Keynote speaker

Dr Chris Vernon

Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO

Biography

Chris completed a double degree in Organic Chemistry and Physical & Inorganic Chemistry, followed by Honours and a PhD in Physical Chemistry at the University of Western Australia in 1988, with co-supervision by the Australian Atomic Energy Commission (now ANSTO).

After his PhD, he joined CSIRO for 4 years, using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy to probe mineral surfaces and the interactions between reagents and different phases. This was followed by 5 years as a senior research chemist at Alcoa’s Bayer processing R&D centre, advising their worldwide operations on crystallization, kinetic and thermodynamic modelling, and performing audits on Alcoa's 9 refineries worldwide.

Chris re-joined CSIRO in 1997 and has worked in a variety of scientific and management roles, stealing time for project involvement where possible. He was a Program Director in the Mineral Resources business unit from 2014 to 2020 and is now leading the Green Mineral Technologies initiative - seeking greener and more economic methods to extract, process and manufacture using Australia's minerals endowment.

He is also CSIRO's Critical Minerals Lead and co-leader of the Renewable Energy Powerhouse Mission (in development).