Speaker Biographies

Dr. Keith Barnard is a Senior Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO Mineral Resources, with over 30 years of hydrometallurgical research experience. A Research Group Leader for 13 years, he has led teams across various mineral processing activities including base and precious metals, lithium, graphite, gold and alumina. Keith has consistently focused research towards delivering commercially relevant outcomes, including CSIRO’s engagement with BHP Nickel West, directly leading to Australia’s first battery-grade nickel sulphate facility. He also spearheaded strategic partnerships with Tivan Ltd., Panasonic Energy Corporation, and others to advance critical minerals processing and battery precursor production aligned with national priorities and future industry needs.

Dr. Silvia Black holds qualifications in Applied Chemistry and a PhD in Extractive Metallurgy, with over 35 years of expertise across mining, food, water, education, racing, forensic, and environmental sciences. She has published in leading international journals and presented research worldwide. As Senior Program Manager at Amira Global, Silvia leads strategic and collaborative initiatives, managing a global portfolio of Research and Innovation projects that advance long-term sustainability in the minerals industry. She currently leads the development of Amira Global’s Sustainability Framework, including its new Lithium Program. Silvia is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM) and Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (FRACI).

I am a Chemical Engineer from the Philippines with over 6 years of experience as a Process Control Engineer in the Oil and Energy sector. I later earned my Master's degree at Curtin University in Australia and served as an Instructor at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the Philippines. Currently, I am pursuing my PhD at Curtin University, focusing on using waste carbon for battery applications, driven by my passion for advancing sustainable technologies in Science and Engineering.

Wiehan Botes holds a BEng Chemical Engineering degree from the North-West University and has been working in the mining industry since graduating in 2015. The companies he has worked for include Anglogold Ashanti, SGS and Barrick. He currently holds the role of Process Manager – Aachen™ Technology at Maelgwyn Mineral Services Africa. Wiehan’s expertise lies in gold processing optimization through testwork and consulting. He has conducted numerous on-site pilot plant tests and consulting visits in Africa, with a specific focus on leach optimization, cyanide management and detox. He is also an ICMI Technical Expert Auditor for mining and a certified ISO 14001 Lead Auditor.

Lachlan is a process engineer with 8 years’ experience in minerals processing. Since joining Hatch in 2018, Lachlan has worked on a range of projects, including Mine-to-Process optimisation, capital project studies from concept through to feasibility stage, and technical due diligence engagements. Lachlan also has hands-on experience in commissioning and plant operations, having been on rotation to Kazzinc's Zhairem Pb/Zn Concentrator in Kazakhstan - where he supported the commissioning of the Jameson Cell expansion project - and more recently to PT Freeport Indonesia's Manyar Maju Refinery (Au/Ag/Pb/Se), where he was responsible for the Selenium & Tellurium recovery circuit during the project ramp-up phase.

Dr Paul Breuer has over 25 years experience in gold hydrometallurgy research, development and process optimisation, including: • Thiosulphate leaching processes for gold recovery. • Cyanidation of copper-gold ores and concentrates and the impact of sulfide minerals. • Cyanide analysis, deportment and speciation. • Cyanide destruction and recycle processes. Paul has been with CSIRO for over 20 years leading research into the extraction of gold and other precious metals from ores. He was a member of the Australian government’s working group on cyanide management and contributed to the Cyanide Management handbook published in 2008. In addition to the development of the thiosulfate process, he has also supported the commercialisation of this technology with Clean Mining.

James Brown is the Director of Consulting for NAM Metallurgy & Consulting at SGS. Prior to his current role, he managed the Extractive Metallurgy Group within Metallurgical Operations in Lakefield. James holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mineral Engineering and a Master of Applied Science in Metallurgy and Materials Science Engineering from the University of Toronto. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer and an active member of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. James began his career in the mining industry, working as a Metallurgical Technician at MinnovEX (now SGS) and then at Teck Resources (Bullmoose Operation) and at Falconbridge Ltd. (Kidd Creek Division). He worked as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Toronto before joining SGS in 2004. Since then, he has served as a Senior Metallurgist and Senior Process Engineer, specializing in metallurgical process development, the design and operation of complex hydrometallurgical pilot plants, and advanced data analysis for client reporting. His technical expertise includes autoclave processes (POX, HPAL), as well as metallurgy for base and precious metals, rare earth elements, lithium, and uranium.

Tarang Bulchandani is a Senior Research Engineer at SPX FLOW (Philadelphia Mixing Solutions) with over 13 years of industrial expertise. Based in Pune, India, he specializes in leveraging Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to solve complex mixing challenges across the Mining and Mineral Processing, Specialty Chemicals, and Oil & Gas sectors. Tarang holds an M. Tech. from IIT Guwahati and a B.E. from Mumbai University. His career includes a significant tenure at Tridiagonal Solutions, where he led complex consulting projects and supported a global clientele. Currently, he bridges the gap between process technology and sales, utilizing advanced simulations to validate high-performance designs and drive engineering excellence.

