Crossing the Bridge – From Lab Breakthrough to Industrial Application

Speakers

Leigh Staines and Professor James Vaughan

Abstract

This seminar, presented by Leigh Staines, Managing Director of Banksia Minerals Processing, and Professor James Vaughan, Head of the Hydrometallurgical Program at The University of Queensland, explores Banksia’s journey to date as a case study. It examines what can be learned about connecting breakthrough research to relevant and timely industry problems, and how to foster effective collaboration between academic and commercial project opportunities.

Bios

A former resources sector Executive, most recently with Rio Tinto, Leigh combines global operations and commercial expertise with first-hand experience in establishing, operating and mentoring start up and scale up businesses.  As a strategic advisor she has supported a wider range of projects from small business strategy through to the $20bn PNGLNG Project development. 

As a career academic, James has built a reputation as one of the global leaders in hydrometallurgy.  Originating from Canada, he has been based at UQ for the past 16 years where he helped lead and build the Chemical Engineering - Metallurgy Major, one of only 2 remaining in Australia.  A serial inventor, James leads a team of researchers in the Banksia Laboratory at UQ’s Long Pocket campus.