2023 Speakers

Advancing Net Zero Mining WA Conference 2023

29-30 August 2023

Optus Stadium, Gate D, Perth, Western Australia

Hon Bill Johnston MLA

Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Energy; Hydrogen Industry; Industrial Relations

The Hon Bill Johnston has been a Minister since March 2017, and has previously been Minister for Commerce, Industrial Relations, Electoral Affairs, and Asian Engagement.

So far, his achievements include cutting red-tape for the mining industry, introducing the Work Health and Safety Bill (industrial manslaughter provisions) and assisting in revolutionising Western Australia’s energy system.

In Opposition he served as Shadow Minister for State Development and Energy from 2012, and Shadow Minister for Mines and Petroleum from 2013. He was a Member of the Economics and Industry Standing Committee and Deputy Chair of the Inquiry into Domestic Gas Prices from 2010 to 2011. Prior to entering Parliament, he was the State Secretary of WA Labor from 2001 until 2008, with responsibility for all State and Federal election campaigns.

Prof Päivi Kinnunen

Research Professor, Circular Economy of Energy Metals

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

Päivi Kinnunen is a Research Professor in Circular Economy of Energy Metals at VTT and an Adjunct Professor in process technologies for circular economy at Tampere University. Her research includes industrial circular economy, valorisation of mining industry side streams, process development and closing water loops.

Päivi has worked in various raw materials platforms such as Expert Group of European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials and Batteries Europe. For the Finnish National Battery Strategy, she chaired traceability, sustainable development, CO2 and responsibility topics. She is a member of the Finnish Expert Panel for Sustainable Development.

Päivi holds a Doctor of Science in Technology and a Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration.

Marc Allen

Director

Coalition for Eco Efficient Comminution

Marc is an energy and emissions expert who joined the Coalition for Eco Efficient Comminution (CEEC) Board as a Director in 2019. He is the Technical Director at Engeco, a Singapore-based consultancy providing advisory services primarily in energy and greenhouse gas management and strategy, as well as broader sustainability, across Australasia.

Marc has over 20 years’ experience in a variety of operational and consulting roles with INPEX, Energetics, Simulus and BOC. His experience has focused on sustainability, process engineering, carbon management and energy efficiency to enable the transition to a low-carbon economy through development and implementation of robust strategies for greenhouse gas and energy management.

He has published a number of papers on renewable energy, energy efficiency and carbon pricing. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) degree from the Curtin University of Technology and is a Certified Energy Manager. He is also a mentor for the Curtin Next Step mentoring program.

Jessica Williams

Manager – Critical Minerals Office

Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Jessica is a Manager in the Australian Government’s Critical Minerals Office within the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. Jessica has previously worked in several roles across the Australian Government, including in trade policy and trade negotiations, strategic policy, humanitarian assistance, and bilateral and multilateral engagement.

Jessica holds a Master of Laws (LLM), Juris Doctor (JD), and Bachelor of Arts (BA) and has studied at the University of Melbourne, University of Oxford, University of Sydney and University College, Dublin.

Masterclasses

Adam Gangemi

Managing Director

Super Smart Energy

One of the participants in today’s energy and carbon revolution, Adam Gangemi is on a mission to create a carbon-free, more sustainable future for Western Australia.

As the Managing Director of Super Smart Energy, a company he started in 2018, Adam is helping these key WA industries make compelling changes to their global footprint.

Making sense of tomorrow’s climate change frameworks, new legislation and the latest updates to national and global decarbonisation targets, Adam provides context and insights, along with effective, cost-efficient strategies.

Adam was a winner in the 2021 Young Energy Leader of the Year category at the WA Energy Awards.

Huia Adkins

Sustainability Business group leader and Technical Director for Circular Economy

GHD and CEWA

Huia is an experienced professional who co-creates sustainability strategy and action. She utilises her expertise and understanding of the principles, tools and strategies of sustainable practice to help deliver workable solutions that support global sustainability goals. Huia has more than 20 years of experience working across private, public and tertiary education sectors; facilitating the development and implementation of environmental policy, programs and plans, assessment and analysis of expected outcomes and advice to key stakeholders on pathways forward.

