Julie-Ann Adams Appointed Secretary General of EBRA
The European Battery Recycling Association (EBRA) appointed Julie-Ann Adams as its new Secretary General from 2024, succeeding Alain Vassart after more than a decade of leadership. The appointment comes as Europe's battery recycling sector enters a period of significant regulatory and market change.
Confirmed by EBRA Members at the association's Annual General Meeting in Brussels on 27 March 2023, the appointment provided for a planned transition ahead of Alain Vassart's retirement at the end of the year.
Alain had worked with the EBRA Board since 2010, building extensive knowledge of the European battery industry and its regulatory environment. The succession process began in 2022, providing time for a structured handover of responsibilities and institutional knowledge. EBRA Chairman Johan Van Peperzeel recognised Alain's contribution to the association and thanked him for his many years of service to EBRA and its Members.
Julie-Ann brought more than 20 years of experience in waste management, producer responsibility, recycling regulation and technical standards. At the time of her appointment, she had served as CEO of EERA since January 2022 and had previously contributed to the development and implementation of WEEE and battery legislation in the UK. Her technical experience included recycling and treatment technologies and participation in CENELEC committees since 2009.
Julie-Ann would combine the EBRA Secretary General position with her existing leadership role at EERA. This reflected the increasing overlap between the battery and electronics recycling sectors, particularly as batteries become an increasingly important component of electrical and electronic products.
The transition came at an important time for European recyclers. The new EU Batteries Regulation, alongside developments in waste shipments, critical raw materials, persistent organic pollutants and circular economy policy, was reshaping the regulatory environment in which battery and WEEE recyclers operate.
Julie-Ann's appointment therefore brought experience spanning policy, technical standards and recycling operations to EBRA as the sector prepared for these changes.
About the announcement
The March 2023 announcement confirmed Julie-Ann Adams as Alain Vassart's successor and marked a planned leadership transition at EBRA ahead of her taking up the Secretary General position in 2024.
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