Dr Anne Whitworth is a CSIRO Early Research Career (CERC) Postdoctoral Fellow investigating the upgrade of low-grade iron ores using hydrometallurgy. Anne earned her PhD in 2021 where she investigated the iron isotope geochemistry and crystal chemistry of jarosite in acidic, sulfate-rich environments. Anne then undertook postdoctoral research on the secondary prospectivity of mine waste, focusing on critical mineral exploration, at the W.H, Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre, Sustainable Minerals Institute. Anne has experience working as a hydrogeologist in the mining industry, and as a consultant on environmental geochemistry projects. She has (co-)authored seven publications in peer reviewed journals.

Full Professor at National Engineering School of Geology of University of Lorraine in Nancy, France. He founded in 2006 and headed the “Minerals engineering“ team at GeoRessources Laboratory during 18 years. With over 40 years of experience in mineral processing research topics (mainly in the flotation) he authored more than 300 peers reviewed and conference papers and 25 patent applications. Significant contributions were achieved in the surface chemistry and modelling of the synergistic effects in mixed collector systems for calcium minerals separation as well as for iron and phosphates ores flotation. Currently he is focusing on the lithium and rare metals recovery from the pegmatite and granitic ores.

Dr Niloofar (Nilo) Karimian is a Research Scientist and Project Leader at CSIRO Mineral Resources, where she leads a research program at the nexus of iron mineralogy, environmental geochemistry, and sustainable ore processing. She holds a PhD in Environmental Geochemistry from Southern Cross University, awarded the Chancellor’s Gold Medal for Outstanding PhD Thesis. Her research focused on the mobility, retention, recovery, and chemical behaviour of contaminants (e.g., As, Cr, Pb) and the critical metalloid antimony in mining-impacted environments. A central theme of her current work is addressing a persistent industrial challenge: the incorporation and release of phosphorus and aluminium in goethite-rich iron ores. Dr Karimian has demonstrated that Fe(II)-catalysed recrystallisation of goethite is a primary driver of impurity mobilisation, a mechanistic breakthrough with direct implications for low-carbon dephosphorisation of iron ores. This work was published in Environmental Science & Technology (2024) and recognised with the Best Paper Award at Iron Ore 2023 (AusIMM). She leads a sustained Australian Synchrotron research program, applying advanced spectroscopy techniques (e.g., XAS and XFM) to resolve atomic-scale impurity behaviour within iron oxide structures. With more than 44 peer-reviewed publications (H-index 22; 1,800+ citations), and having led or co-led over 50 synchrotron projects across Australia—attracting more than $4 million in research funding—Dr Karimian is internationally recognised as a leading authority in her field. Her honours include the 2025 RACI Women in Materials Chemistry Award, the 2022 Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship and Thomas Davies Grant (Australian Academy of Science), and the 2020 Humboldt Fellowship (University of Bayreuth, Germany). She holds adjunct appointments at Monash University and Southern Cross University, co-supervises five PhD candidates, and is a frequent keynote speaker at major national and international conferences.

Tebogo Mokgomola is an engineer at Mintek and a PhD student at the University of the Witwatersrand specializing in mineral processing and process modelling. His research focuses on the development of predictive models for gravity separation techniques, particularly spiral concentrators and shaking tables used in the beneficiation of low-grade ores (Iron, chromite, Rare earth elements ores). The current work aims to integrate rougher spiral test data and shaking table performance to design and optimize closed-circuit spiral flowsheets. He has strong interest in mineral process optimization, process modelling, and beneficiation of low grade ores.

Theresa Nguyen is a Specialist Engineer Process at Rio Tinto Iron Ore, working within Development & Studies on product predictions. With over a decade of experience across operational and technical roles, she has supported mine planning, ore reconciliation, and plant performance improvement. Theresa has a strong interest in advanced ore characterisation, particularly using scanning electron microscopy to link mineralogical features with processing behaviour. She is passionate about applying geometallurgical insights to improve decision-making and bridge the gap between ore properties and plant outcomes.