She has worked extensively in sustainability, circular economy, waste and resource recovery as well as strategic planning, impact assessment and environmental regulation. She has extensive experience developing strategy and implementation pathways as well as undertaking stakeholder engagement and facilitation processes. Huia is a founding member of Circular Economy WA (CEWA), established to act as the circular economy hub for WA and has contributed to numerous other working groups and steering committees supporting the circular transition across Australia.

Plenaries

James Bowen

Policy Fellow

Perth USAsia Centre

James Bowen is a Policy Fellow at the Perth USAsia Centre, a foreign policy think tank at the University of Western Australia. He has undertaken extensive research and analysis on clean energy, critical minerals, and climate change matters for high-ranking institutions and officials in Australia, the United States, Asia, and Europe.

He is widely published in national and international media, with appearances in the Australian Financial Review, Nikkei Asia, Bloomberg, ABC, SkyNews, and many others. James previously worked at think tanks in the US and Germany and as a journalist, consultant and speechwriter on energy and resources.

Jenny Selway

Chief Executive Officer

HILT CRC

Jenny has over 20 years’ experience as an Engineer and Non-Executive Director specialising in energy and decarbonisation. Jenny is currently the CEO of the Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC), bringing industry, universities and government organisations together to identify and de-risk decarbonisation pathways for Heavy Industry.

Prior to this, Jenny worked across the energy industry at AEMO, the Australian Energy Market Operator where she focused on increasing renewable penetration in the Victorian transmission network, and at ExxonMobil, specialising in international joint venture and asset management.

Formerly on the board of HILT CRC, Jenny is currently an Alternate State Director at Agribio, and a non-executive director at Renew Australia.

Dr Thorsten Krol

Senior Key Expert Grid Stability and Sustainable Energy Systems

Siemens Energy

Thorsten Krol is a material scientist holding a PhD in physics. He has extensive experience on the design and operation of thermal power plants gained through roles in engineering, management, service, product management and product integrity.

Thorsten has worked for more than 10 years focusing on the energy transition and its impacts to operations of power generation equipment, security supply and grid stability. He has developed decarbonisation solutions for industries with high reliability requirements such as the mining, metals, or datacenters. In addition, he acts as a consultant to ministries, utilities, and industries to develop roadmaps for reliable decarbonisation to pinpoint and solve shortages within their energy systems.

Louise-Marlena Tarrier

Chief Executive Officer

Carbon Positive Australia

Louise-Marlena Tarrier is the CEO of Carbon Positive Australia. She loves to empower individuals, families, and organisations to minimise their impact on the environment and is passionate about how, together, we can create a sustainable, regenerative future.

Louise is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) with a Masters in Creativity and Innovation. Before working with Carbon Positive Australia, she worked to fund over 10 million tropical trees with UK charity TreeSisters.

She believes that our personal values, combined with a strong business strategy, can have a huge social and environmental impact.

Prof Vishnu Pareek

Dean of Engineering

Curtin University

Prof Vishnu Pareek is currently serving as Dean of Engineering at Curtin University, and President for the Australian Council of Engineering Deans. Prior to this, he also served as Head of School for the WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering (2018-2021).

He recently led a major renewal of the engineering curriculum including the disciplines of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering. One of the key objectives of the curriculum renewal was Net Zero.

In 2019, Professor Pareek was awarded the title of John Curtin Distinguished Professor for his contribution to research and academic leadership. He has a PhD from the University of New South Wales, an MTech from IIT Delhi and BE (Hons) from the University of Rajasthan, all in Engineering.

Prof Kate Brooks

Head of School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences

Curtin University

Kate has a PhD in Physics and has been appointed as the new Head of the School of Electrical Engineering, Computing and Mathematical Sciences (EECMS) at Curtin University.

