MetSoc Airey Award
The MetSoc Airey award is a memorial to the late H.T. Airey, who played a role of fundamental importance in the creation and organization of the Annual Conference of Metallurgists for MetSoc of CIM.
THE CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR IS OPEN for 2025. The deadline is February 20, 2025.
This award is supported by:
2024 Recipient
Larry Seeley
Seeley Group Ltd.
Citation: In recognition of technical, business and philanthropic contributions to metallurgy, education and community.
Dr. Larry Seeley has been a Significant Leader, Developer, Engineer and Business Manager and Owner in the Canadian Metallurgical Industry for over 50 years.
He spent 24 years with Falconbridge Limited (now Glencore) in various roles including Manager Metallurgical Technology, Manager Falconbridge Smelter, Director Metallurgical Operations in Sudbury, Vice President, Environment and Officer of Falconbridge Limited.
He was President and CEO of Lakefield Research Limited (now SGS) for 12 years growing the company from about 120 employees to 1000 employees with development of operations in Canada, Australia, Chile, Brazil, and South Africa.
He was Founding President and CEO of Recapture Metals Limited (Now NEO Materials) for 5 years producing Gallium, Indium and Rhenium with operations in Peterborough and Nappanee, Ontario; Blanding, Utah; and Stade, Germany.
He is presently Executive Chair of Pasinex Resources Limited on the Canadian Stock Exchange with exploration and mining operations in Turkiye and Nevada.
Larry Seeley has received numerous Awards including Gold Medal Engineers Canada, Gold Medal Professional Engineers Ontario, President’s Gold Medal of CIM, Entrepreneurship Award Professional Engineers Ontario, Silver Medal Canadian Metallurgical Society, Industrial Practice Award of the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineers, International Award of Society of Chemical Industry.
Dr. Seeley also received the prestigious Engineering Medal and was inducted into the Engineering Hall of Distinction of University of Toronto. He is an Honoree Life Member of Science North and Governor Emeritus of Trent University. He was President of the Canadian Metallurgical Society and President of the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineering. He is a Fellow of CIM, Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering, Fellow of Engineering Institute of Canada, and a Fellow of Engineers Canada.
Larry was Chair and Governor Ontario Tech University (6 years), Vice-Chair and Governor Trent University (7 years), Founding Chair of Science and Trustee Science North (9 years), Governor Cambrian College (6 years), Advisory Board Chemical Engineering University of Toronto (10 years) and Mining Engineering Queens University (2 years).
He received BASc, MASc, and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto and a Diploma in Business Administration from Laurentian University and is a Professional Engineer in Ontario.
The Seeley Group facilitates investments and development in businesses, real estate, solar energy production, mining exploration and Vegetable based protein production.
2023 – H. Henein 2022 – T. Warner | 2001 – M. Rigaud | 1980 – W.A. Gow |
2021 – Z. Xu | 2000 – J.G. Peacey | 1979 – W. Curlook |
2020 – J. Kapusta | 1999 – K.G. Thomas | 1978 – R.C. Bell |
2019 – D. Boyd | 1998 – B.O. Wasmund | 1977 – P.G. Thornhill |
2018 – S. Marcuson | 1997 – D.G.E. Kerfoot | 1976 – H.M. Wright |
2017 – M. Solar | 1996 – K.V. Konigsmann | 1975 – G.R. Heffernan |
2016 – H. McQueen | 1995 – M.M. Avedesian | 1974 – G. Savard and R. Lee |
2015 – C.Twigge-Molecey | 1994 – R.A. Bergman | 1973 – D.W. McLean |
2014 – M. Chalkley | 1993 – J.P. McGeer | 1972 – V.N. Mackiw |
2013 – R. Guthrie | 1992 – M.C. Bell | 1971 – R.W. Fraser |
2012 – P.J. Mackey | 1991 – G. Dube | 1970 – H.L. Ames |
2011 – E. Ozberk | 1990 – C.A. Sutherland | 1969 – J.G. Sibakin |
2010 – J. E. Dutrizac | 1989 – D.R. Weir | 1968 – J.H Walsh |
2009 – C. Fleming | 1988 – P. Tarassoff | 1967 – R.D. Hindson |
2008 – J. J. Jonas | 1987 – J.C. McKay | 1966 – J.M. Carter |
2007 – C. M. Diaz | 1986 – G.G. Hatch | 1965 – F.J. McMulkin |
2006 – J. Gruzleski | 1985 – M.D. Head | 1964 – L.S. Renzoni |
2005 – G. Bolton | 1984 – B.H. Morrison | 1963 – G.M. Young |
2004 – P. Duhaime | 1983 – T. Dancy |
|
2003 – A. Grau | 1982 – H. Veltman |
|
2002 – No Award | 1981 – T.R. Meadowcroft |
|
The award nomination program is closed for 2025.
Criteria
The Airey Award should be seen as the most prestigious award for a MetSoc member in Canadian metallurgy and materials. Recognition of a career contribution or an outstanding individual contribution based on at least 15 years of input. The contributions and impact must be to the benefit of Canada.
Contribution to Canadian metallurgy and materials can include:
- Research and development leadership
- Research and development contribution
- Development of processes or products of significance
- Technological leadership
- Industrial leadership fostering a climate resulting in major technological development
There is no cash prize for this award.
All nominees must have a minimum of five years of CIM National membership and be in good standing. Membership is not required to be consecutive but the member has to have the current and previous year in good standing. Exceptions to this membership requirement may be made in the case where a candidate has a substantial historical record of contributions to MetSoc.
The nominator has 6 steps to complete. The documents can be uploaded to our online nomination system.
- Fill in the contribution box – a summary of why this person is being nominated (see item 3) with any information listed above that is not included in the CV.
- Fill in the citation – in 15 words this person is being recognized for.
- The CV should contain the items listed below. If the CV does not contain these items, consider adding them to the Contribution box and letter statement:
- Major contributions relevant to the award
- A record of at least five relevant patents and/or papers authored by the nominee plus a count of other patents and papers
- A service history related to CIM/MetSoc if applicable
- A record of the years of membership in CIM
- A listing of volunteer activities if applicable
- A listing of awards previously received
- A listing of academic achievements
- One written letter by the nominator on letterhead describing in full length why this candidate is nominated for the award.
- A minimum of 3 Endorsers (outside of company colleagues) – these endorsers simply must support with an online approval click, however, a supporting letter is also welcomed and encouraged.
- Airey Award: This award requires an additional letter of support by a peer in the field on letterhead for a total of 2 letters included in the nomination package. Additional weight and marks may be considered by the committee if additional written letters of peer support are added to the nomination package (Max 5 additional uploads will be allowed).
Contribution to Canadian metallurgy and materials can include:
- Research and development leadership
- Research and development contribution
- Development of processes or products of significance
- Technological leadership
- Industrial leadership fostering a climate resulting in major technological development
General Policies
- A nominator can put forward only one candidate up for nomination in each award category.
- No Member of the Executive Board shall be nominated for a MetSoc administered award while in office. The nomination will be held until the term on the executive board is expired.
- The nominators are responsible for verifying that all conditions of the award have been satisfied and all procedures were properly followed in making the nomination.
- All nominations will stand for three years.
- The adjudication of the award shall be made by the MetSoc Awards Committee of The Metallurgy and Materials Society of CIM.
- The award shall be presented at the Awards Banquet of the Conference of Metallurgists.
- Posthumous awards will be allowed only if the candidate has already been shortlisted.
- Self-nominations are not permitted.
- Each award shall be made from time to time as circumstances warrant with no more than one award recipient per year.
