ChemEngConnect Global Virtual Conference

Programme

The ChemEngConnect programme will be updated as session details are confirmed. All sessions will take place on our online platform, OnAir. Prior to the conference commencing, attendees will be sent a unique access link to join the webinars. Please note, the same link will give attendees access to all webinar sessions over the two weeks.

The material presented in these webinars has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions are the presenter's own and do not necessarily represent those of IChemE. The information is given in good faith but without any liability on the part of IChemE.

Sessions

Monday 15 June 2026

AI and the Future of Chemical Engineering

Time: 14:00–14:50 MYT, 16:00–16:50 AEST, 18:00–18:50 NZST, 07:00–07:50 BST
Presenter: Liz Hallifax


From Expert to Influential: How Engineers Can Communicate with More Impact

Time: 15:00–15:50 MYT, 17:00–17:50 AEST, 19:00–19:50 NZST, 08:00–08:50 BST
Presenter: Brenda Denbesten, SpeakWorthy

Do you know exactly what you want to say but struggle to get people to really hear it? You're not alone. Most engineers are trained to master their technical craft, but not the art of communicating it. In this session, Brenda Denbesten - chemical engineer and leadership communication specialist — shares the communication gap that holds technical professionals back, and the practical frameworks that close it. Whether you're presenting to a boardroom, speaking up in a meeting, or trying to influence without authority, this session will give you tools you can use immediately.


Water Pollution Prevention and CIRIA736

Time: 16:00–16:50 MYT, 18:00–18:50 AEST, 20:00–20:50 NZST, 09:00–09:50 BST
Presenter: David Cole, Technical Director, Sandfield Penstock Solutions limited

Water pollution prevention is undergoing a major shift. High‑profile pollution incidents and growing public intolerance for environmental harm have driven regulators to introduce far stricter controls - particularly for new and permitted industrial sites. David Cole - launch speaker and contributing author of CIRIA736 - will explain the latest guidance, regulatory expectations, sentencing implications, and the technologies now available to help organisations remain compliant and avoid costly environmental failures.


To be announced

Time: 17:00–17:50 MYT, 19:00–19:50 AEST, 21:00–21:50 NZST, 10:00 - 10:50 BST


Tuesday 16 June 2026

To be announced

Time: 14:00–14:50 MYT, 16:00–16:50 AEST, 18:00–18:50 NZST, 07:00–07:50 BST
Presenter: Crystal Xue Er Thew, Industry Technology Specialist, Bioethanol, Novosensis


Managing Career Disruption

Time: 15:00–15:50 MYT, 17:00–17:50 AEST, 19:00–19:50 NZST, 08:00–08:50 BST
Presenter: Paul Day, IChemE Benevolent Fund and Michael Czarny, Benevolent Fund Ambassador

Many industries are undergoing rapid change. For some engineers that change is being felt in very real ways, through redundancy and uncertainty about what comes next. This session is aimed at chemical engineers who are either out of work, facing redundancy, or concerned about their long-term career prospects. The session will cover practical next steps, including techniques to build resilience, alongside guidance on how to manage your mental wellbeing and personal finances.


Professional Membership: Getting Chartered with IChemE

Time: 16:00–16:50 MYT, 18:00–18:50 AEST, 20:00–20:50 NZST, 09:00–09:50 BST
Presenter: Jordan Shodunke-Elliott, IChemE Chartered Engineer


How Leading Companies Develop their Engineers

Time: 17:00–17:50 MYT, 19:00–19:50 AEST, 21:00–21:50 NZST, 10:00–10:50 BST
Presenter: TBA


Wednesday 17 June 2026

Carbon dioxide mineralisation: a global scale solution for a global problem

Time: 14:00–14:50 MYT, 16:00–16:50 AEST, 18:00–18:50 NZST, 07:00–07:50 BST
Presenters: Matthew Watson, The University of Canterbury and Simon Reid, Aspiring Materials

Aspiring Materials’ process takes olivine and other ultramafic rocks and converts them into oxides and hydroxides of silicon, iron, and magnesium. Operating at ambient pressure and low temperature, and using electrochemistry to recycle its reagents, the result is a process with near zero waste that can be powered entirely by renewable electricity.

