In May 2020 two Executive Committee (EC) members – Isabelle Vercruysse (Belab, Belgium) and Anna-Liisa Pikkarainen (Eurachem Finland) – completed their terms of office. A vote was held by correspondence to fill these two positions. As a result of this vote, Michael Koch and Riin Rebane were appointed to the EC at the General Assembly in May. Isabelle was elected as the Vice-Chair of Eurachem and Anna-Liisa will continue as a National Representative for Finland. We thank her for her contribution to the EC during her term of office. Also at the General Assembly the Eurachem Secretariat was handed over from Francesca Rolle (Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Italy) to Elena Sanchez (LGC, UK).

Michael Koch

Michael graduated with a degree in chemistry from the University of Stuttgart. He stayed in the Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management at the University to work on research projects on the chemical and biological effects of seasonal thermal energy storage in aquifers. He also worked on the role of phosphonates in the environment and did his doctorate on this topic at the University of Stuttgart

Since 1995 he has been the Scientific Director of AQS Baden-Württemberg, the largest PT scheme for water analysis in Germany, and heads the working group on Hydrochemistry and Analytical Quality Assurance. Michael is trying to share his experiences in Analytical Quality Assurance by giving training in Germany as well as in developing countries, and giving lectures on this topic at the University.

Having been active in the German Eurachem mirror group for some years Michael joined the Eurachem Proficiency Testing Working Group in 2000 and a few years later, the Eurachem Education and Training Working Group. Since 2012 Michael has been the chair of the Eurolab-D Chemical Analysis Committee, the German Eurachem mirror group, and since 2014 has been one of the German delegates to the Eurachem General Assembly.

Michael said: “I consider Eurachem to be a very important institution in Europe, helping many laboratories all around the world to meet the necessary quality requirements. I have experienced Eurachem as a group of idealists and I am happy to be part of this family.”

Riin Rebane

Riin has a PhD degree in analytical chemistry from the University of Tartu (UT). After her studies she joined the Estonian Environmental Research Centre (EERC) as an analytical chemist and is focusing on the development of analytical methods. She also works as a research fellow in the University of Tartu. With a strong interest in quality and the legal aspects of measurement science and chemistry, she also received a master’s degree in law in 2020 from UT.

Riin has always been interested in the quality of measurements and graduated her master’s studies with a diploma supplement “Measurement Science in Chemistry”. Since that she has actively participated in actions related to quality. Both in EERC and in UT, Riin has helped with quality management for ISO/IEC 17025 and is also working as a technical assessor for the Estonian Accreditation Centre. In addition, she is teaching courses related to analytical chemistry, validation and law (in relation to measurement science).

Riin is interested in promoting aspects of measurement science and is also managing a project titled ‘Estonian Analytical Chemistry Infrastructure’ which promotes the use of high quality analytical measurements in Estonia and offers different training. For that reason, she is also part of multiple interdisciplinary projects where she can help with analytical services, e.g. projects related to cultural heritage.

Since 2014 she has been the Estonian national representative in Eurachem and in 2019 she had the opportunity to organise the Eurachem Week in Tartu, Estonia.

Riin said: “I think that the quality of measurements is very important, especially in chemistry, and therefore, participation in Eurachem activities allows me to spread this message. And moreover, not only spread the message, but also provide the tools for achieving this.”

Elena Sanchez - Eurachem Secretary

Elena obtained a BSc in Food Science and Technology from the University of the Basque Country (Spain). After relocating to the UK in 1994, she started working in DNA testing laboratories, analysing DNA for a wide range of applications, including forensic DNA profiling and for relationship confirmation (paternity testing). During this time in the laboratory Elena participated in the development and validation of methods and implementation of automated processes, and was part of the quality management team tasked with gaining accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025. A particular challenge at the time, in the early days of the standard’s implementation, was trying to define the measurement uncertainty for qualitative testing of DNA.

After a number of years working in project management in corporate development activities, Elena moved to the Commercial Training team at LGC in 2011, where she is responsible for the delivery and development of training material and courses. Elena often delivers training on method validation and measurement uncertainty. She is also responsible for knowledge transfer projects associated with the UK Government Chemist role, which include event organisation and production of the annual review.

Elena said: “I am very happy to be working with all of you in Eurachem. Having worked with Vicki (the current Eurachem Chair) for a number of years, I have seen from a distance the interesting and varied activities she has been involved in so I am very honoured to be part of the “family” now. My first attendance at the General Assembly meeting was really interesting so I look forward to hopefully meeingt you all in person sometime soon!”

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Published: Friday, 06 November 2020 21:08

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