In her previous role with the Federal Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme, Kate provided business transformation consultancy to Australian companies with annual revenue up to $100mil. As part of this role she led a national project to help Australian small-medium businesses start their Net Zero journey.

She also has a Grad Cert in Innovation & Commercialisation and is a member of several Advisory Boards for universities and not-for-profit organisations. She lectures on innovation and entrepreneurship for Murdoch University Business School.

Susan Kreemer Pickford

General Manager FIEAust CPEng EngExec NER

Engineers Australia

A Fellow of Engineers Australia and Engineering Executive, Susan joined Engineers Australia as General Manager WA in 2015. Previously, she worked in consulting engineering culminating in senior roles in client management and industry engagement. Susan was Project Director for the Living Smart program consultancy for the East Metropolitan Regional Council to reduce community travel, waste, water and energy use through behaviour change.

Susan sits on a number of government and industry advisory committees. She is currently Chair of Curtin University’s Science and Engineering Faculty Advisory Council, a member of the Circular Economy WA steering committee and Board member of the Gravity Discovery Centre.

Dr Greg Thomas

Assistant Manager National Assessments Team – R&D Tax Incentive Branch

Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Greg joined the Australian Public Service in August 2011 as Assistant Manager in the Research & Development Tax Incentive (RDTI) Branch of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR). He is based in the DISR WA State Office where he oversees a RDTI compliance team within the National Assessment Team.

He has over 40 years’ experience in R&D and senior management, working in the academic, private and public sectors. Prior to joining DISR Greg worked in the life sciences and biotechnology industries, as a scientist and in senior management roles at several prestigious Medical Research Institutes in London, Edinburgh, Auckland, Melbourne.

Greg has a PhD in Reproductive Biology from the University of Western Australia and has published over 55 scientific papers, two book chapters, 60 abstracts and is a co-inventor on two patents.

Robert Wilson

Executive Director – Resources and WA

Clean Energy Finance Corporation 

Robert is the CEFC’s executive director with responsibility for Western Australia and Resources, working to accelerate the development of clean energy investment opportunities in Western Australia and nationally in the resource sector.

His experience spans the investment cycle in the renewables, infrastructure and resources sectors.

He has held various leadership positions in investment banking and resources, and worked on the establishment of Climate Investor One, a European climate fund focused on emerging markets.

Robert holds a degree in mechanical engineering, and an MBA.

Tanya Hodgson

Manager – Business Development and Transactions

Australian Renewable Energy Agency

Tanya Hodgson is an Investment Manager at the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), working across ARENA’s low emissions metals and hydrogen portfolios. She works closely with entities from start-ups to incumbents to progress early-stage renewable energy technologies ranging from R&D to pilot, demonstration, and deployment. This industry exposure provides unique perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing hard to abate and industrial sectors in Australia, across the value chain.

She has a technical background in the sciences, holding a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Applied Biology, as well as a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering, both from the University of Cape Town. Prior to ARENA, she worked for a top tier management consulting firm, developing robust strategic and Private Equity skillsets and working with over 20 companies across South Africa and Australia.

Erin Bell

Managing Director – Founder 

Camp Connect

Erin is the Founder and Managing Director of the Co Connect workforce app, built for remote mining workforces. She is a Human Resources & Health, Safety, & emergency professional with 10 years’ experience in surface and underground mining, across large and small mining companies in WA.

From managing teams to looking for new ways to boost safety and efficiency throughout her career, Erin has experience deploying multiple software projects across the operation, and on multiple client sites of Co Connect.

Stream 1 – Critical Minerals

Dr Geoffrey Batt

Research Portfolio Manager

MRIWA

Dr Geoffrey Batt has been a Research Portfolio Manager providing strategic direction and portfolio management services for the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) since 2019. He champions work in MRIWA’s Exploration Amplification focus area and leads MRIWA’s Education Program.

Alongside his core responsibilities in portfolio management and strategic project development for the Institute, Geoff maintains a strong focus in high-impact science communication and knowledge transfer. He is a passionate advocate for the accessibility and transferability of research innovation in the applied mining sector.