The magnesium-based product has been shown to mineralise carbon dioxide sourced either directly from the air, industrial flue gas emissions, or dissolved in wastewater. The mineralisation reactions transform carbon dioxide into solid carbonates and/or aqueous bicarbonate, thereby locking away emissions for millennia.

In this presentation, we will describe the Aspiring Materials process and share results that show how oxides and hydroxides of magnesium derived from olivine can play a major role in decarbonising anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions.


Evaluating LLM‑Generated Computational Deception in Biorefinery Engineering: Detection Strategies and Best Practices

Time: 15:00–15:50 MYT, 17:00–17:50 AEST, 19:00–19:50 NZST, 08:00–08:50 BST
Presenter: Adeel Ghayur


Engineering Resilience: Lessons from Real‑World Commercialisation

Hybrid event with Victoria JCEC at Melbourne University

Time:16:00–16:50 MYT, 18:00–18:50 AEST, 20:00–20:50 NZST, 09:00–09:50 BST
Presenter: A/Prof Gang (Kevin) Li

This talk shares practical insights into research commercialisation and entrepreneurship, drawing on experience from two spin-offs: Gas Capture Technologies and Thin Air Technology. It traces the journey from fundamental research in gas separation and direct air capture to real-world deployment, highlighting key steps including IP strategy, industry engagement, scale-up, and venture formation. The talk will discuss both successes and challenges in translating academic innovation into market-ready technologies, with a focus on clean energy applications. It aims to provide a practical perspective for engineers and researchers interested in bridging the gap between laboratory discovery and commercial impact.

The Tip of the Iceberg: What Commercialisation Actually Takes

Presenter: Caecilia Potter, VesnoGrow​

Research is only the visible part of innovation. Beneath the surface sits everything that determines whether a technology reaches industry or remains in the lab: scale-up, capital, regulatory constraints, manufacturing, customer adoption, failed trials, investor scepticism, and the constant pressure of limited time and resources.

This talk is an honest account of building VensoGrow and commercialising BreezeCoat™, a patented agri-coating and flash-drying platform developed from foundational chemical engineering research by Emeritus Professor Owen Potter. Rather than a retrospective success story, it is a live case study from a company still navigating pilot deployment, hardware scale-up, pre-revenue fundraising, and commercial validation in deep-tech AgTech.

The talk will explore the gap between technical feasibility and commercial reality, including lessons from process scale-up, industry engagement, IP strategy, fundraising, partnership negotiations, and product-market fit. Particular focus will be placed on the skills engineers may not have been taught: communicating value to non-technical stakeholders, managing uncertainty, making decisions with incomplete information, and adapting rapidly when plans fail.

A central theme is anti-fragility: the ability to turn setbacks into technical and commercial advantage. Failed trials generate process insight. Funding setbacks force sharper prioritisation. Difficult industry feedback improves the product.

The goal is to give engineering students and researchers a practical view of what commercialisation actually looks like beyond the laboratory — and why some technologies succeed commercially while others never escape the prototype stage.


To be announced

Time: 17:00–17:50 MYT, 19:00–19:50 AEST, 21:00–21:50 NZST, 10:00 - 10:50 BST


Thursday 18 June 2026

Leveraging Dynamic Simulation in Oil and Gas

Time: 14:00–14:50 MYT, 16:00–16:50 AEST, 18:00–18:50 NZST, 07:00–07:50 BST
Presenter: Rafil Elyas, East One-Zero-One Sdn Bhd


Australian Visa and Immigration Experts (AVIE)

Time: 15:00–15:50 MYT, 17:00–17:50 AEST, 19:00–19:50 NZST, 08:00–08:50 BST
Presenter: Nicole Kirkwood, Immigration Director and Registered Migration Agent, AVIE

Australian Visa and Immigration Experts (AVIE) presents a seminar on Australian Migration and Visa options for Chemical Engineers

The session will include information on:

  • Skilled Migration
  • Employer Sponsorship
  • Temporary Visas including Student, Graduate Visas, working holiday and (403 visas - this one is only available to the UK people)

You will also learn about skills assessments, state and regional nomination and other visas that may enable you to remain in or travel and work in Australia.

