Robert is a professional IP expert with over 36 years in the intellectual property space. He works with and develops IP strategies for a wide variety of organisations focused on chemical, process and mechanical engineering and the applied chemistry fields, particularly the building and resources industries, clean and efficient energy technologies, steel, water and waste treatment, packaging and closure systems and agricultural technologies.

Dr Keith Barnard is a Senior Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO Mineral Resources, with over 30 years of experience in hydrometallurgical research. A Research Group Leader for 13 years, he has led teams across various mineral processing activities including base and precious metals, lithium, graphite, gold and alumina. Keith has consistently focused research towards delivering commercially relevant outcomes, including CSIRO’s engagement with BHP Nickel West, directly leading to Australia’s first battery-grade nickel sulphate facility. He also spearheaded strategic partnerships with Tivan Ltd, Panasonic Energy Corporation, and Curtin University/MRIWA, advancing critical minerals processing and battery precursor production aligned with national priorities and future industry needs.

Based in Perth, Phoebe Whattoff leads Minviro’s commercial and business operations across the ASEAN–Pacific region, working at the intersection of mining, sustainability, and battery supply chains. Phoebe partners with producers, manufacturers, OEMs, and downstream buyers to help translate rapidly tightening European sustainability expectations into practical, verifiable ESG performance. Phoebe brings deep technical expertise in life cycle assessment (LCA), responsible sourcing, and supply chain transparency, with a particular focus on battery raw materials, including anode-grade graphite. She has led the development of Product Category Rules, contributed to the standardisation of LCA methodologies, and worked with major electronics manufacturers, including Huawei, to support preparation for upcoming battery passport regulatory requirements. She also represents Minviro as part of the Global Battery Alliance’s ongoing battery passport pilot programs, with a particular focus on product carbon footprint declarations. A collaborative and values-driven leader, Phoebe is Chair of the WISER WA Subcommittee and a member of WISER’s national Executive Committee, advocating for gender equity and emerging leadership across resources and energy. She was recognised as one of the Top 25 ESG Consultants in 2022 and supports organisations across the ASEAN–Pacific region to build credible, scalable sustainability and traceability frameworks that protect market access and long-term competitiveness.

Dr Stephen Northey is a Research Director at the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Australia. For over a decade he has been focusing on developing a quantitative understanding of how the mineral sector intersects with sustainable development outcomes and how this may change into the future. As part of this he has visited mining and metal operations in multiple continents, conducted long-term scenario modelling of mineral and metal supply chains and resource depletion, developed datasets for energy use, water use and greenhouse gas emissions throughout these sectors, and sought to understand the real-world implications of sustainability indicator design and the emerging reporting and assurance systems for responsible supply. He is active in international communities for advancing life cycle assessment (LCA) studies and standards, and is also a Director of the Australian Life Cycle Assessment Society’s (ALCAS) board of directors.

Yitian Wang is a PhD candidate in the Department of Economics, Monash Business School, Monash University. Her research focuses on energy and environmental economics, with a particular interest in critical minerals, supply chain security, and the clean energy transition. Her current work explores how geopolitical risks and policy-related uncertainties influence investment decisions and supply dynamics in critical mineral markets. She is especially interested in how strategies such as stockpiling and recycling can strengthen the resilience of critical mineral supply chains. More broadly, her research examines policy-relevant issues related to energy security, the clean energy transition, energy poverty, and sustainable development. She aims to contribute to a better understanding of how economic policy can support secure, resilient, and sustainable energy systems.