An experienced research scientist and business manager, Geoff came to MRIWA from a private sector consulting role and has spent 20 years as a successful and respected researcher and educator at leading institutions across Australia and around the globe.

He holds a PhD in Earth Science from the Australian National University (ANU), and an MBA from UWA.

Andrew Bailey

Chief Executive Officer

MinEx CRC

Andrew Bailey is a geologist with experience across exploration, mining and research coordination, both in Australia and abroad. He has explored successfully for numerous commodities, including gold, diamonds, nickel and iron ore. Andrew holds a Masters Degree in Geology and an MBA from Deakin University.

He has been Chief Executive Officer of the Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre since its successful funding bid and start-up in 2018. The MinEx CRC is consortium of 36 participants from the mining industry, manufacturing industry, geological surveys, research institutions and universities, funded by all participants and the Federal Government of Australia under the CRC grant program.

MinEx CRC is creating new opportunities for mineral discovery by delivering more productive, safer and environmentally friendly drilling methods, new technologies for collecting data while drilling and exploration data on never before sampled rocks that are hidden but prospective for minerals.

Dr Jacques Eksteen

Chief Scientist

FBI CRC

Jacques leads the Future Battery Industries (FBI) CRC’s comprehensive whole-of-value-chain research program for future battery industries and is responsible for driving high quality research outcomes which address industry needs. Jacques has been a key member of the FBI CRC’s consortium since its inception leading much of the consultation with industry and research participants which formed the basis of the successful bid for Commonwealth funding. Prior to joining the FBI CRC he was Director of the Curtin University Gold Technology Group and held the Chair for Extractive Metallurgy in the WA School of Mines at Curtin University.

He has extensive experience in managing complex research projects in industry and academia. He is the listed inventor on a number of patents relating to the mineral processing, hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes and have published extensively in these areas. He has led a number of other industry and government funded research projects and is a recipient of various awards in research development, innovation and commercialisation.

Tony Kemp

Associate Professor – School of Earth Sciences & International Space Centre

University of Western Australia

Tony Kemp is a geologist and geochemist based in the School of Earth Sciences at UWA. He completed his PhD at the ANU in Canberra, and held research positions in the UK, Japan and the USA, before moving to UWA in 2011 as an ARC Future Fellow.

He has expertise in the fields of igneous and metamorphic petrology, isotope geochemistry and geochronology. His research is focused on understanding the generation of the continental crust and the evolution of Earth’s crust-mantle system by studying some of the most ancient rock sequences and minerals on Earth. A recent emphasis has been on developing geochemical approaches for tracking the sources of metals and the processes by which these are transported and enriched in the lithosphere, particularly the ‘Critical Minerals’ and related commodities that are essential for the transition to carbon-free energy sources and for sophisticated technological applications on Earth and in space. In this endeavour, he actively collaborates with a number of industry and government partners.

Tony is an enthusiastic science communicator who strives to impart his passion for the geosciences to colleagues, students, and the community. His current role at UWA is split between research (50%, includes postgraduate supervision), teaching (30%, undergraduate, and at MSc level) and service/engagement (20%).

Nicole Heesh

Principal Advisor – Climate and Energy

Mott Macdonald

Nicole is an experienced sustainable energy specialist and geologist with a diverse background across the energy and resource sectors, within both the public and private sectors. She has designed and delivered robust renewable energy and decarbonisation project support to a wide range of clients.

She is currently working with clients to deliver low carbon and emission abatement solutions, design and deliver roadmaps and scenario analysis, and support project development.

Nicole is skilled in translating complex technical concepts and identifying unique and innovative solutions to challenging problems.

William Spencer

Senior Metallurgist

Covalent Lithium

William Spencer is a Metallurgical Engineer and is completing his PhD in Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering at Murdoch University.