You will learn more about short term and long-term strategies to assist you think about travelling to or remaining in Australia.

Come prepared, you will have an opportunity to ask questions.

www.avie.com.au


STEM Returners

Time: 16:00–16:50 MYT, 18:00–18:50 AEST, 20:00–20:50 NZST, 09:00–09:50 BST
Presenters: Natalie Desty and Marcail Roe, STEM Returners


IChemE Connect

Time: 17:00–17:50 MYT, 19:00–19:50 AEST, 21:00–21:50 NZST, 10:00–10:50 BST
Presenters: Dianne Watson and Luis Vieira


Monday 22 June 2026

Sustainable Process Heat

Time: 14:00–14:50 MYT, 16:00–16:50 AEST, 18:00–18:50 NZST, 07:00–07:50 BST
Presenter: Kyle Nicol, Windsor Energy

Windsor Energy are leaders in sustainable thermal energy company. This presentation covers innovative solutions for industrial energy requirements, which include electric resistance boilers, electrode boilers, biomass boilers and coal to biomass boiler conversions.


Modelling Battery Hazards for Safer Operations

Time: 15:00–15:50 MYT, 17:00–17:50 AEST, 19:00–19:50 NZST, 08:00–08:50 BST
Presenter: Sonia Ruiz Pérez, Gexcon

Learn from Sonia Ruiz Pérez, Product Manager, Gexcon, an IChemE Safety Centre industry partner: the main battery types used in Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), the associated hazards, and methods for consequence and risk modelling.


View of the Chemical Engineering and Chemicals Sector over the next 12 months

Time: 16:00–16:50 MYT, 18:00–18:50 AEST, 20:00–20:50 NZST, 09:00–09:50 BST

Presenters: Mitchell Clark, Head of Policy, IChemE, Benjy Lee, Australian Energy Policy and Market Expert


Supporting and Developing Chemical Engineering Talent

Time: 17:00–17:50 MYT, 19:00–19:50 AEST, 21:00–21:50 NZST, 10:00–10:50 BST


Tuesday 23 June 2026

Food and Drink

Time: 14:00–14:50 MYT, 16:00–16:50 AEST, 18:00–18:50 NZST, 07:00–07:50 BST

Presenter: Dr. Sravani Gupta

The impact of food processing on the food safety of seafood

Presenter: Dr. Ching Lik Hii

Processing of insects as food


To be announced

Time: 15:00–15:50 MYT, 17:00–17:50 AEST, 19:00–19:50 NZST, 08:00–08:50 BST


Enabling a Growth Mindset and Learning at IChemE

Time: 16:00–16:50 MYT, 18:00–18:50 AEST, 20:00–20:50 NZST, 09:00–09:50 BST
Presenter: Michael Potts, IChemE


To be announced

Time: 17:00–17:50 MYT, 19:00–19:50 AEST, 21:00–21:50 NZST, 10:00 - 10:50 BST


Wednesday 24 June 2026

To be announced

Time: 14:00–14:50 MYT, 16:00–16:50 AEST, 18:00–18:50 NZST, 07:00–07:50 BST
Presenter: Gary Bowman, Australian Aerosols Association


Risk Based Process Safety (RBPS) - Leadership and Culture

Time: 15:00–15:50 MYT, 17:00–17:50 AEST, 19:00–19:50 NZST, 08:00–08:50 BST
Presenter: Fiona MacLeod, IChemE International Safety Centre

What could possibly go wrong? An introduction to process safety leadership aimed at sectors such as food, water, waste, new energy, recycling, mining, minerals and metals. The introduction provides a taster of a web-based training program in development for IChemE Safety Centre Partners, including key concepts, real-life examples and challenges, finishing with an overview of process safety courses available from IChemE.

