HYBRID EVENT
Aviation is a critically important industry in Australia, connecting Australians to each other and to the world and supporting business, defence, tourism and freight. With sustainable aviation fuels essential in decarbonising aviation, Queensland has the potential to be a major regional hub for their manufacture and supply. But what progress has been made in producing sustainable aviation fuels? What are the best technologies and feedstocks for Queensland? Who will supply the feedstocks, manufacture and buy the fuels? And how will this sector benefit the Queensland community and regions?
Join Queensland Biofutures Industry Envoy, Professor Ian O’Hara and a panel of experts to explore the progress, opportunities and challenges in creating a sustainable aviation fuel industry in Queensland.
Speakers
Heidi Hauf
Regional Sustainability Lead for Asia Pacific, Boeing
Heidi leads Boeing Australia’s sustainable aviation activity including policy advocacy, informing strategy and technical roadmaps. Heidi works to build Boeing’s sustainability capability through support to Australian business leaders as well as develop partnerships that advance aerospace sustainability across APAC.
A graduate of the Royal Military College-Duntroon, Heidi started her career as an intelligence officer in the Australian Army. Heidi left defence in 2005 and has worked on systemic sustainability across public services, natural resource management and corporate strategy ever since. She has advised business leaders, developed corporate sustainability strategies, shaped government policy and lead research and projects in Australia, NZ, Asia, East Africa, Europe and the UK.
Heidi currently lives in Brisbane, on Jagera and Turrbal Country. She holds undergraduate qualifications in geography, environmental conservation, government and operations management, as well as post-graduate qualifications in international relations. Heidi is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufacturing and Commerce (RSA) and currently chairs the Aviation/Aerospace Australia GreenSkies Committee, recently stepping down as chair of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Alliance for ANZ to join the Board of Directors for Bioenergy Australia.
Jessica Rudd
Sustainability Manager, Brisbane Airport Corporation
Jessica is an experienced sustainability professional who is passionate about embedding sustainability into an organisations activities and culture. As the Sustainability Manager at Brisbane Airport Corporation, Jess is responsible for developing BAC’s long-term sustainability strategy and initiatives which focus on decarbonisation, circular economy, climate change and social sustainability.
Jimmy Samartzis
Chief Executive Officer, LanzaJet
Jimmy Samartzis is the Chief Executive Officer of LanzaJet, Inc., a global leader in renewable fuels technology and production of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel. Jimmy is leading the company through a scale-up in technology and production, with renewable fuel refineries planned in multiple countries.
LanzaJet’s technology was developed in partnership with the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the company is financially supported by strategic investors Suncor, Mitsui, and LanzaTech. Jimmy has spent the majority of his career focused on climate change, advancing the decarbonization of industries reliant on fossil fuels.
Jimmy’s work in the airline industry led to pioneering test flights, the first commercial-scale renewable jet fuel deal and commercial production, and a global industry agreement to enable a reduction in aviation emissions and adoption of sustainable fuels. Additionally, he has led a global coalition of stakeholders across the value chain to break down the barriers of the commercialization of renewable fuels. Jimmy previously served in several executive roles at United Airlines including as chief executive of a $2B business unit, and as an executive advisor to clients globally through his work with Oliver Wyman, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Slalom.
Mark Tierney
Executive Director, Industry Development, Queensland Government Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
Mark Tierney is the Executive Director, Industry Development within the Department of State Development, infrastructure, Local Government and Planning. Mark leads the Queensland Government’s efforts in developing emerging industries including Hydrogen, Biofutures and Resource Recovery, and also leads the government’s flagship Industry Partnership Program.
Mark and his teams aim to make a positive difference for Queensland’s economy and communities – they have attracted Fortescue Future Industries first hydrogen project to Gladstone; secured the Sanofi Translational Science Hub in South East Queensland; supported Vecco’s battery manufacturing facility in Townsville; facilitated more than 50 recycling projects across the state; and consider 2023 to be the year of Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
Moderator
Professor Ian O'Hara
Deputy Dean, Faculty of Engineering at Queensland University of Technology
Ian O’Hara is Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at QUT. Ian is widely recognised as a leading expert in policies, technologies and systems for developing the bioeconomy and producing bio-based products including biofuels, bioenergy and biomaterials.
In addition to his academic role, Ian represents the Queensland Government as the Biofutures Industry Envoy and acts as an ambassador for Queensland’s Biofutures industry and industrial biotechnology sector. As the Envoy, Ian provides strategic advice to government and assists in securing domestic and international investment to grow the Biofutures sector.