Current State and Opportunities for the Palm Oil Industry to Achieve Net-Zero Emissions

Time: 16:00–16:50 AEST

Dr Viknesh Andiappan will present on the current practices and future opportunities for achieving net-zero emissions in the palm oil industry.

How do we see weak signals?

Time: 17:00–17:50 AEST

In this presentation, Trish will talk about a way to identify weak signals so they can be managed effectively with The Platypus Philosophy(R) to prevent process safety incidents.

Diamond Mining – A Unique Process

Time: 16:00–16:50 AEST

Rukaya Stracey, a Senior Process Engineer with nine years of experience in the mining and metals industry, will present on the development of process flows for a diamond mining process plant. She will cover ore characterisation, mass balancing, and equipment selection, highlighting what makes the diamond mining process unique, from front-end crushing to recovery and sorting. 

Distilling Resilience: Financial and Mental Wellbeing for Chemical Engineers

Time: 17:00–17:50 AEST

Being a chemical engineer is a rewarding and fulfilling career, but it doesn’t make you immune from cost-of-living pressures or stress and anxiety. This session will have practical advice on how you can improve both your finances and your mental well-being.

The Importance of Mentoring

Time: 16:00–16:50 AEST

The Importance of Mentoring, including using Mentor Match in IChemE Connect to find a mentor globally.

Sustainability In Design – From Roadmap to Reality

17:00–17:20 AEST

James Ludford-Brooks from Beca will present Beca’s recent experience with actual projects being executed based on their carbon reduction roadmap methodology. The case studies will draw from sustainability projects currently in progress as well as completed studies from across Beca’s range of clients in the Food and Life Sciences (F&LS) arena.

The presentation will focus on the implementation of the roadmap strategy, the commercial realities that must be overcome in a highly competitive market, and opportunities for funding to improve project financial outcomes and achieve project approval for implementation. It will also cover specific carbon reduction technologies implemented at Suntory Oceania’s landmark carbon neutral facility in Queensland.

Electrifying Milk Evaporation: Process Integration and the Role of Digital Twins in Industrial Decarbonisation

17:20–17:50 AEST

Ben Lincoln and Stephen Burroughs will present on the new Process Integration and Electrification (PI&E) methodology for designing fully electric milk evaporation systems, achieving up to 82% emissions reduction and 32% cost savings. The approach combines heat and exergy analysis, vapour recompression technologies, and process simulation to optimise energy use and system design. Central to this work is the Ahuora Digital Twin Platform, which enables simulation of non-continuous processes, scenario testing, and integration of electrification technologies, acting as a decision-support tool for accelerating decarbonisation in the food processing sector.

From Buzzword to Breakthrough: AI in Aspen HYSYS & Aspen Plus

Time: 16:00–16:50 AEST

With AspenTech Industrial AI™, AI is no longer a buzzword for chemical engineers. By combining machine learning with decades of engineering insight, we’re putting AI to work where it matters most: inside the tools you already trust, like Aspen HYSYS and Aspen Plus. Join us to discover how you can harness plant and lab data to better mimic actual process outcomes – all without a data science background.

GenAI in Chemical Engineering Education

Time: 17:00–17:50 AEST

This presentation explores the integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) into tertiary chemical engineering education through Operator Training Simulators (OTS). Traditionally used in the industry for training process engineers, OTS provides a digital twin of chemical plant operations that is crucial for safety and reliability training. Amidst COVID-19 disruptions, we adapted an industry-standard OTS from TSC Simulation for remote learning environments, then later enhancing it with a GPT-based virtual assistant and plant manager. This integration allows for immersive, kinaesthetic learning experiences and authentic assessments at scale, unachievable in traditional practicals.

The study employs a Design-Based Research framework and mixed-methods approach to evaluate iterative improvements over four years. Insights from the UTAUT2 framework highlight strong hedonic motivation driving student engagement with OTS, while challenges include adapting complex industry software and initial GenAI implementation errors. Notably, our integration extends beyond textual interfaces to game-based interactions, enabling GenAI to respond dynamically to simulated plant conditions, paving the way for enhanced process control methodologies.

This research contributes practical insights into leveraging GenAI within educational contexts, emphasising its transformative potential in hands-on learning and process safety education. The work also contributes to ongoing work looking at using GPTs as a basis for process control.

Professional Membership: Getting Chartered with IChemE

Time: 16:00–18:00 AEST

Fiona O'Connor and Catherine Muldoon present the new pathway to become Chartered with IChemE.

Net Zero Australia

Time: 16:00–16:50 AEST

A/Professor Simon Smart and Dr Kelly Smith discuss the Net Zero Australia results to get a sense of where Chemical Engineering fits and what more needs to be done, both research-wise and in industry efforts.

E-Fuels Opportunities and Challenges

17:00–18:00 AEST

E-fuels, or electrofuels, are synthetic fuels created using renewable energy sources like wind, solar, or hydro power. They are designed to replace traditional fossil fuels in internal combustion engines, offering a more sustainable alternative. The production process involves capturing carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide and combining it with hydrogen obtained through water electrolysis to produce fuels such as green methanol, diesel, or Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).

Alternatively new fuels such as ammonia can be produced using electrolytic hydrogen and atmospheric nitrogen. One of the key advantages of e-fuels is their low carbon footprint. The carbon dioxide used in their production is released back into the atmosphere when the fuel is burned, creating a cycle that minimises new greenhouse gas emissions. However, e-fuels face challenges such as high production costs and energy-intensive processes. Scaling up production to meet global demand is another hurdle.

Despite these challenges, e-fuels are seen as a promising solution for sectors like aviation, shipping, and long-distance transport, where electrification is less feasible. The presentation will provide an overview of e-fuels and the opportunities and challenges in the development of this new sector.