industry to apply the benefits of copper alloys for the sustainable development of increased aquaculture production. He is responsible for the ICA's aquaculture technology initiatives, market promotion, and commercialization activities. With 15 years of experience in aquaculture, he is closely aligned to the developments and issues affecting all aspects of the expanding aquaculture industry.

He began his career as a Physics and Math teacher. He later joined OceanSpar, one of the leading suppliers of submersible open ocean aquaculture cages. As a design engineer, Langley led teams on a range of advanced technical-development projects, including an offshore feeding system, an innovative double-rim 7000 cubic meter SeaStation fish pen, a wireless fish pen monitoring system, and site-specific mooring systems. While in technical sales, he organized installations of highly engineered aquaculture cages in Europe, Asia, Latin America and the U.S. In addition, he spent six months working on an offshore fish farm in Hawaii and served as chief operating officer.

Langley was born in South Africa. He received his undergraduate degree in Physics from Bates College in Lewston, Maine, and his master's degree in Mechanical Ocean Engineering from the University of New Hampshire. As part of his thesis, he studied the scale modeling of submersible fish pens at Herriot Watt University in Endinburgh, U.K.

Langley lives with his family in Seattle, Washington, U.S.

Assistant Director, Technology Commercialization and Strategic Analysis: JOHN R.H. BLACK

John's focus is on developing a detailed understanding of new technology-based market opportunities for copper and applying this understanding to drive technology commercialization. This includes identifying and evaluating potential market opportunities, building economic models to aid understanding the value of business concepts, and preparing the initial business plans for new copper applications. John has developed strategic analyses of copper market potential in marine aquaculture systems, air conditioning, seismic energy dissipation, and high performance induction motors using copper rotors.

John spent more than 20 years working in strategic planning, corporate development, operations improvement (lean), and strategic marketing of new products at Alcoa. While there, he led acquisition and integration teams on projects such as the aerospace fastener business, aluminum fabrication plants in Russia, and other targets in aerospace components, primary aluminum and titanium production. In addition, John worked as a consultant for Charles River Associates International for five years specializing in new metals and mining ventures, metal markets and technology forecasting.

John was born in Canada. He earned his undergraduate degree in Metallurgy & Materials Science, a master's degree in Ceramic Engineering and a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering, with a focus on deep sea mining and metals extraction, from MIT.

John resides with his wife in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Assistant Director, Technology Development and Transfer: MALCOLM BURWELL

As part of Technology Development and Transfer's global team, Malcolm works closely with technology executives at ICA member companies and external organizations to develop and manage R&D and technology transfer initiatives. He helps move ICA-funded technologies into commercial supply chains, delivering increased tonnage to member companies. Malcolm's responsibilities include directing the transfer of technology into industry, leading technology research, and seeking new application opportunities for copper.

Malcolm has 20 years of technology transfer experience and 15 years of hands-on technology development, principally in the manufacturing, medical and wireless industries. Prior to joining the ICA, he worked with Sagentia, a contract developer and venture investor in high-technology engineering products, and Xennia, a supplier of industrial inkjet systems for the printing of functional fluids including nano-metals. In addition to leading project teams and executing international technology developments, Malcolm founded four technology companies and led U.S. sales for five European businesses.

Malcolm holds a Master's degree from Cambridge University. He is a U.S./European dual national, having spent half his life on each continent. He resides near Boston, Massachusetts.