James Chappelow is a Senior Principal Analyst, Mine Economics & Emissions at S&P Global, specializing in mine economics, forecasting, and decarbonisation strategy. He previously held senior decarbonisation and category management roles at Fortescue and procurement positions at Rio Tinto, following earlier experience in data analytics at KPMG and IT at Curtin University. He is CPA qualified and holds a Master of Commerce (Accounting) and Bachelor of Commerce (Economics), bringing strong expertise across analytics, commercial strategy, and sustainability.

A geologist by profession, Caoilin has 30 years postgraduate experience in the resources industry holding executive roles in technical, commercial and strategic disciplines. Previous roles include Resources Investment Commissioner, Qld Government, Head of BD and Head of Commercial, Metals Exploration at BHP and Head of Technical at Thiess. She is currently Chair of ASX listed Pacgold and Deputy Chair of the Queensland Exploration Council. She has worked across multiple global jurisdictions in coal, copper, nickel, gold and gas.

Education: PhD Materials Science & Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea Professional Memberships: KIM (The Korean Institute of Metals and Materials), KCerS (The Korean Ceramic Society), MMTB & MDPI reviewer Affiliations: RIST (Research Institute of Science and Technology), KIURI Institute (Yonsei University) Experience: Dr. Choi has 10 years' experience in the pyro- and hydrometallurgical processing industry in Republic of Korea. He has published 12 paper and conducted research to metallurgy and geology. He has worked at RISt, the research institue of POSCO group, and is conducting research on smelting Ni and Co from laterite ores and recycled resources.

Joel holds a double degree in Geology and Finance, plus a postgrad qualification in Extractive Metallurgy — a combination that lets him bridge the gap between technical detail, business strategy, and mining operations. At Chrysos, he helps mining companies around the world adopt PhotonAssay™ technology, supporting them every step of the way with implementation studies, training, data analysis, problem solving, and practical advice to get the most out of their assay results. Before Chrysos, Joel worked across a range of hands-on roles — from exploration geologist to plant and lab metallurgist, and as a consultant. This diverse experience gives him a deep understanding of the mining value chain and a practical approach to driving better outcomes on site.

Xianwen Dai, a Principal Research Scientist within the Processing Program of CSIRO Mineral Resources, is an inventor of the Sustainable Gold Cyanidation Technology. Working with CSIRO since 2006, he has over 20 years experience in both fundamental research and industrial focussed gold hydrometallurgy. He has also made significant contribution to the development and establishment of CSIRO's leading research capabilities in thiosulfate leaching and recovery of gold technology as an alternative to cyanidation. He has published 3 PCT international patents as lead inventor and over 50 research papers. He has co-supervised several PhD and undergraduate student projects.

Thien X. Dinh received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Ritsumeikan University, Japan. Following his doctoral studies, he has focused on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling for industry, with expertise in multiphase flows, combustion-induced shock waves—including explosions and detonations in gaseous and condensed media—and turbomachinery. Currently, as a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO, he specializes in CFD modelling of flow processes in mineral processing. His research interests include metallurgical flows, multiphase flows, and non-Newtonian fluid dynamics applied to mineral processing technologies.

David has Bachelor and Ph.D. degrees in Metallurgical Engineering from Queen's University (Canada) and since 1984 has worked at the University of British Columbia as Professor and Chair of the Industrial Research Chair in Hydrometallurgy. David is a co-founder of Atlas Materials and serves as CEO and CTO. David’s current work focuses on materials processing for decarbonization of battery materials production. David has received a number of professional awards including the Sherritt Hydrometallurgy Award (METSOC), the EPD Science Award (TMS), the Wadsworth Award (TMS) and the INCO Medal (CIM). David is a Fellow of CIM, Engineers Canada and the Canadian Academy of Engineering. He was recently inducted into the US Academy of Engineering as an International Member.

BSc Chemical Engineering , University of Cape Town, South Africa PhD (Eng) University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Past Chair, Hydrometallurgy Section of MetSoc, Canada Extraordinary associate professor, North West University, South Africa. Mike has 40+ years’ experience in R&D, primarily in the application of hydrometallurgy to the extraction of metals. Since 2003 he has been operating as Arithmetek Inc., offering process and cost modelling services to the industry at large.

