Selected project case studies

Projects

A record of selected projects across engineering, science, artificial intelligence and sustainability.

Each project will focus on the work itself: the problem, the decisions made, the people involved and what changed as a result.

2024–Current Program launched RMIT University · Melbourne

RMIT Degree Apprenticeship Program

Designing and launching an Earn and Learn pathway that connects mechanical engineering education directly with major employers.

5: Major Australian companies engaged in the model
Earn & Learn: Paid experience integrated with engineering study
Mechanical: First engineering discipline launched

Model design and partnership leadership

Mineral processing plant and industrial infrastructure

During Calix tenure Joint venture established Calix Limited · Pilbara Minerals

Pilbara Minerals Lithium Joint Venture

Establishing a $120 million joint venture to develop an Australian lithium-phosphate battery-material supply chain.

$120m: Documented joint-venture project value
Australian: Domestic battery-material supply-chain ambition
Mine linked: Processing pathway connected with mineral supply

Strategy, business development and partnership formation

During Calix tenure Demonstration program Calix Limited · CBR Cement · Belgium

LEILAC Cement Decarbonisation

Extending Calix's processing platform into a European cement demonstration focused on separating process carbon dioxide.

Belgium: Industrial demonstration location
Cement: Hard-to-abate sector addressed
Process CO₂: Emissions stream targeted by the technology

Senior technology and commercialisation leadership

2019–2024 Funded development Calix Limited · Australian research and industry partners

Green-Iron Technology Commercialisation

Building funded partnerships around lower-emissions mineral processing for Australian iron and steel value chains.

$50m: ARENA and MMI support secured across lithium and green-iron programs
HILT CRC: Research collaboration supporting heavy-industry decarbonisation
Iron: Major Australian export value chain addressed

Commercialisation and partnership leadership

Water-treatment infrastructure served by magnesium products

2017–2021 Market established Calix Limited · United States

Calix United States Market Entry

Building a magnesium-products business in the United States through market development, distribution and strategic acquisition.

$16m: Documented annual revenue following US market entry
40%: Documented year-on-year growth
Acquisition: Inland Environmental Resources added local capability

Commercial and business-development leadership

2012–2017 Commercial operation Calix Limited · Maddingley, Victoria

Calix Flash Calciner

Taking Calix's first full-scale flash calciner from commissioning into safe, reliable commercial operation.

Full scale: Calix Flash Calciner commissioned
$5m: EBITDA reached within three years of scaling operations
ISO 9001: Quality management system established

Commissioning and site leadership

2010–2012 Operational improvement delivered Rio Tinto · Gove Alumina Refinery

Rio Tinto Refinery Energy Efficiency

Improving energy transfer and process integration across a complex alumina refinery without losing sight of production reliability.

15%: Documented refinery energy-efficiency improvement
$1.1b: Annual production value coordinated in operations
Refinery wide: Improvement considered connected process systems

Shift coordination and improvement leadership

2010–2012 Control improvement implemented Rio Tinto · Gove Alumina Refinery

Bauxite Solubility Control System

Using process data and operating discipline to lift alumina production without increasing refinery energy consumption.

2.4%: Documented production improvement
No extra energy: Uplift achieved without increasing energy consumption
Live process: Change implemented within continuous refinery operations

Process analysis and operational leadership

2008–2009 Expansion and commissioning Rio Tinto Alcan · Gove

Rio Tinto G3 Refinery Expansion

Integrating major calcination, liquor-purification and lime-system upgrades into an operating alumina refinery.

$4b: Documented G3 expansion program value
3 systems: Calciner, liquor purification and lime upgrades
Bayer: Circuit-wide process engineering context

Process engineering and operating integration

2005–2006 Upgrade delivered Alcoa · Point Henry Aluminium Smelter

Alcoa Anode-Stub Efficiency Upgrade

Delivering electrical-efficiency improvements in aluminium smelting through a targeted, low-capital engineering project.

Low capex: Solution designed around existing smelter assets
Energy: Electrical transmission efficiency improved
Delivered: Project moved from analysis into implementation

Project engineering and team leadership

2002–2003 Experimental research completed CSIRO · Research laboratory

CSIRO Three-Dimensional SEM Research

Contributing to experimental colourised 3D electron-microscopy techniques while delivering dependable analysis for research and industry.

3D SEM: Experimental imaging technique developed
3 fields: Mineralogy, biology and materials science
Industry: Analysis shaped around external project needs

Research assistance and microscopy support