Welcome and introduction IEA HEV Task 40 CRM4EV (critical raw materials for electric vehicles)

Ken Brinsden is a mining engineer with over 25 years' experience in surface and underground mining operations, including roles in mine management, production, and brown-fields and green-fields development roles across a range of commodities. Mr Brinsden joined Pilbara Minerals as Chief Executive Officer in January 2016, was appointed Managing Director and CEO in May 2016.

Ken has led the development of the Pilgangoora Lithium-Tantalum project, which has progressed from the first drill hole to concentrate exports in under four years. This exponential growth has resulted in Pilbara Minerals now being one of the world’s leading lithium raw materials suppliers with a portfolio of growth options to execute, as the demand for battery raw materials increases.

Chris is the Deputy Director General, Resources and Project Facilitation at the Western Australian Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. Chris and his team facilitates and assists the development of State significant projects in areas ranging from the resources and oil and gas sectors, including the battery and critical minerals industry, as well as areas such as agriculture and tourism.

As the Agent General, Mike’s role is to raise the profile and knowledge throughout the UK, Europe and Israel of Western Australia as an investment destination and as a source of high-quality products and expertise.

Mike had a 32-year naval career including command of three submarines and the Fleet Replenishment ship, HMAS Success. His last role in the Royal Australian Navy was as the Commander of the Australian Submarine Group and the Senior Defence Officer in WA. He retired in the rank of Commodore in 2005.

Mike has a wealth of experience in Marine and Defence Industries, previously holding senior executive roles with L3 Nautronix, Raytheon and, most recently, Civmec.

Past Board roles include Non-Executive Directorships with the Pilbara Ports Authority and Dampier Port Authority, Deputy Chair of the Governing Council of Challenger Institute and member of the WA State Training Board.

Matt Dusci is a senior executive with over 25 years’ experience across all facet of the resource industry from exploration, project development, and operations. He has extensive international experience, having worked in Australia, South America, Africa and Asia. Matt has held senior leadership positions within PMI Gold, Gold Field and WMC Resources. He joined IGO in 2014 and is currently Chief Operating Officer for the Company.

Research Director and Chief Operating Officer, Jacques Eksteen leads the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre’s (FBICRC) comprehensive whole-of-value chain research program and is responsible for driving high quality research outcomes which address industry needsHe is also a Professor at Curtin University associated with the Western Australian School of Mines, Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering. Prior to joining the FBICRC he was the Chair for Extractive Metallurgy at Curtin University. Jacques has 27 years’ experience in industry, research, and academia, and has worked in senior management and technical roles in the base and precious metals industries and the nuclear industry in South Africa and Australia. Jacques holds Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees in Chemical Engineering and Extractive Metallurgical Engineering.

Gary Frampton is BHP Nickel West’s Head of Business Development and Technical Projects. He has played a significant role in the transformation and reorientation of the Nickel West business from being a nickel supplier to the stainless steel sector to becoming a globally significant battery materials supplier.

Prior to this appointment, Gary held numerous senior leadership positions across the Nickel West asset, including General Manager of the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter and Kambalda Concentrator, and General Manager of the Kwinana Nickel Refinery. In prior roles with Anglo American and Bulong Nickel Operations, he has also held numerous senior engineering and technical positions.

Kam Leung joined Lynas as the General Manager WA in May 2012. To support Lynas’ exciting transformation and growth period as the company delivers on its Lynas 2025 growth vision, in August 2020 he was appointed as VP Upstream. In this role, Kam is responsible for all operations in Western Australia, including Lynas’ Mt Weld Mining and processing operations and all WA based development work, including the Kalgoorlie project.

Prior to this, Kam was VP Production from 2014, leading Lynas’ production, health and safety and product quality from mine to finished product.

Kam has over 30 years’ experience in the resources sector. Since joining Lynas, Kam has played an integral role in ramp-up of the Mt Weld mine and concentrator operations in Western Australia and the Lynas Rare Earth Separation Plant in Kuantan, Malaysia. Prior to joining Lynas, Kam worked for Mt Isa Mines, BHP Billiton and Iluka Resources.

Appointed CEO of MRIWA in November 2018, Nicole spent the previous 15 years at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia coordinating industry input on a variety of government regulatory and policy issues and facilitating collaboration within the resources sector.

Nicole holds a Master of Science in Industrial and Organisational Psychology from UWA and a Master of Risk Management from UNSW.

Simone is the Deputy Director-General, Strategy and International Engagement at the Western Australian Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. Simone and her team provide strategic policy advice on state economic development matters and help to both shape and promote investment and trade opportunities. Simone’s team includes the State’s network of international offices who promote Western Australia and its industries across the world.