Dr Marc Elmouttie is a leader in mining innovation, geotechnical risk and advanced sensing systems, with more than 23 years shaping research and technology development across the global mining sector. At CSIRO, he has held key leadership roles including Acting Program Director for Sustainable Mining Technologies and Research Group Leader for Mine Safety & Environment, overseeing major national portfolios spanning mining geoscience, geomechanics, mine safety, environmental sustainability. Marc’s career integrates deep technical expertise with project and program delivery. His contributions include pioneering advances in structural and geotechnical mapping and modelling, discrete fracture networks, reliability-based slope design, uncertainty quantification and sensor-based geotechnical monitoring. He has led more than 20 industry-funded projects with ACARP, BHP, Rio Tinto, Glencore, Boeing and other major partners, consistently translating scientific breakthroughs into operational technologies that enhance safety, productivity and decision-making. His cross-sector innovation is highlighted by leading the development and launch of the Multi-Resolution Scanner payload for the International Space Station, demonstrating the applicability of mining-driven sensing technologies to aerospace and off-Earth resource environments.

Dr. Tobias Elwert serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at cylib GmbH, a leading European battery recycling company, since May 2025. Working in lithium-ion battery recycling since 2009 in academia and industry, he brings extensive expertise in hydrometallurgy and mechanical processing from previous leadership roles at Aurubis AG, BASF SE, Duesenfeld GmbH, Clausthal University of Technology and Quingdao University covering R&D, technology, business and strategy. At cylib, Dr. Elwert oversees technological development and industrial-scale implementation.

Kevin Galvin is the inventor of the Reflux Classifier used in gravity separation of fine mineral particles. With over 240 installations around the world, the technology has been used to beneficiate iron ore, mineral sands, potash, chromite, lithium, tantalum, cassiterite and other base metal oxides. New innovative systems are emerging including the Reflux Flotation Cell, Graviton, GradePRO, and a novel agglomeration technology. Kevin Galvin is a Laureate Professor at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering and previous recipient of numerous awards including the Ian Wark Medal, ATSE Clunies Ross Award, and Antoine Gaudin Award in mineral processing. He is Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals.

Over 40+ years in the mining industry managing large multicommodity P&Ls for Tier#1 companies (Rio, BHP, Vale, ArcelorMittal, MMG, Sumitomo) covering the full value chain, from projects to operations, operating globally.

Ms. Carmen Good is a Uranium Production Specialist at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). She has 20 years of experience in the mineral extraction industry, with a strong focus on energy commodities, including uranium. At the IAEA she supports Member States with uranium production cycle activities and provides project management support to the IAEA Low Enriched Uranium Bank in Kazakhstan. Ms. Good holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science from the University of Queensland and a Postgraduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety from Curtin University. Her career reflects a commitment to environmental stewardship, operational safety, and international collaboration in the minerals and energy sectors.

Dr Suné Grobbelaar is a Process and Software Engineering Consultant at Dynamet Insights, specialising in the development of digital models for complex process systems. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Stellenbosch University, where her doctoral research focused on dynamic modelling of direct copper electrowinning operations. Since completing her PhD, she has worked on applying advanced modelling and data-driven methods to better understand, simulate, and optimise industrial processes. At Dynamet Insights, a specialist modelling and process analytics company, she contributes to the development of hybrid digital models that combine first-principles physics with data science to represent real process behaviour, support design and optimisation, and reduce development risk. Her work spans mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, and related sectors, helping translate complex process behaviour into practical insight and informed decision-making.

Nicolas Grosso is a Chemical Engineer with a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and a B.S. from Northwestern University. At Lilac, he has led process R&D, scale-up strategy, and IP development, and now focuses on technical sales and partnerships across global lithium projects. He is the author of over 20 peer-reviewed publications and inventor on 4 U.S. patents in advanced materials, separations, and critical mineral extraction.

Corin Holmes is the General Manager for Jenike & Johanson Pty Ltd. He obtained his Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Greenwich, UK. Moving to Perth in 2012, he helped establish Jenike & Johanson’s Australian subsidiary becoming General Manager in 2022. During his career Corin has worked on a many projects designing hoppers and feeders, transfer chutes, stockpiles, and Train Load Out bins, helping ensure reliable flow in many industries. Improving or creating a design validated by the underpinning FLOW science of is one of the best parts of his job. The reward comes with the knowledge that the effort involved help to prevent or solve very real problems while providing clients with peace of mind. Corin has authored and presented numerous technical papers and presents public and in-house training courses.

Alex has 20 years experience in process simulation with METSIM®, focusing on, but not limited to, hydrometallurgical operations. During that time he has worked on projects for precious and base metals, salts, PGMs, and REEs. Roles in each project have varied, but the overall objectives have not: increase production through simulation; aka dig deeper into the process and search for meaning.

Elsa Jordaan is Principal at Deployed Analytics and a data science leader with over 20 years’ experience applying analytics across the resources, energy and finance sectors. She has built and led data science teams at companies including Woodside, IAG and South32 Worsley Alumina, and is passionate about developing best practice in deployment of data science solutions and training the next generation of data scientists.