In 2018, William received his master’s degree in Metallurgy from Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University. He has arrays of working experience as a process engineer in many industries, including steel making, mineral processing, and pyro/hydrometallurgy.

His recent research aim is to understand and develop new alternative reduction technologies that can minimise/eliminate carbon footprint in reduction processes, utilizing biofuels/hydrogen gas to produce bio-metals/green metals from oxide minerals.

Jon Meunier

Engagement Manager

Standards Australia

Jon Meunier is an Engagement Manager at Standards Australia with over 16 years of client service experience in the UK and Australian markets.

His remit at Standards Australia sees him act as the lead across the Energy, Electrotechnology, Oil and Gas and Mining Sectors. Within his portfolio, Jon oversees several strategic projects across renewable energy, distributed energy, resource integration, electric vehicles, renewable natural gas and biofuels.

Jon manages proposals for all standard development projects within these sectors, ensuring all projects contribute to the net benefit of the Australian community. He acts as a point of contact for industry, government and Standards Australia stakeholders, ensuring high quality service and outputs.

Dr Andreas Furche

Chief Executive Officer

DF CRC

Dr Andreas Furche is a fintech researcher and entrepreneur with a long-term passion for the tokenisation of financial assets. With expertise integrating research with commercial interests, Andreas has been involved in the development of research-based financial technology companies for over 25 years across.

Andreas has experience as founder, CEO and Director of several successful organisations and has served in senior management roles at Nasdaq in New York. He has been involved in specialist mergers and acquisitions and has founded and operated a venture capital fund.

With significant experience in the operation of CRCs, Andreas has been part of the management team (and then an industry partner, and for 10 years board member and deputy chair) of RoZetta Institute. He developed the original commercialisation strategy of Capital Markets CRC. As CEO of SMARTS Broker Compliance Pty Ltd (Nasdaq), Andreas was an industry partner in the CMCRC, subsequently becoming a board member, initially as the representative of Nasdaq. In 2014 he established the venture fund Capital Markets Technologies, the first VC fund directly owned by a CRC.

With the advent of blockchain and the increased awareness of the value of asset tokenisation facilitating his involvement in the topic area, Andreas founded digi.cash (next generation digitisation of cash) – and Trovio, formerly, InfiniGold (tokenisation of commodities, initially gold with The Perth Mint).

Andreas is a Professor of Applied Finance at Macquarie University.

Stream 2 – Net Zero Emission Mining

Dominic Zaal

Director – Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute (ASTRI)

CSIRO

Dominic Zaal is the Director of the Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute (ASTRI) within CSIRO. ASTRI is a Federal Government (ARENA) funded Program for the development and demonstration of Solar Thermal systems and technologies within Australia. As ASTRI Director, Dominic is actively involved in promoting the role that Solar Thermal can play in Australia’s future energy mix. In undertaking this role, Dominic works closely with industry and governments on a range of Solar Thermal advocacy and commercial uptake opportunities.

He is also actively involved in the working with companies on renewable heat options for industrial decarbonisation. The focus is on mid to high temperature (150C – 600C) renewable heat technologies (including thermal energy storage) to displace natural gas.

Prior to his work with CSIRO/ASTRI, Dominic worked in the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), where he was responsible for developing strategies for commercial uptake of renewable energy technologies. Dominic also managed an ARENA Program Team responsible for over 100 renewable projects across a diverse range of technologies. As Program Manager, he worked closely with industry and research institutions on the development, demonstration, and commercial deployment of renewable energy technologies.

Before joining ARENA, Dominic worked on Energy Programs within the Department of Industry. This included management of the Australian Government’s Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) Program, which assisted large Australian companies to identify and implement energy efficiency savings.

Jai Thomas

Deputy Director General Coordinator of Energy

Energy Policy WA

Jai Thomas is the Deputy Director General Coordinator of Energy and leads the Energy Policy Group of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. The Energy Policy Group includes Energy Policy WA and the Strategic Business Innovation division.

As Coordinator of Energy, he is also the designated Hazard Management Agency for disruption to electricity, natural gas or liquid fuel supplies in Western Australia.

