Gerry is a consultant on energy and environment issues and currently advising on a range of renewable energy, low emission technologies and waste management.

​

​

Mike joined the Lignite Energy Council in December 2016 as the vice president of research and development. Prior to this he had been the director of Energy Systems Development at the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) in Grand Forks, where he oversaw fossil energy research areas.

​

Professor Bhattacharya has a strong background in industry and academia. Having started his career in India as a design and commissioning engineer for coal-fired power stations, he then worked in Thailand on the utilisation of agro-forestry residues for gaseous fuels production. 

At Monash University, Professor Bhattacharva’s research area includes advanced coal and biomass utilisation for power and fuels production through gasification and combustion and biofuels including algae.

Roland is the Principal of Advantage Energy & Resources, a specialist consultancy supporting companies pursuing projects to leverage Victoria’s brown coal resources, with a focus on sustainability through innovation. He currently works as General Manager Projects for Coal Energy Australia, the developer of a $250M Coal Processing Facility in Victoria.

Professor Fox has a longstanding interest in all forms of carbon.  She has conducted extensive studies of the carbonization of polymeric precursors to create carbon fibres in addition to research on composite materials reinforced with carbon fibres, carbon nanotubes and graphene. 

Andrew McCarthy (Andy) is the Founder and Managing Director of Gippsland Solar, and has 18 years of experience in the renewable energy industry. After founding Gippsland Solar in 2010, he has grown the business to be one of the largest providers in Victoria. 

​

David is Australian Paper’s General Manager Corporate Development, challenged with “turning credible ideas into viable projects”. Currently his major focus is developing Australian Paper’s $7.5 million Energy from Waste feasibility study into a viable business proposal that will attract a wide range of government and private sector partners seeking responsible solutions to the future strategic management of Melbourne and Gippsland’s non-recyclable waste streams.

Professor Sullivan has an international reputation for his research in acid sulfate soils and carbon biosequestration. He has obtained over $17m in competitive funding to support his research activities and has published over 300 articles, books and chapters.

Among other roles, Professor Batterham has leadership roles at the face between the University and Industry and Government, research in mining, mineral processing, algal and energy systems.

​

​

​

Mr Kawazoe joined Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Hydrogen Energy Chain Promotion Section in 2016.

Prior to KHI Mr Kawazoe worked with Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions Japan Ltd and designed N2 Generator and Air Separation Unit instrument equipment including control valves, control equipment and DCS program.

​

​

​

Vince works in the School of Applied and Biomedical Sciences. He started his research working on marine lipids and became interested in the analytical chemistry of more complex organic systems such as coal and its products and waste streams.

​

​

Steve is currently the General Manager, Biomanufacturing Division and Strategic Business Development at Australian Paper Pty Ltd.  He was with Visy for 10 years as the R&D National Manager at the Visy Technical Centre, Coolaroo and instrumental in building the Tumut Mill and other mills.

Richard's whole working life has been dedicated to building a strong relationship between the Power Generation/Mining and Water sectors and the Gippsland Community.

​

Brian commenced as CEO of BCIA in April 2018. He has a background in the coal and power sector with more than 30 years experience in the operations, financial, marketing and technology sectors of the industry.

​

Ian is a consultant with 30+ years experience in the mining industry. He specialises in the transition of natural resource companies through commercialisation of new environmentally friendly technologies. Ian is currently assisting Exergen in the development of its globally significant Verde Growth lignite fertilizer initiative.

Alan completed a PhD at Melbourne University prior to a career which has spanned the 3 major research sectors in Australia: CSIRO, private industry (BHP Corporate Labs) and Monash University. Movement between these sectors has led to cross-disciplinary research interests and the theme that ties most research across his career together is 'Fundamental and Applied Chemistry of Fuels Utilisation'.

​

​

​

Tania commenced as the CEO in January 2015. She was previously chief advisor in the Personal and Retirement Income Division of Treasury, working on tax-related matters. Prior to this, she held various resources and energy roles in the Department of Industry.

​

​

Mary commenced as the CEO of the Committee for Gippsland in 2011.  Mary has worked as corporate & regulatory manager for an energy efficiency business, for the Energy Supply Association of Australia and in a policy role for the retail arm of International Power. 

Darrell has been a former Councillor with the Shire of Morwell from 1981-1987 and City of Morwell from 1991–1994.  He has been Mayor of Latrobe City Council for three terms:  1997-1998, 2003-2004 and 2010-11 and is the current Mayor – November 2017 to 2018.