Shuaijia Chen, 4th year PhD student, focusing on the electrification phenomena within the solid-liquid interface through the interaction of water droplet (wetting and dewetting) on dielectric polymer surfaces at the University of Melbourne.

Shayan is a senior process engineer experienced in process design, site supervision, commissioning and project management. He has significant experience working experience in water and wastewater projects, and brings extensive expertise to the research and design teams. Sean’s eight years in the industry included concept designs, managing teams of people to deliver projects, and working closely with contractors, consultants, and clients to ensure delivery within budget and time parameters. He possesses experience in Australian and New Zealand standards across mining, municipal and industrial industries. He currently holds the positions of Research and Innovation Project Manager and Senior Research Engineer.

Anniza Cornelia Augusty is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at RMIT University, Australia under the guidance of Dr. Seungju Kim and A/Prof. Linhua Fan. She received her M.Eng degree in Chemical Engineering at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. Her research interests are mainly focused on developing new membrane materials for membrane distillation. She is currently also interested in membrane fabrication for water purification and desalination, including surface modification and fouling mitigation.

Jonathan Quintanar Velasco is a Project Engineer with over 10 years of experience in water and wastewater treatment across industrial and municipal sectors. He holds a Chemical Engineering degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico and Master’s degrees in Engineering and Project Management from the Queensland University of Technology. Jonathan has international professional experience in Mexico, France, and Australia. His expertise includes process design, pilot testing, commissioning, and optimisation of membrane, filtration, and advanced water and wastewater treatment systems.

Sogol Ghasemi is a (HDR) candidate in Environmental Engineering at RMIT University, Australia. Her research focuses on the rheology and pipeline transport of highly concentrated wastewater sludges, with particular emphasis on primary sludge. Her work investigates high-shear flow behaviour, friction factor prediction, and the limitations of bench-top rheometry for representing real pipeline conditions. By integrating bench-top rheometry with laminar and turbulent pipe loop experiments, she aims to improve the reliability of rheological characterisation for primary sludge transport. She works closely with industry partners, including CSIRO and Melbourne Water, to support improved design and optimisation of sludge handling systems.

Emma Cross and Sela Maka are professionals in the water and wastewater industry in Aotearoa New Zealand, sharing a passion for sustainability, innovation, and creating a more resilient water future. Emma is a Process Engineer at Veolia, where she applies her technical expertise to support efficient and sustainable water and wastewater treatment solutions. Sela is a Technology Innovation Lead at Watercare Services Ltd, focused on advancing innovative technologies and studying nitrous oxide emissions across Watercare's sites.

Emma Cross and Sela Maka are professionals in the water and wastewater industry in Aotearoa New Zealand, sharing a passion for sustainability, innovation, and creating a more resilient water future. Emma is a Process Engineer at Veolia, where she applies her technical expertise to support efficient and sustainable water and wastewater treatment solutions. Sela is a Technology Innovation Lead at Watercare Services Ltd, focused on advancing innovative technologies and studying nitrous oxide emissions across Watercare's sites. Together, Emma and Sela are the joint recipients of the 2026 Young Engineers Award for Innovation and Sustainability – Water and Sanitation category, recognising their contribution to developing innovative and sustainable solutions for the water industry.