Education: Ph.D Materials Science & Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea Professional Memberships: KIM (The Korean Institute of Metals and Materials) KIRR (The Korean Institute of Resources Recycling) Affiliations: RIST (Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology) Experience: Dr. Jung has over 20 years of experience in the field of pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processing, specializing in lithium recovery from battery materials and by-product resource valorization. Since 2014, she has been working at RIST (Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology), a research institute of the POSCO Group, where she conducts research on the selective recovery of lithium from secondary batteries and the recycling of industrial by-products through both pyro and hydro metallurgical processes. She has published more than 20 research papers and holds over 90 patents related to metallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and sustainable resource recovery.

Wolfgang KELLER is a Senior Process Engineer and Head of R&D at EKATO Ruehr- und Mischtechnik. He has more than 25 years of experience in the field of chemical and mechanical process engineering. From 1996 to 2000, he worked at LONZA as a Production and R&D Engineer in a polymer plant. In 2000, he joined EKATO’s R&D department, where he has focused on various applications, including polymers and mineral processing. He holds a Master’s degree (Dipl.-Ing.) in Process Engineering from the Technical University of Karlsruhe, Germany. Wolfgang Keller is the author of numerous papers on industrial mixing technology and holds several patents. Memberships: - EFCE (European Federation of Chemical Engineering): board member of the ‘Working Party in Mixing’ - VDI (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure)

Katerina Kryst is part of the technical leadership team at Summit Nanotech, where she leads efforts to advance and deploy the company’s proprietary direct lithium extraction (DLE) process. Her work spans the full technology lifecycle, from laboratory research through process development and field demonstration, ensuring that innovation translates effectively into scalable, commercial solutions. Before joining Summit Nanotech, Katerina led the development of metal recovery and solution purification technologies at Eco-Tec Inc., using proprietary short bed ion exchange systems for the energy, mining, and water sectors. She began her career in the resource industry with Cameco, working on uranium processing and environmental research. A licensed chemical engineer, Katerina brings over 20 years of experience in industrial process innovation and scale-up of sustainable technologies.

For over 20 years, Samantha Langley has worked in the mining industry, with a career spanning site-based environmental and sustainability management, operational compliance and reporting, climate change action planning and decarbonisation project delivery across complex mining and mineral processing value chains. With Ms Langley’s leadership, passion and experience delivering world-leading projects that advance sustainability, Vulcan will reach new heights as we progress towards delivering our integrated sustainable lithium and geothermal renewable energy project.

Esme is a Chartered Professional Engineer and Ph.D. holder in Chemical Engineering with over a decade of practical experience spanning Mining, Chemicals, and Resources sectors. She has contributed to both brownfield and greenfield developments for major global clients including BHP Iron Ore, BHP Nickel West, Alcoa Australia, Newcrest Mining, FMG, POSCO, and ICL (Spain). Her expertise lies in hydrometallurgical process development across commodities such as lithium (hard rock and brine), uranium, nickel, natural graphite, high purity alumina, vanadium, and iron ore. Esme has successfully led and delivered technically complex projects at all phases—from concept through FEED to detailed engineering—across large-scale mineral processing facilities, pilot and demonstration plants, and ore handling systems. She has also worked on EPC/EPCM projects at the basic and detailed engineering stages. More specifically, Esme is highly proficient in flowsheet development and simulation tools including SysCAD, Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus, OLI Studio, PHREEQC, METSIM, JKSimMet, ion exchange, and materials handling.

Mr. Lennon was appointed as Head of Asia Pacific of Nickel 28 Capital Corp (TSXV: NKL) in 2019 and CEO in January 2025. Mr. Lennon is a highly experienced corporate and finance executive, having served as the Managing Director (from 2016 to 2019) and Chief Financial Officer (from 2007 to 2016) of ASX-listed Highlands Pacific Limited. Prior to Highlands Pacific, Mr. Lennon worked for KPMG for five years in Australia, gaining experience in industries including manufacturing, construction, retail, hospitality and mining, and also worked in the United Kingdom for two years in the manufacturing industry. Mr. Lennon has vast experience working internationally with funding partners and corporate transactions including joint ventures, mergers & acquisitions, capital raisings and debt funding. Mr. Lennon is a Chartered Accountant (Australia) and member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia, has a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance with the Governance Institute of Australia, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance with FINSIA and is a member of the Australian Institute of Directors.

Education: University of Otago New Zealand, University of New South Wales. Experience: BHP Central Research, Senior Lecturer, University of NSW, Technical Director, Trochem South Africa, Regional Manager, Henkel Asia Pacific. Private hydrometallurgical consultant specialising in solvent extraction of copper, nickel, uranium, and rare earths.

