Our Speakers
Dr Sebastian Leaper – CEO, Watercycle Technologies
Dr Seb Leaper, completed an MEng is Materials Science and Engineering in 2015 and then a PhD in Nanoscience in 2019, both at the University of Manchester, during which he founded Watercycle Technologies. Following initial endorsement by Sandisk Co-founder Dr Eli Harari and with the support of co-founder and CTO, Dr Ahmed Abelkarim, Seb has raised approximately £3.5m in equity and grant funding for the company and is now driving the commercial roll out of the technology. The company builds machines that selectively extract a wide range of minerals, like lithium, from various input streams including subsurface brines, industrial wastewater and end-of-life batteries, producing freshwater as a byproduct
Andrew Fulton – Chair, Mining Association UK
Andrew Fulton is President of the Mining Association of the UK, a Board Member for the Mineral Products Qualifications Council, member of IOM3’s Mining Technology Group and Chairman of the UK Mining Education Forum. Andrew is a Chartered Mining Engineer registered with the Engineering Council of UK and a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3). Andrew provides mining and mineral advisory services in the pursuit of sustainable practices within challenging operating environments. Andrew has run marathons to raise awareness and money on behalf of “Heads Together” the mental health initiative spearheaded by the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Claudia Cook – Lithium Analyst, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Claudia is a lithium analyst within Benchmark’s forecasting division. Providing market analysis and forecasts for lithium prices, demand, supply, and costs on an asset-by-asset basis. Before joining Benchmark she worked in the environmental and sustainability sector, working with companies to improve their supply chain sustainability. Claudia holds an MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London.
Rod Savage – Program Director, End-of-Life Batteries
Rod Savage joined Altilium in 2022 to establish and oversee the supply chain for collecting end-of-life EV batteries, ensuring a secure supply of black mass and plant scrap to the company’s recycling facilities. Rod has over 30 years’ experience in UK and global energy markets, mining, waste-recycling, trading and logistics. He has set up and led international & physical commodity trading operations and built and operated mineral preparation and process plants.
Andy Mace – Local Area Energy Planning for the Net Zero Transition, ARUP
Andy is a Director and one of Arup’s senior sustainability experts, and he leads a range of energy transition and net zero related projects at the forefront of the climate change agenda. He is leading a multi-year business plan to create a step change in Arup’s business and positive influence and impact in energy and decarbonisation via green hydrogen, onshore and offshore renewables, and power networks in India, the Middle East and Africa (IMEA). Working with colleagues in relevant countries and Arup’s teams in the UK, this involves developing new and existing client relationships, bidding and winning new work and helping to build capacity in our energy teams in Arup’s offices in IMEA.
Andy also continues to deliver energy projects in the UK, mainly related to the urban energy transition. This includes the national assessment for local heat and energy efficiency strategies (LHEES) for Scotland, optimising and integrating electricity and gas network development into city-wide decarbonisation planning for buildings and transport, supporting the UK’s first direct air capture plant, and various hydrogen related projects, including a hydrogen vision for Teesside, one of the UK’s major industrial hubs.
Dr. Shahid Rasul – Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University
Dr Shahid Rasul, PhD, FHEA is the Founder and Executive Director of TEXONOMY www.texonomy.org and developing Circular Economy Technologies (Chemicals, Batteries, Textiles). Dr Rasul is the Director Employability & Placements and associateProfessor at Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne. As a scientist and as an entrepreneur Dr Rasul’s research and development focus is on creating value from waste by adopting/creating circular economy models which promotes sustainability and underscore the net-zero targets. Dr Rasul is currently working in following remits:
1. Recycling Batteries by developing sustainable processes
2. Recycling carbon building blocks like CO2 to useful feedstock and fuels
3. Working on Textile Circular Economy (TEXONOMY) which collaborates with textile stakeholders to develop a process to bring all types of textile waste into circular economy model.
Roland Chavasse – International Lithium Association
Roland Chavasse is a professional known for his role in the lithium industry, particularly in association management and advocacy. He is the Secretary General of the International Lithium Association (ILiA). In this capacity, he is responsible for overseeing the operations of the association, representing the interests of its members, and promoting the sustainable development of the lithium industry globally.
His work involves engaging with various stakeholders, including industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers, to address challenges and opportunities within the lithium supply chain. His leadership at ILiA focuses on fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and advocating for best practices in the production and use of lithium, particularly in the context of its critical role in battery technology and the transition to renewable energy sources.
Ella Richmond – PhD student at Durham University researching Li enrichment
PhD student at Durham University researching Li enrichment and mobilisation from granites in Cornwall and Weardale as part of the UK’s transition to renewable energy.