Prior to this, Jai held the role of Assistant Coordinator, Strategic and Consumer Policy, overseeing Energy Policy WA’s work program on customer and retail policy, contribution to national energy policy, whole-of-government initiatives relating to energy, and the regulation of emerging energy service models.

Jai is an energy sector professional with expertise in electricity regulation and distributed energy projects, and has held regulatory and project delivery roles at both Horizon Power and Western Power.

Jo Garland

Partner – Lead of Energy Transition Group

HFW

As the head of HFW’s energy transition group Jo focuses on the energy transition; hybrid/renewable mine power, decarbonisation, hydrogen and new technology and climate change fields. She has guided clients through establishing Australia’s first co-located wind and solar farm, what was the world’s largest and Australia’s first, hybrid power system at a remote mine site, novel virtual battery power solutions, peer-to-peer energy trials and EV infrastructure issues.

Jo acts for miners, utilities, offtakers, power project developers and large energy users as well as the state-owned electricity generator and retailer. Jo was the lead lawyer on the implementation of the emissions trading scheme in New Zealand.

Paul Lucey

Principal Mine Electrification & Technology

Worley

Paul brings over 30 years of experience in the Resource sector which includes robotics, engineering, energy, technology, and innovation. He is a former VP of Technology & Innovation for large multi-national gold mining company and former Founder & CEO of Mine Vision Systems, a 3D spatial technology company.

Formerly Paul was a Director at Unearthed Solutions, a Director for the Pilbara University Centre, a director for the Robotics Australia Group, on the advisory board for the Queensland Robotics cluster.

He recently launched RoboWest an education and industry cluster for automation, robotics, AI, cyber security and data science whilst assisting another cluster WATCH2 establish in the emerging field of Hydrogen. Paul now works with Worley on decarbonising the mining industry with an interest in robotics and AI.

Alicia Bunting

Principal Mining Technologist

Worley

Alicia is a mining technology leader focused on helping the mining industry navigate the ever-evolving landscape of mining technologies and electrification.

Her career in the mining industry began as an underground mining engineer, where she honed her skills and acquired a deep understanding of the intricacies of mining operations.

Over her 15 years’ mining experience, Alicia has successfully lead numerous automation and future technology programs in surface and underground mining operations.

Driven by a passion for sustainable solutions, Alicia combines data, cutting-edge technology, and the human experience to create efficient, environmentally conscious, and socially responsible outcomes for her clients and the industry as a whole.

Max Van Someren

Energy Advisor

Arafura Rare Earths Limited

Max is an energy systems analyst, R&D team leader and (in a former life) ship designer. He has held leadership roles at KBR, AEMO, Austal Ships and Frazer-Nash Consultancy. Max has been leading the KBR team supporting Arafura Rare Earths in the development of their decarbonisation strategy since May 2022.

Max’s passion is the energy transition. He is the Director and Co-Founder of Causal Dynamics, a startup which combines data analytics and engineering analysis to model and improve the performance of future energy systems. He is also the Co-founder of the Net Zero Network, a not for profit which helps members identify how they can have the greatest impact in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

Kylah Morrison

General Manager Skills and Innovation

METS Ignited

Kylah is METS Ignited’s General Manager Skills & Innovation, Non-Executive Director for Province Resources (ASX:PRL) and WA Representative for Women on Boards.

She has over 16 years’ experience working in private companies, indigenous organisations, not‐for‐profits, and start‐ups across Australia and the United Kingdom.

With substantial experience in the energy and resource sectors, Kylah has a deep understanding of risks and challenges experienced by organisations operating in remote Australia, particularly in addressing clean energy transition and future skills.

Kylah holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) and Master of Engineering Management from Canterbury University.

Charles Gillies

Director

Resource Capital Funds Jolimont

Charles joined RCF Jolimont in 2013. Previously, he co-founded Jolimont Capital with Lex McArthur, where they both worked together from 2003 through 2012 to complete 30 technology investments.