Eric is CEO of Viridian Biometals, which is developing a technology to refine critical minerals using bacteria that breathe rocks. Prior to that, he founded Element Energy (acquired), which develops innovative energy storage technologies for grid-tied and renewable energy systems. He also served in the Clinton Administration White House as the lead financial analyst for research and technology policy. He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from UCLA and a master's degree in public and international affairs from Princeton University.

Chris is a chemical engineer, working as the Sales Manager for JordProxa. Chris has been working in mining, mineral processing and water industries for over 25 years. He has lived and worked in Australia, Canada, and the USA. He has experience working with Veolia, Andritz, Alfa Laval, and at JordProxa he is focused on process plants for battery minerals, biproduct salts and ZLD. Chris is pleased to be involved in the energy transition to batteries and renewable energy. It is good for the planet and interesting as a chemical engineer!

Greg Mandigo the Director of Evaporation and Crystallization Technologies for Aquatech International. For the past 20 years, he has specialized in the application of technology to solve real-world challenges markets including mining, critical minerals, lithium, carbon capture, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, oil & gas, and many others. He holds several patents and has contributed to many publications and conferences through the years. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in Chemical Engineering and is based at the ICD Process Technologies campus in Hartland, Wisconsin, USA

Leslie Miller is a Senior Application Engineer at OLI Systems, leading applications in critical materials and water treatment. She explores advanced modeling and optimization tools to solve chemistry-related operational challenges in industry. With 17 years of experience in water and wastewater treatment for the Oil & Gas and Maritime sectors, Leslie has a strong focus on novel technology development and scale-up. Since joining OLI Systems in 2021, Leslie has applied her expertise to emerging fields such as Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), Rare Earth Extraction, and battery recycling. She leverages advanced chemistry modeling and simulation techniques to drive innovation in these areas. Leslie holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from Bucknell University, USA and has previous experience with ExxonMobil Research and Engineering; Naval Surface Warfare Center, United States Navy

Rob is one of the founders of NOVA Hydromet, a company specializing in severe service applications for pressure hydrometallurgy worldwide, and currently serves as its director of research and development. Using an interdisciplinary approach based on first principles, Rob has helped resolve multi-million-dollar production issues at some of the world’s largest autoclave production sites and pioneered industry best practices in letdown analysis and design. He is passionate about solving complex problems, often using mathematical models that draw on various sciences and his experience in control theory from the aerospace and instrumentation industries. Rob has authored multiple patents, previously worked at Memorex, Textron, and Caldera Engineering, and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Brigham Young University.

Glenton is an experienced climate strategist with nearly 20 years’ experience in environmental and climate science across government, consulting and the mining and resources sector in both Australia and around the world. He specialises in climate strategy design, carbon management, decarbonisation planning, energy efficiency and climate risk management. As the Group Advisor, Glenton leads the climate change portfolio for PLS, collaborating across the company to champion climate action and drive meaningful, long-term decarbonisation efforts.

I am an experienced Minerals Engineer, specialising in complex processes and project development. I have a passion for driving technologies and projects forward to achieve both positive and optimised outcomes. Having held engineering and leadership roles in the design, construction and commissioning of major greenfield and brownfield processing facilities, in my current role as GM Technology Development for Livium, I provide technical support for the commercialisation of innovative technologies to produce Lithium Ferro Phosphate (LFP) cathode active material and Lithium Chemicals from lower grade hard rock sources.

Vinh joined Velan in 2019 bringing along 20+ years of valve industry experiences. He is currently Director for Aftermarket. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.

Professor Aleks Nikoloski, with a PhD in Metallurgical Engineering from Murdoch University, has 28 years of experience in teaching, research, and as a process engineer in extractive metallurgy. He works with industry to develop new technologies for minerals and metals production, specialising in applied electrochemistry for hydrometallurgy and energy storage systems. His research focuses on sustainable technologies for treating various minerals and metals. Over the past decade, Professor Nikoloski's research has concentrated on advancing technology for the beneficiation and chemical processing of lithium-containing materials to produce lithium precursor chemicals for batteries. In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, Professor Nikoloski is actively involved in multiple professional organisations and has an extensive publication record in peer-reviewed journals. He has also disseminated his findings at numerous international conferences, solidifying his standing as a leading expert in his field. His contributions to extractive metallurgy have been recognised with various awards and honours. Committed to mentoring future engineers and scientists, Professor Nikoloski fosters a collaborative and innovative research environment. He supervises PhD and master's students, guiding them through their research projects and assisting them in achieving their academic and professional goals. His work advances the scientific understanding of metallurgical processes and aims to address environmental challenges associated with the mining and metals industries. Through his research, he strives to develop sustainable solutions that minimise the environmental impact of mineral extraction and processing, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Joseph Nsiah is a PhD student studying chemical and metallurgical engineering with the Extractive Metallurgy Hub at the Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University. His research primarily focuses on mineral extraction and recovery. He has worked as a graduate mineral engineer and Assistant Officer for the Minerals Commission of Ghana for three years, providing services to small-scale miners on mineral rights acquisition and sustainable mining practices. He graduated from the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, Ghana, in 2020 with First class honours in Minerals Engineering. His current research project is on the recovery of lithium hydroxide from lithium liquors using electrodialysis.

