NetZero Frontiers 2024

This invitation-only event, with the theme “International Partnerships and Perspectives”, will showcase innovative solutions from business and research leaders – from Australia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, USA and Finland – and detail their journeys on the road to decarbonisation.

The conference is being staged by the Net Zero Institute, a multidisciplinary research cluster at the University of Sydney with 180 researchers dedicated to helping government, industry and communities develop, adopt, deploy, and manufacture cost-effective, low and zero emissions solutions at scale.

At the event, NZI will also launch its latest White Paper on Critical Minerals and Materials. This will showcase the opportunities and challenges for Australia and the region in this crucial sector, and detail NZI’s capabilities in helping to find solutions and build partnerships internationally.

8:30 am	Registration with tea, coffee and pastries
9:00 am	Official Conference Opening Prof Deanna D’Alessandro, NZI Director Gadigal Elder Uncle Charles ‘Chicka’ Madden, Welcome to Country Chancellor David Thodey AO Prof Kathy Belov AO, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Global and Research Engagement
9:20 am	NZI Critical Minerals and Materials White Paper Launch Launched by: Prof Hugh Durrant-Whyte, NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer Prof Deanna D’Alessandro, NZI Director Prof Marjorie Valix, NZI Pillar Lead – Critical Minerals and Materials
9:35 am	NZI Snapshots Dr JingJing You, NZI Health Pillar; Chair, NZI Early & Mid-Career Researcher Committee Dr Sara Moron Polanco, NZI Pillar Lead – Coastal Carbon Capture Prof Gregor Verbic, NZI Ambassador; NZI Pillar Lead – Electrification Dong Ha Choi, Winner of the NZI Poster Competition 2024
10:00 am	Morning tea

10:15 am

Industry Perspectives: Future Fuels for Net Zero

Chair: James Phillis, Chair, The Warren Centre Energy Hub and CEO of SMEC Australia & New Zealand

Scott Nargar, Senior Manager of Future Mobility & Government Relations, Hyundai Motor Co Australia (NZI Industry Advisory Board member)
Dr Michael Battaglia, Mission Lead, Towards Net Zero Mission, CSIRO
Prof Assaad Masri, NZI Pillar Lead – Powerfuels

Industry Perspectives: The Orlar Story – Technology for Net Zero Emissions

Chair: Prof Julie Cairney, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Research - Enterprise and Engagement

Dr Lyndal Hugo, Co-Founder and CEO, Orlar; University of Sydney Alumni
Prof Stuart Khan, Head of School of Civil Engineering; NZI Pillar Lead – Water Management in a Changing Environment

11:15 am

NZI Perspectives: Sustainable Aviation Fuels - Towards a Net Zero World

Chair: Prof Rico Merkert, NZI Pillar Lead - Decarbonising Aviation Demand

Tim Stock, Director Hydrogen and Clean Energy programs, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water
Jacob Lackenby, Finance and Public Affairs Manager – ANZ, Neste Australia
A/Prof Nicholas Lawson, NZI Pillar for Decarbonising Aviation Demand
Heidi Hauf, Global Sustainability Leader; Chair, Greenskies Aviation Aerospace Australia
Christian Bennett, Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, Virgin Australia

NZI Perspectives: Opportunities for the Water Sector to Contribute to Australia’s Net Zero Ambitions

Chair: Renny Chivunga, Senior Water Engineer

Prof Stuart Khan, Head of School of Civil Engineering, NZI Pillar Lead – Water Management in a Changing Environment
Catherine Port, General Manager – Water (NSW), Veolia
Dr Johanna Speirs, Senior Climate Scientist, Snowy Hydro Ltd

1:00 pm	Focus on Asia Chair: Dr Clare Anderson, Chair of the NZI Industry Advisory Board Kiyohito Fujie, President, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Australia (NZI Industry Advisory Board member) Prof Jihye Gwak, Korea Institute of Energy Research, South Korea (NZI Scientific Advisory Board member) Prof Nguyen Thi Anh Tuyet, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Vietnam (NZI Scientific Advisory Board member) A/Prof Dries Verstraete, NZI Pillar Lead – Energy Hybridisation Dr Kajornsak Faungnawakij, National Nanotechnology Centre (NANOTEC), Thailand
2:00 pm	Focus on Europe Chair: Alexandra Meldrum, Chair of the NZI Scientific Advisory Board Opening comments: Ahti Törrönen, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Finland Keynote presentation: Dr Antti Arasto, Vice President, Industrial Energy and Hydrogen, VTT Technical Research Centre, Finland Panel: Duncan Wyatt, Director, Critical Minerals and Hydrometallurgical Solutions, Metso Australia Dr Jussi Manninen, Executive Vice President, VTT Technical Research Centre, Finland (NZI Scientific Board member) Andrew Petersen, CEO, Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia Prof Marjorie Valix, NZI Pillar Lead – Critical Minerals and Materials
3:00 pm	Afternoon tea
3:30 pm	Focus on USA: What’s next on the US Climate Agenda Chair: Jared Mondschein, Director of Research, United States Studies Centre Hayley Channer, Director of the Economic Security Program, United States Studies Centre Meg McDonald, Senior Fellow, United States Studies Centre A/Prof Nader Naderpajouh, NZI Pillar Lead – Projects in the Face of Climate Change
4:30 pm	Closing Remarks: Prof Deanna D’Alessandro

NetZero Frontiers 2024

Bridging the gap between science and the boardroom to accelerate change.

Join us as we work towards a sustainable, net zero future.