Ross Waring has been named as director of a $200 million Curtin University-led hub which aims to develop commercial products and services from its research on critical minerals.
Ross Waring has been named as director of a $200 million Curtin University-led hub which aims to develop commercial products and services from its research on critical minerals.
The Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer hub is spearheaded by Curtin University in partnership with The University of Queensland and James Cook University.
Curtin received $50 million of federal funding from the shared $242 million package through the Australian government’s Trailblazer Universities project pathway last year.
In April, the university said the Trailblazer hub would match the $50 million of government funding and valued the initiative at more than $200 million with the support from its industry partners.
Dr Waring has 25 years of experience in technology commercialisation in several sectors, including oil and gas, mineral resources, petrochemicals and renewable energy.
He is the chair of both the Centre of Decommissioning Australia and Subsea Innovation Cluster Australia.
Dr Waring has previously been non-executive chairman at Australian marine science consultancy Geo Oceans and chairman of Perth-based Ecocentric Energy.
“It is an honour to be appointed as Director of the Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer and exciting to be at the forefront of critical minerals research and commercialisation,” the industry veteran said.
“The initiative is vital to ensure the momentum between research and commercialisation is strong so we can address critical mineral supply issues while maximising economic benefits.
“I look forward to working with our project partners to ensure we use our strong technical and research base to continue to position Australia as a world leader in this strategically important sector.”
Curtin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research Chris Moran said Dr Waring’s years of experience in mineral research and commercialisation would help boost the initiative’s potential.
“Curtin’s Trailblazer project is a critical national project and Dr Waring’s leadership will help lay the foundation to effectively bridge minerals’ research with commercialisation,” he said.
“His experience is exceptional, and it is wonderful to be able to apply this knowledge to a project that will combine science and commercialisation to bring economic benefits to Australia.”
