Nathan graduated from Monash University's School of Earth, Atmosphere, and Environment in 2017 with a BSc (Hon) majoring in Geoscience. At Monash he investigated the origins of the Mount Stavely Volcanic Complex in western Victoria in collaboration with the Geological Survey of Victoria and Geoscience Australia as a part of the Stavely Project. Nathan moved to Perth in 2019, where he has worked in academia and the mining industry. Nathan currently works with the Critical Minerals System team of the Geological Survey of Western Australia, where he studies the spatial relationships between geological data to encourage mineral exploration in the state.

Ruixue is a Research Scientist at CSIRO Mineral Resources, specializing in lithium resource exploration. Her work focuses on the application of advanced analytical technologies, particularly Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), to rapidly and accurately characterize lithium deposits—especially those hosted in clays and granites. By integrating real-time geochemical data with mineralogical insights, she supports the development of high-resolution, cost-effective exploration models for critical minerals. Ruixue is passionate about advancing sustainable exploration practices to meet the growing global demand for critical minerals in the renewable energy transition. With a strong foundation in geological experimentation, data processing, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, she is committed to bridging fundamental research with practical, industry-driven solutions. Her work contributes to innovative strategies for responsible resource development and a cleaner energy future.

Rosa Didonna is a volcanologist, petrologist, and geochemist who joined CSIRO in 2023 as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to study the textures and chemistry of minerals in plutonic rocks, specifically targeting lithium resources. Her current research investigates pegmatite deposits from Pilgangoora (Pilbara, Western Australia), the Omeo Zone (Victoria, SE Australia), and Angola (Africa), exploring the magmatic and hydrothermal processes that control the fractionation and crystallisation of selected mineral phases (e.g., spodumene, mica, Ta-Nb oxides, apatite). She applies a multidisciplinary approach, integrating techniques such as Hylogger analysis, automated mineralogy, electron probe microanalysis, and mass-spectrometry analysis. Through her work, she aims to refine lithium exploration workflows and improve the assessment of prospective and non-prospective pegmatite deposits.

Callum currently works on the Critical Mineral By-product Potential project at Geoscience Australia, which is part of the Critical Minerals Research & Development Hub. This project aims to develop a methodology and output tool to predictively quantify Australia’s resource potential for gallium, germanium and indium in Australian zinc deposits. Callum is also a commodity specialist for fluorine, graphite and vanadium and contributes to a number of Geoscience Australia’s annual publications including Australia’s Identified Mineral Resources and the Australian Critical Minerals Map. Callum has previously been involved in several other Geoscience Australia projects including the Atlas of Australian Re-mining Potential, the Trusted Environmental and Geological Information Program and the Mineral Occurrence – Discovery and Exploration dataset. Callum completed a Bachelor of Science (Hons) at the Australian National University in 2016.

Dr Ryan Noble is a Senior Principal Research Scientist and the Group Leader of Predictive Mineral Systems Science. Ryan works on numerous regolith and groundwater geochemistry projects related to gold, base metal, Ni, U and REE mineral exploration. Ryan is a Past-President and a Fellow of the Association of Applied Geochemists, and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. He is a Board member of the Australian Geoscience Council and the past Chair of Australian Earth Science Education.