federation internationale du beton (fib)
International federation for structural concrete
Case Postale 88, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
Phone +41 21 693 2747 * Fax +41 21 693 6245
fib@epfl.ch * www.fib-international.org


For immediate release


Press contact:  Laura Thommen-Vidale, Editor
Email:  laura.thommen-vidale@epfl.ch
Tel.:  +41 21 693 2747
Fax:  +41 21 693 6245
Press area: www.fib-international.org/press


Lausanne, 20 October 2008
ref. PR08011

fib welcomes new Secretary General

As of 1st October 2008 fib has a new Secretary General, Dr Anna Bšsche, Ph.D., who has taken over the operational responsibilities of the outgoing Secretary General, Mr Rźdiger Tewes.

Dr Bšsche joined the fib secretariat in April of this year. "I am very pleased to be working for fib, which I have found is like a family of very involved individuals sharing a common goal: to make the most out of concrete, to support its development and adaptation to new needs - and furthermore many friendships develop out of the working relationships," says Dr Bšsche. Regarding her outlook on the future of the association, she says: "I am committed to continuing the improvement of symbiosis between research and practice. I see it as my role to connect both sides, to establish good relationships between them. I also think it is very important to introduce fib to the younger generation. I realised that many young engineers don't know about fib, they don't know about the possibilities for international networking - which these days, in the era of globalisation, is invaluable."

A native of Germany, Dr Bšsche earned her undergraduate and doctoral degrees in civil engineering from the Dresden University of Technology, and a Master's degree from California State University in Los Angeles. 

Prior to joining fib, she was a Research Associate at the Institute of Concrete Construction at the Dresden University of Technology, specialising in strengthening of concrete structures by textile reinforcement. She has been working in research since 1998, supervising students in the field of concrete structures and giving lectures about various topics concerning concrete. She also worked part-time for several bridge construction planning offices during the last 12 years.

Mr Tewes, who was a Technical Director for CEB from 1982 to 1985, and Secretary General of CEB and later fib since 1989, continues to work for fib until his retirement in March 2009, thus ensuring a smooth transition.

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Note: On request, the text of this press release can be provided in French or German