Jess Page is WGA’s Group Technical Manager. She is an experienced chartered chemical engineer and mathematician, who leads integrated teams of data scientists and engineers to deliver data driven solutions for complex systems. Jess leads development of process simulations, machine learning and cloud-based solutions, in a range of sectors including minerals exploration, minerals processing, water, managed aquifers, oil and gas, and manufacturing.

Dr Cameron Perks is Product Director – Lithium at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, where he leads lithium consulting, cost-curve analysis, pricing forecasts, and sustainability. With over a decade of experience in critical-minerals markets, he has advised clients from junior miners to OEMs on strategy and valuation. He previously worked at TZMI and at the Geological Survey of New South Wales, a state government department, and holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering.

Amir Razmjou is an Associate Professor at Edith Cowan University, Board Director of the Membrane Society of Australasia, and founder and leader of ECU's Mineral Recovery Research Centre (MRRC). With a diverse, multi-industry background spanning surface engineering, critical mineral extraction (e.g., lithium, rubidium, high-purity alumina), membranes, and sensors, he has published over 210 articles (h-index 54, Citations: 11,134 on Google Scholar) and secured significant research funding exceeding $15.4 million ($7.95 million as lead CI). Recognized with awards including the 2023 WA FHRI Fund Innovation Fellowship, 2023 MSA Industry Innovation Award, 2024 ECU Vice-Chancellor's Staff Excellence Award for Excellence in Research and the 2021 UTS Chancellor Research Fellowship, he has supervised over 40 HDR students and holds editorial board roles in prominent journals such as Desalination, DWT, and JWPE.

Matthew Schneider is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence at Murdoch University and an industry technologist specialising in advanced control systems, mining intelligence, and AI-driven governance. He is the founder of Quantum Mining AI, developing agentic AI platforms that integrate operations, ESG, and finance. With experience spanning mining operations, global technology leadership, and award-winning innovation, his work focuses on applying AI to enable sustainable, investable, and transparent resource development.

Dr. Bradley Schwehr is an interdisciplinary Research Fellow at Curtin University specialising in the application of fundamental chemical principles to extractive metallurgy. With a core strength in reaction mechanisms and solution chemistry, Bradley focuses on innovating and optimising mineral leaching processes. He is currently translating this molecular-level understanding into an industrial context, leading the hydrometallurgical components of several commercially sensitive projects.

Nipen Shah is Head of Sales at JordProxa. He looks after global sales of crystallisation and evaporation plants. He has over fifteen years of experience in designing and selling modular process plant and equipment to leading global companies. He is a Chemical Engineer and has a PhD from Monash University, Australia.

Sales Engineer at Flottweg with over a decade of experience across oil & gas, mining, and metallurgy. Since joining the company in 2013, he has progressed through roles in sales, documentation, and project engineering, gaining experience in process design and project delivery. He holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and focuses on technical sales, client solutions, and business development.

Steve Sloop has pioneered comprehensive methods to improve safety and efficiency in recycling lithium-ion batteries and materials. These include deactivation of lithium-ion batteries to eliminate hazards in transportation and storage; electrolyte extraction; electrode harvesting and separation; and cathode-healingâ„¢, which is a direct method to reintroduce lithium, structure, and performance to scrap electrodes.

Marie-Alice is an environmental scientist and sustainability leader with over 16 years’ experience guiding ESG and HSEC for major mining and resources companies across Australia and Central Asia. Recognised for driving measurable ESG improvements, and delivering award-winning reporting. Marie-Alice brings deep expertise in responsible minerals production and sourcing, climate risk and opportunity, and stakeholder engagement, bringing alignment with global standards and creating long-term value for organisations and communities.

Leigh brings a combination of operations, strategy and commercial experience across the global resources sector having worked with Rio Tinto and ExxonMobil in both internal operations and major projects. She is now focused on supporting the commercialisation of breakthrough Australian research, both through her role as Industry Advisor at the University of Queensland, and as Founder and Managing Director of Banksia Minerals Processing. As a Chemical and Environmental Engineer, she is passionate about step change solutions that provide sustainable processing solutions for heavy industry from a triple bottom line perspective. Banksia is developing an alternative method of refining copper cathode from concentrates, enabling the development of ore bodies not currently viable for production as well as a cleaner, safer and cheap replacement for conventional smelting. In her part-time role with UQ she works on alignment between researchers and industry to progress new resources technology under the Federally sponsored Trailblazer Program.