Find out more about joining IChemE (as an individual) or the IChemE Safety Centre (as a company).


Digital Twin Methodologies and Advance Sending for Hydrogen Direct Reduced Iron Processes

Time: 16:00–16:50 MYT, 18:00–18:50 AEST, 20:00–20:50 NZST, 09:00–09:50 BST
Presenters: Matthew Watson, The University of Canterbury and Bavinesh Maisura, CullBeck

Digital twins and smart sensor systems are transforming real‑time process control across the mining, minerals, and metals sectors. This webinar explores how advanced modelling, sensor fusion, and data‑driven decision tools can unlock new levels of operational insight, particularly for hydrogen direct reduced iron (H2‑DRI) processes, where dynamic behaviour, feed variability, and tight control of reduction conditions are critical.

Professor Matthew Watson will discuss the integration of high‑fidelity digital twins with next‑generation sensing technologies to improve mineral liberation monitoring, optimise reagent dosing, and enable predictive maintenance. Drawing on his extensive industrial and academic experience in process engineering, decarbonisation technologies, and industrial‑scale modelling, he will illustrate how these tools accelerate innovation and support the transition to low‑carbon metals production.


Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics

Time: 17:00–17:50 MYT, 19:00–19:50 AEST, 21:00–21:50 NZST, 10:00–10:50 BST

Presenters: 

  • Prof David Bogle, Emeritus Professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London
  • Prof Raffaella Ocone, President, IChemE and Chair of Chemical Engineering at Heriot-Watt University
  • Prof David Shallcross, Professor of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne

Join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion on ethics in modern engineering, inspired by the launch of a new, forward-looking Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics. As the profession moves beyond rigid rules towards a values-driven approach grounded in honesty, integrity, and accountability, this session will explore what ethical practice really looks like in today’s complex world. Our expert panellists will share insights on navigating real-world dilemmas, building public trust, and balancing professional responsibility with organisational pressures.


Thursday 25 June 2026

Expert Opinion - Your overriding duty to inform the Court

Time: 14:00–14:50 MYT, 16:00–16:50 AEST, 18:00–18:50 NZST, 07:00–07:50 BST

Presenter: Dr Frank Mendham, Managing Director, Mendham Consultants

In new industrial construction projects, hazardous area classification is undertaken, electrical design is developed, and process safety aspects are addressed. Relevant designers certify compliance for their design as Registered Professional Engineers of Queensland (RPEQ), or for the work carried out by others under their direct supervision. All fairly straightforward and ‘business as usual’ — until the next-door neighbour appeals the Development Application and a Court challenge eventuates. Such cases may be heard in the Land and Environment Court, the Magistrates’ Court, or the Supreme Court, depending on the gravity of the matter.

As an expert witness, are you prepared to develop an expert report and attend court? This paper explores the nature, scope, and practical implications of the expert witness’s paramount duty to the court: examining legal principles, professional obligations, ethical challenges, and evolving expectations in contemporary litigation, with specific reference to the engineering and process safety profession.


To be announced

Time: 15:00–15:50 MYT, 17:00–17:50 AEST, 19:00–19:50 NZST, 08:00–08:50 BST


Professional Membership: Becoming a Fellow with IChemE

Time: 16:00–16:50 MYT, 18:00–18:50 AEST, 20:00–20:50 NZST, 09:00–09:50 BST


Management of Change (MOC)

Hybrid event with JCEC South Australia

Time: 17:00–17:50 MYT, 19:00–19:50 AEST, 21:00–21:50 NZST, 10:00–10:50 BST
Presenter: Paul Battersby, IChemE International Safety Centre

Organisations continue to face incidents linked to poorly managed changes – whether technical, process, or organisational. This introduction is designed to share practical, real world tools to strengthen your MoC systems and prevent avoidable failures. Join for an introduction to Management of Change (MOC) led by Paul Battersby BEng, MIEAust, using the new guidance framework developed by an IChemE Safety Centre cross-industry international working group.