Adjunct Professor Michael Akindeju is Chair of the IChemE Mining and Minerals Special Interest Group and a distinguished engineering leader whose expertise spans mineral processing, engineering biology, advanced process design, and innovation in complex industrial systems. He is Principal Consultant at MKPro Group, delivering high‑impact solutions across biotechnology, energy, and manufacturing, and Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Innovation, Science, and Sustainability, Federation University Australia. A Fellow of IChemE and RACI, Chartered Engineer, and Registered Professional Engineer, he is recognised for integrating science and practice to drive sustainable transformation and strengthen industry capability.

Ashwin Kishor Hatwar is a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Monash University, Australia. His research focuses on electrified catalytic reactors for greenhouse gas valorisation, particularly dry methane reforming using Joule-heated structured reactors. His work integrates additive manufacturing, catalyst development, and reactor engineering to develop scalable technologies for sustainable syngas production and electrified chemical processing.

Sarva Sai Nikhilesh Gantala is a PhD candidate in the BITS-RMIT cotutelle doctoral program, conducting research in Chemical and Environmental Engineering with an interdisciplinary integration of biotechnology and chemical engineering principles. His work focuses on electrobiomethanation of organic waste to enhance biomethane production efficiency through electrode-assisted anaerobic digestion systems. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology from GITAM University, India and a Master of Technology in Biotechnology from Andhra University, India. Through his doctoral research, he aims to develop innovative strategies for improving organic waste valorisation and renewable bioenergy generation.

Dr Mehrdad Parsa is a materials scientist and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, specialising in carbon materials and electrochemistry for energy storage applications. His work focuses on the development, scale-up, and commercialisation of advanced anode materials, including carbon-coated graphite and silicon–graphite composites, with an emphasis on cost reduction and emissions minimisation. He has led research within the Future Battery Industries CRC and is currently advancing turbostratic carbon film (TCF) technology under the Australia’s Economic Accelerator program. His experience spans laboratory research, pilot-scale production, and industry collaboration, supporting the translation of materials innovations into commercial battery technologies.

Dr. Muhammad Nurunnabi Siddiquee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) and an affiliate of the Centre for Refining & Advanced Chemicals (CRAC). His research focuses on the valorization of petroleum fractions, particularly the controlled oxidative conversion of heavy petroleum streams into precursors for carbon fibers and other advanced carbon materials. He also works on converting light petroleum fractions into value-added products and in situ monitoring of dissolved oxygen during hydrocarbon autoxidation. His broader interests include multiphase oxidation in microfluidic reactors, asphalt hardening, and biofuel production from waste.

Dr Jai Kant Pandit holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Monash University and has extensive experience and interests in sustainability, emissions reduction, waste utilisation, hydrogen energy, and power generation. Dr Pandit has been involved in managing post-combustion capture projects and demonstration initiatives in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley focused on CO₂ capture and hydrogen production. He is currently developing CO₂CRC’s direct air capture technology and the cost-effective, modular, and hybrid HyCaps process for CO₂ capture.