Gary Godwin – Vice President, Sustainable Technology Solutions
Experienced Oil & Gas Industry Specialist. Vice President of Technology, skilled in Licensing Technology for Gas, Petroleum & Refining, Industries. Strong management professional with a BEng focused in Chemical Engineering from University of Bradford.
George Patterson – Senior Director, Product Marketing, Turntide Technology
Personal Specialities: BMS, Electric Vehicle, Hybrid Electric Vehicle and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle battery system sales and technology, technology presentations, battery systems training, project management, account management, engineering management, design of various specialist and consumer products including batteries, theatre lighting equipment, mechanical engineering with experience of a wide range of materials and processes, design for manufacture.
Kim Walker – Marketing Director, Mura Technology Limited
Kim Walker has worked in Marketing and Communications for over ten years, with nearly six at Mura Technology. Having joined at the start of the company, she has helped to shape both language and support for advanced plastic recycling – specifically Mura’s Hydro-PRT® process. Her remit includes all areas of communications, including advocacy across Governmental departments and associations, press work, media and brand guardianship.
Based locally to Mura’s first site in Wilton, Teesside, Kim has been able to watch the build and development of the technology first-hand, and is extremely excited to announce commencement of operations in the coming months.
Grant McKeown – Senior Advisor, Portland Advisors
Grant is a seasoned financier with extensive experience in global markets, specializing in advisory and arranging transactions across the Energy and Infrastructure sectors. Throughout his career, he has successfully led and built teams in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions, offering broad expertise in corporate and project finance with a truly global perspective.
Currently with Portland Advisers, an independent Project Finance advisory firm based in London, Grant focuses on capital raising for energy transition projects worldwide, including in the rapidly developing UK market and the fast-growing battery critical minerals sector.
Sir Michael Fallon – Former Secretary of State for Defence
Sir Michael Fallon is a Conservative politician who served in various senior roles in government. He was the Member of Parliament for Sevenoaksfrom 1997 until his retirement in 2019, having previously represented Darlington from 1983 to 1992. Over his long political career, Fallon held several key government positions, gaining a reputation for his firm stance on defence and national security.
Fallon’s most prominent role was as Secretary of State for Defence from 2014 to 2017, during which he oversaw major defence strategies, including military campaigns against ISIS and initiatives to strengthen NATO alliances. He also played a key role in the strategic decision to renew the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
Before this, Fallon served as Minister for Business and Enterprise from 2012 to 2014, where he was responsible for promoting business growth, supporting entrepreneurs, and enhancing the UK’s industrial strategy. He also briefly held the role of Minister for Energy, where he focused on energy security and sustainability.
In recognition of his service, Fallon was knighted in 2018, becoming Sir Michael Fallon. His political career spanned over three decades, with a focus on defence, business, and economic policy, leaving a significant impact on UK politics.
Prof Colin Herron CBE – Professor of Practice, Newcastle University
Colin Herron has worked in the automotive industry or associated with the industry for 50 years including 16 years in Engineering at Nissan. A key player in the negotiations to bring both the Nissan Leaf and the AESC Li ion plant to the UK. Currently head of the Faraday Institution Office North East (FINE) and the North East Battery Alliance (NEBA). Colin works closely with the car industry, battery industry, government bodies (DBT, OFI, DIT, DfT, APC, Innovate, Catapults and professional institutions (IET, RSC) to understand and translate future technology into an adoption strategy. Oral evidence to the House of Commons Transport Committee on Motoring of the Future and in 2021 gave written and Oral evidence to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee on the role of batteries and fuel cells to achieve net zero. Colin has a PhD (manufacturing), is a Professor of Practice at Newcastle University. Appointed a CBE (2018) for services to business and renewable energy. Not a traditional academic but a person who has combined industrial experience with the public sector. Research area outside of developing a battery manufacturing ecosystem is the roll out of EV charging infrastructure, and the variables associated with it. Currently working on developing a skills centre for battery manufacture and a new Electrification Process Innovation Centre (EPIC) at Newcastle University.
Andrew Robinson – PhD Student, Newcastle University
Alex Gorman – Mining Analyst, Peel Hunt
Alex has 10 years of experience in the natural resources sector, having worked as an exploration geologist in sub-Saharan Africa and in various research and consulting roles at Wood Mackenzie before joining BMO’s commodities team in 2021. She studied Applied and Environmental Geology at the University of Leicester, graduating in 2013.
Guy Winter – Partner, Fasken
Guy Winter is a Partner in the Global Mining Group of international law firm, Fasken. He advises clients across the entire battery minerals value chain, from upstream mining companies through battery energy storage projects to electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Guy is a member of the UK Department for Business and Trade’s Critical Minerals Expert Committee, formed pursuant to the UK Net Zero Strategy, having previously advised the Department of Energy and Climate Change on renewable energy legislation. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Critical Minerals Association, which aims to ensure secure and sustainable critical mineral supply chains.