He has 21 years of private equity experience working with management teams on financings, restructurings, and marketing. Prior roles include membership of investment committees, consulting, marketing, and corporate advisory work.

Stream 3 – Low Carbon Processing

Adrien Guiraud

Minerals Processing Lead

CSIRO

Adrien Guiraud is a Senior Process Engineer in the Sustainable Process Engineering Group within the Resources, Community and Environment Program in CSIRO Mineral Resources.

His primary responsibility is to identify opportunities for CSIRO to assist the minerals and metals industry, particularly high temperature primary metal production, to capture value through for example, increased productivity, reduced costs and reduced waste.

Adrien is a qualified materials science engineer with over 8 years experience in leading R&D projects for the minerals & metals industry, in the areas of ore and minerals processing and primary aluminium production, with a focus on improving energy productivity and minimising waste and emissions. He has previously worked with Rio Tinto in France (Rio Tinto Alcan) and Australia (Rio Tinto Technology & Innovation).

David Trotter

Research Portfolio Manager

MRIWA

David Trotter is a metallurgist who has over 35 years of experience in the iron ore and steel industry in a variety of technology, logistical, and technical sales and marketing roles and understands full value chain in Mining, Sales Operations, and Technology.

He has previously chaired an ISO/TC 102 Iron ore and direct reduced iron sub-committee as part of international standard development, been a NED on the HBI Association (HBIA), a predecessor of International Iron Metallics Association (IIMA), the trade association for the various forms of ore-based iron metallics and has been appointed to MRIWA to lead the mineral processing decarbonisation efforts of our organisation.

Most recently he has been providing advice on Green Steelmaking Technologies including the use of hydrogen in steelmaking, Transport, and Handling of HBI and DRI and his previous roles include Regional Manager Iron Ore for Rio Tinto Commercial Singapore, Global Iron Ore, and Pellet Feed Consultant, and Head of Global Sales and Trading, Anglo American Singapore. He also has experience in the PGM’s and manganese sectors.

Lily Smith

Principal Marketing Strategy and Technical

BHP

Lily is an experienced mining professional in BHP’s Sales & Marketing Sustainability team based in Perth. Holding a double bachelor’s degree in engineering and science from the University of Melbourne, her diverse 10-year career journey with BHP has taken her from Australia to Singapore and back, undertaking roles across Exploration, Resource Engineering and Marketing.

She actively supports BHP’s Scope 3 activities focused on steelmaking decarbonisation, including driving partnerships with some of the world’s leading steelmakers to jointly study and trial technologies capable of making material reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from steelmaking.

Stream 4 – Circular Economy

Prof Anita Parbhakar-Fox

Group Leader- Mine Waste Transformation through Characterisation (MIWATCH)

Sustainable Minerals Institute

Associate Professor Anita Parbhakar-Fox is a Principal Research Fellow in Applied Geochemistry at the W.H. Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre within the Sustainable Minerals Institute. She leads the Mine Waste Transformation through Characterisation (MIWATCH) group.

Her research is focused on mine waste characterisation to improve mine planning and waste management practices where she has worked with mining industry, METS sector and government stakeholders.

Currently, Anita is leading government and industry funded projects characterising a range of mine waste materials across Australia, and internationally, to evaluate their economic potential with a focus on critical metal recovery. Previously. she developed new tests and protocols for improving waste characterisation and was involved in identifying remediation options for abandoned/ historical mine sites.

Dr Martin Anda

Chair of Environmental Engineering

Murdoch University

Martin Anda is an environmental engineer with over 30 years experience in the energy, water and resource recovery sectors since completing a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) degree at UWA. He completed a PhD at Murdoch University and became Director of the UNEP Environmental Technology Centre, now chairing the Environmental Engineering program.

He is Theme Leader Circular Economy in the university’s Harry Butler Institute where he manages postgraduate researchers on a range of renewable energy, water and waste management related projects. His current projects include development of the first commercialized low-carbon geopolymer concrete products manufacturing facility (Colliecrete) in Collie, Western Australia.

