Alain Balan new president of AFTES

During its meeting in Paris on Jan. 16th, 2009, the Board of Directors of AFTES (French Tunnelling and Underground Space Association) has elected Alain Balan as President. He succeeds to former President Jean Philippe who was elected in 2003 and achieved two 3-years terms.
Alain Balan (born February 2nd, 1947, in Paris) is a geologist-geophysician, former Di-rector of Major Infrastructure Projects Engineering Dept, SNCF (French National Railways), now Consultant in the field of Infrastructure Engineering and Project Management.
In the 1970s, after a mission in the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas for the Interna-tional Gravimetric Bureau, he is introduced to Engi-neering Geology by being involved in large dam projects in Algeria and tunnel rehabilitation works for SNCF.
In the 1980s, he becomes director of the Fon-tenay, Sceaux and Villejust tunnels construction for the Atlantic High Speed Train (TGV); then, from 1990 to 2000, he is director of the EOLE Project (Paris, Express Subway, LineE) before launching the SNCF Direction of Major Infrastructures Projects (high speed railway lines and highways).
Also a new Executive Committee has been elected for 3 years and formed as follows:

President   
Alain Balan   
former Director of Major Infrastructure Projects Engineering Dept., SNCF, Consultant
Vicepresident   
Monique Labbe   
Architect
Vice-president   
Jacques Burdin   
Consultant
Vice-president   
Michel Deffayet   
Director, CETU, Lyon
Vice-president   
Michel Lallement
President, French National Federation of Public Works – Underground works Section
Vice-president   
Philippe Millard   
Former Director of Major Projects, SIAAP, Consultant
Vice-president   
Richard Kastner
Emeritus Professor, Civil Engineering & Urbanism Dept, INSA, Lyon
Secretary General   
Alain Mercusot   
Civil Engineer, CETU, Lyon
Treasurer   
Allain Brunet   
Deputy General Manager, Urbaine de Travaux
Ex jure Member   
Jean Piraud   
Tunnels Expert –ANTEA

The Executive Committee has renewed its trust in:
Maurice Guillaud   
Chief Editor, Tunnels & Ouvrages Souterrains
Nicole Plasse   
AFTES website Editor, in charge of the website Committee
François Valin   
Delegate, in charge of the “Plant & Equipment” 
delegation
Jean-François Jaby   
Delegate, in charge of the South-East regional delegation
Marcel Garnier   
Delegate, in charge of the South-West regional
delegation
Carole Soihier   
Secretary

The Executive Committee will get support from a Group of Consultants as follows:
Jean Philippe   
Past-president and Honorary president, AFTES
Yann Leblais   
Vice-president ITA and Past Vice-president AFTES
Jean Guillaume   
Past Vice-president AFTES
Jean-Pierre Pronost   
Past-president AFTES
Jean-Claude Amet   
Past Vice-president AFTES
Jean-Paul Godard   
Secretary General, ITACUS