Webinar: Critical Minerals – Australia’s Path to a Sustainable Future

The Australian Government is making significant investment in Australia’s critical minerals, which play an essential role in high tech industries and in supporting the global clean energy transformation.

Tune in for this engaging webinar from ANSTO, that will highlight how research and industry are able to collaborate in the effort to help unlock Australia’s critical minerals potential.

12pm (AEDT) Wednesday 4 December 2024 via Zoom

This webinar is free but registration is required.

Topics for Discussion:

• Why critical minerals and what is the potential benefit to Australia?
• The role of critical minerals in clean energy: understanding how minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements power renewable technologies.
• Sustainable mining practices: Innovations in environmentally responsible extraction and processing techniques.
• Global supply chains and Australia’s position: navigating international demand and Australia’s strategic importance in the minerals market.
• Career opportunities in the critical minerals sector: insights into education pathways, skills needed, and emerging job roles in mining, engineering, and research.

Who Should Attend:

• Industry Professionals: Mining, energy, and technology professionals seeking to stay informed about critical minerals and their applications.
• Policymakers: Government representatives interested in resource management, environmental policies, and sustainable development.
• General Public: Anyone interested in the role of critical minerals in Australia’s economic and environmental future.
• Students and Educators: Those studying or teaching earth sciences, engineering, environmental studies, or related fields

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to deepen your understanding of Australia’s critical minerals sector. Register now to secure your spot!

Speaker Information

Dr Karin Soldenhoff, Principal Consultant, ANSTO

Dr Karin Soldenhoff is a Principal Consultant within ANSTO’s minerals area. Karin provides broad technical direction for critical minerals research projects and commercially sponsored projects in hydrometallurgical process development.

Karin has been recognised by the resources industry for her innovative work in solvent extraction, and in 2024 was awarded the NSW Women in Mining’s Award for Exceptional Woman in Technological Innovation and named a finalist in the BHP Women in Resources National Awards.

Lucy O’Connor, Manager Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub, CSIRO

Lucy is the Manager of the Australian Critical Minerals R&D Hub, which is hosted by the CSIRO and brings together the expertise from Australia’s leading science agencies: CSIRO, Geoscience Australia and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). The Hub is accelerating the growth of Australia’s critical minerals industry by coordinating and aligning R&D to industry needs and global trends.

Before joining CSIRO in May 2023, Lucy was a Manager at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) where she advised on trade and investment strategic policy issues, including critical minerals.

Lucy started her career with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and has more than 20 years international experience focusing predominately on security/arms control issues and Southeast Asia. Lucy’s commercial mining experience includes a period working with an Australian mining company establishing one of the first international standard copper gold mines in Laos. Lucy speaks Thai and Lao.

Wayne Dicinoski, General Manager – Technical, Australian Strategic Materials

Wayne Dicinoski has over 30 years of experience in the minerals processing industry, including research and development, testwork planning and supervision, plant operations, process design engineering, process plant commissioning, project and engineering management.

Primary expertise is in the field of hydrometallurgy, with involvement in a wide variety of base, precious metals and rare earth projects, from laboratory testwork and supervision through to detail design and commissioning.  Particular involvement in projects encompassing leaching and refining for gold, copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, manganese, scandium, lithium, rare earths, zirconium, niobium and manganese.

Wayne is an author of a number of papers on leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning.

Webinar details:

Date: Wednesday 4 December 2024

Time: 12pm (AEDT)

Platform: Zoom

Register now to secure your spot and be part of this important conversation on safeguarding our environment.

Can’t make it? Register to receive a recording of the webinar. 

This webinar is free, but registration is essential. Be part of the conversation driving change.

This webinar is proudly brought to you by ANSTO. View more webinars from our Science Meets Business webinar series here.