In his role as Application Technology Manager with LANXESS, Dirk develops new applications for ion exchange resins in the field of battery metals, waste- and drinking water. Prior to joining LANXESS in 2016 Dirk pursued a Post-Doc at Harvard University, with a main focus on ion exchange resin for pharmaceutical applications. Dirk obtained his PhD in 2013 in polymer chemistry. He is the author of 25 peer reviewed articles and 10 patents. His work was awarded by the Konrad Adenauer and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Alan Taylor has 40+ years’ experience in the metallurgical, mineral and chemical processing industries in Australasia, New Zealand, North and South America, Africa, Asia and Europe. He has worked in metallurgical consulting, project development, engineering/construction, plant operations, plant start-up and technology development. Projects and studies have involved copper, gold/silver, nickel/cobalt, uranium, base metals, phosphates and alumina. He has also authored and presented numerous technical papers. Since 1985, as an independent metallurgical consultant, he has as undertaken feasibility studies, project assessment, project development, supervision of testwork, flowsheet development, basic engineering, supervision of detailed engineering, plant commissioning, and peer reviews and audits. Clients have included a variety of major and junior mining, exploration and engineering companies throughout Australia and overseas. From 1995-2024 Alan convened the major annual international ALTA conference and presented public and in-house short courses. Alan graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (Honours) from Durham University, UK.

Georgina Thompson is a minerals engineer currently pursuing a PhD in chemical and metallurgical engineering at Murdoch University, in collaboration with Mineral Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA), where she is investigating a streamlined route for direct electrolyte production from leach liquors. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Minerals Engineering from the University of Mines and Technology, Ghana. Her background includes experience as a Laboratory and Research Assistant, contributing to projects like copper electrowinning. She also gained practical industry insights through conducting test work for leading mining companies in Ghana, including carbon quality assessment and gold leaching. Georgina's research interests span electrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and waste recycling, underscoring her commitment to contributing to a sustainable future.

Damian serves as the Product Manager for Advanced Milling Instrumentation at Molycop's Perth office in Western Australia. With over 20 years of experience in minerals processing, Damian possesses extensive industry knowledge and expertise in the areas of bulk materials handling equipment and process instrumentation for bulk materials handling, nucleonic detection, and in-stream sampling and analysis. He holds qualifications as a qualified Electronic Engineer, complemented by post graduate studies in chemical engineering.

I am a PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering at Curtin University. My research focuses on the recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from clay-hosted REEs while ensuring the process is simple and environmentally friendly. I am also interested in renewable energy, in addition to the mining industry. I am very keen on businesses, start-ups, and technologies related to REEs, and I hope to contribute, big or small, to the REEs industry one day.

Askar Tulparov is an Industry Manager at Endress+Hauser Australia, based in Sydney, where he works closely with customers across process industries in a wide range of applications. With over 10 years of engineering experience in industrial automation and measurement technologies, Askar brings strong hands-on industry knowledge and a practical perspective to complex operational challenges. He focuses on helping operators improve reliability, safety, and efficiency through digitalisation and advanced instrumentation solutions.

Patrick Van Roy has been with Coek Engineering for 27 years, bringing extensive experience in the fabrication of high-end process equipment. For the past 17 years, he has served as Chief Sales Officer (CSO), leading the company’s global commercial strategy. Under his leadership, Coek has expanded its presence in international markets, particularly in Asia, while maintaining a strong focus on niche technologies and exotic materials. His deep industry knowledge and client-focused approach have been instrumental in positioning Coek as a trusted partner in the petrochemical, chemical, and renewable energy sectors.

Professor James Vaughan is the Chemical Engineering Metallurgy Major Lead and Leader of the Hydrometallurgy Research Group. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering at McGill University followed by Master of Applied Science and PhD degrees in Materials Engineering at The University of British Columbia in Canada. Before joining UQ, James served as Director of the University of Queensland Rio Tinto Bauxite & Alumina Technology Centre and has been Chief Investigator of Australian Research Council Linkage and Discovery Projects in Copper. He is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and Program lead for the new Cooperative Research Centre "Critical Metals for Critical Industries". James is also the co-inventor of a novel copper technology being developed by Banksia Minerals Processing and is supporting the development as Chief Scientist.