Tony Tran

Tech Lead BHP – RioTinto Tailings Management Consortium

BHP

Tony Tran is a civil engineer whose work experience primarily covers mine tailings operation, project and technology development. He is currently responsible for the implementation of innovative tailings technology framework at BHP to improve safety aspects and unlock economic values of tailings.

He is the current BHP tech lead of the BHP – RioTinto Tailings Management Consortium that works to support various tailings initiatives that can benefit both companies and the wider mining community.

Eugenia Phegan

Process Manager

CPC Engineering

Eugenia Phegan is a chemical engineer with nearly 20 years of diverse experience in the resources industry. As the head of Process Engineering at CPC Engineering, she evaluates cutting-edge technologies for sustainable processing plants both in Australia and internationally.

She has held roles in management, project design, technology development, and procurement strategy, where she has been instrumental in driving innovation and identifying cost reduction opportunities.

Actively involved in the roll-out strategy of First Nation Engineering, she advocates for sustainable business practices and indigenous participation. Leveraging her commercial and technical background, she is dedicated to promoting circular economy principles and advancing sustainability in the mining sector.

Hayley Rolfe

Technical Director – Circular Economy

GHD

Hayley is an experienced environmental scientist and leader with substantial policy, project and engagement experience in circular economy, sustainability and waste management. She provides advice and develops circular economy approaches that include assessment of business processes, management and recovery of commercial wastes, impact assessments and opportunities for the beneficial use of waste derived materials.

She has extensive policy and legislation experience with a particular focus on waste regulation and reform, she has contributed to environmental and regulatory working groups in WA and Nationally.

Louise McNab

Gold Fields

Louise is a Senior Tailings Engineer in the Gold Fields Global Tailings Management team, where she is leading the implementation of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) across Gold Fields operations worldwide.

She holds a Master’s in Civil Engineering from the University of Edinburgh (2011) and has 14 years of experience, working at various oil and gas, mining and NFP sites across Asia, Australia, West Africa, Nepal, South America, South Africa, the UK, and USA.

Louise represented Gold Fields within the ICMM Tailings Working Group during the development and review of the GISTM and its Conformance Protocols. In addition, she actively participates as a member of the ICMM Working Group, focusing on tailings reduction and as a member of the Geowaste Consortium.

She was recently appointed to the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) College for consultation on Tailings topics and has shared research papers at the International Conference on Tailings Management in Chile and the Tailings Mine Waste Conference in Colorado. Moreover, she contributed as a course facilitator for the AusIMM tailings management course.

Science Communication Awards Ceremony

MC: Dr Jacob Martin

Research Associate

Curtin University

Jacob is a materials scientist and nanotechnologist working on climate-stabilising technologies. He has run the gamut in renewable/climate research, including biomass-to-power, algae biofuels, solar photovoltaics, carbon capture, soot pollution reduction and carbon materials for hydrogen storage, water filtration and batteries. Jacob is a trained chemist, physicist and chemical engineer and completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge in 2019. In 2020 he was a Research Fellow at the Cambridge Centre for Carbon Reduction in Chemical Technology in Singapore, working with industry to decarbonise. In 2021 he took up a Forrest Fellowship in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Curtin University in Perth, Australia working on advanced carbon materials for decarbonisation.

He has a passion for communicating science and has been involved in public lectures for the 2019 Pint of Science festival, CREATE Climate Change Conference in Singapore, nanoart exhibitions, New Zealand-wide activities for the UNESCO Year of Light and frequently lights his hand on fire at schools. In 2022 he was a TEDx Kings Park speaker for the countdown event on the lead up to the Glasgow climate summit. Recently he participated in the ABC TOP5 science media residency involving a two weeks of training programme and content creation. His work has been showcased on ABC digital website and the science show on radio national. He gave a pint of science talk in 2023 and has started the WA science podcast Clever Quokkas which he produces.

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