Justin Walls is a professionally registered environmental engineer with almost 20 years’ international experience in tailings, water and mine-closure engineering. After more than a decade designing and constructing tailings storage facilities across Southern and Eastern Africa, he shifted his focus to the closure phase of the mining lifecycle. Now based in SRK’s Perth office, Justin specialises in the closure design of TSFs, integrating water management, geotechnical stability, nature-based solutions and stakeholder expectations to develop pragmatic, cost-effective landforms. His project portfolio spans multiple commodities and continents, supporting operations as they prepare their tailings facilities for long-term stability, relinquishment and post-mining land use.

Reinhardt Weideman is an Applications Engineer at Maelgwyn Mineral Services Africa, with over five years of experience in hydrometallurgy, biometallurgy, mineral processing, and water treatment. He has led multidisciplinary commercial and R&D projects from laboratory to industrial scale, focusing on gold leaching, bioleaching, biological water treatment, mineral carbonation, and process optimisation. His expertise includes the design, operation, and evaluation of hydrometallurgical and bioprocessing systems, supported by process modelling and techno-economic analysis. Reinhardt holds a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from North-West University, South Africa, and is passionate about translating fundamental research into innovative, sustainable industrial solutions.

An experienced process engineer specialising in the study (trade-off analysis) and innovation of mineral processing flowsheets, especially those associated with complex mineralogy. His career theme has been the challenge to improve both the grade and ultimate recovery of payables from polymetallic ores. In his previous role as the mineral processing principle in Rio Tinto’s Mine of the Future program, he was able to initiate and guide global innovation programs focussed on ore pretreatment, sorting, comminution and flotation. Utilising his innate ability to see signal in noise, he is the holder of over 20 mineral processing related patents in the area, demonstrating his ability to see business value creation opportunities through the lens of deep understanding and process empathy.

Toby Whincup is a senior sustainability leader with nearly 30 years of global experience advising mining companies on environmental, social, regulatory, and financial risk. A Partner at ERM since 2007 and appointed Global Director – Critical Minerals in 2024, Toby specialises in protecting investment value and corporate reputation across the metals value chain, with a particular focus on derisking major capital projects as they move from discovery into operation. Over the course of his career, Toby has worked extensively across Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America. He is a passionate advocate for the mining sector’s capacity to “do good” and drive positive development outcomes. Combining his global perspective with a strong technical grounding, Toby brings nuanced insight to a sector navigating the ever-increasing complexity of rapidly evolving societal expectations, a cautious investment climate and accelerating geopolitical uncertainty.

Michael has 15 years’ experience in sustainability and environmental roles working primarily with WA miners. Michael is part of the team at Bellevue Gold, who has achieved net zero emissions, and won many awards in 2025 with Energy and Mines, AIM and AMEC. Michael has worked at Bellevue Gold for over five years, and has been involved in the studies, tendering and now operation of the gold mine – including the renewable energy power station (as Australia’s most renewably powered mine) and the strategy and data verifications behind the claim of the world’s first net zero (Scope 1 and Scope 2) emission gold mine.

Craig currently serves as the General Manager of Cambridge EnerTech with primary responsibilities for scientific conference organization and program development within energy market sectors with conferences based in the United States, Asia, Australia and Europe. Prior to that and since 2014, Craig served as Executive Director of Conferences for Cambridge Enertech. Previously to joining CII and forming Cambridge EnerTech, Craig was the Founder and President of the Knowledge Foundation, a scientific conference and publishing company until it was acquired by CII in 2014. Additionally, Craig was a Director at IBC USA (now Informa), and has previous experience in conference development, publishing and technical marketing.

Yimeng Xu is responsible for proprietary process technology management at JGC Corporation, headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. She holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and has contributed to a wide range of process engineering projects, including hydrometallurgical non-ferrous metal refining (HPAL), biomass power generation, nuclear waste treatment, and ethylene production plants. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking and exploring Japanese culture.

Professor Chun-Xia Zhao is a Professor and an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Leadership Fellow in the School of Chemical Engineering at University of Adelaide (UoA), the Deputy Director of an Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence. Before she joined UoA, she was a group leader, ARC Future fellow, UQ Amplify Fellow at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland. 8 She leads a research group focused on bioinspired engineering, biomimetic nanomaterials, and biomimetic devices for applications ranging from biomedicine to resource recovery. She has been awarded three national prestigious fellowship (Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship and ARC Future Fellowship, and NHMRC Leadership Fellowship). Prof. Zhao has published more than 170 referred articles and book chapters in international top refereed journals such as Nature Nanotechnology, PNAS, Science Advances, Nature Comm, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, ACS Nano, Small, AM, AFM, and so on. She focuses on innovative, translational research, evidenced by numerous patents and successful technology licenses, and has established strong collaborations with industry partners. She has built extensive collaborations with scientists at top universities such as Harvard University, Brown University, etc. She serves as the Editors, Editorial Board member for several journals.