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Positions AvailableSPW CRC Annual Partners Event
22-23 October 2025 | Melbourne, VIC
View Day 1 Conference Agenda
Wednesday 22 October
8.30 am – 5.45 pm
CSIRO Clayton Campus
View Annual Partners Dinner
Wednesday 22 October
6.30 pm – 9.30 pm
PARKROYAL Monash Melbourne
View Day 2 Workshops Agenda
Thursday 23 October
9.00 am – 12.00 pm
ibis Melbourne Glen Waverley
View Bios
Keynote, guest speaker and workshop facilitators
DAY 1: Wednesday 22 October
Ian Wark Theatre, Building 203,
Access via the Clayton Central Precinct Reception
CSIRO Clayton Campus
Research Way, Clayton VIC 3168
8.30 am: Registration, tea and coffee
9.00 am: Conference starts
Presenters:
9.25 am: Keynote Presentation
Presenter:
Plastic Waste in Australia: Current Landscape and Future Research Directions
10.00 am: Morning tea
10.30 am: Research Program 1: Materials and design – to reduce products’ environmental impact
Presenters:
Introduction to Research Program 1 (RP1)
Prof Stefanie Feih
Griffith University
Sustainable plastics use in health care: Holistic mapping and new product development
Prof Peter Halley
University of Queensland
Traceable recycled plastics for injection moulding
Mr Nick Quiel
Neumann Steel
Dr Abid Farooq
Griffith University
PHA production from Australian sugarcane and its byproducts
Dr Manuel Brunner
Minderoo Foundation
Prof Steven Pratt
University of Queensland
Social usage, attitudes, drivers and barriers across the value chain to the adoption of compostable plastics
Ms Monica Mendez
MyEco Group
Prof Usha Iyer-Raniga
RMIT University
Developing a compostable barrier film for food packaging
Mr Robert Morgan
MyEco Group
Prof Namita Roy Choudhury
RMIT University
RP1 panel discussion and Q&A
- Mr Nick Quiel, Neumann Steel
- Dr Manuel Brunner, Minderoo Foundation
- Prof Peter Halley, University of Queensland
Including:
Mr Richard Tegoni
CEO, MyEco Group
12.00 pm: Education & Training program
Presenters:
12.20 pm: Lunch
1.00 pm: Research Program 2: Maximising the recovery and value of end-of-life plastics
Presenters:
Introduction to Research Program 2 (RP2)
Prof Minoo Naebe
Deakin University
Development of sustainable polypropylene fibers and films from recycled waste
Mr Andrew Nasarczyk
Gale Pacific
Dr Omid Zabihi
Deakin University
Beyond the ban: Voluntary behaviour change for single use plastics
Prof Sharyn Rundle-Thiele
Griffith University
Pyrolysis process optimisation and control system
Mr Henry Cox
APR Plastics
Prof Mohammad Rasul
Central Queensland University
Advanced recycling technologies to address Australia’s plastic waste – 2026 update
Dr Melissa Skidmore
CSIRO
Smart digital and recycling solutions for remote plastic waste
Mr Christian Miller
Parley
Dr Shanaka Kristombu Baduge
University of Melbourne/RMIT University
RP2 panel discussion and Q&A
- Mr Andrew Nasarczyk, Gale Pacific
- Mr Henry Cox, APR Plastics
- Dr Melissa Skidmore, CSIRO
- Mr Christian Miller, Parley
- Prof Sharyn Rundle-Thiele, Griffith University
- Dr Omid Zabihi, Deakin University
- Dr Shanaka Kristombu Baduge, University of Melbourne/RMIT University
2.25 pm: Research Program 3: Implementing a circular economy for plastics in Australia
Presenters:
Introduction to Research Program 3 (RP3)
Distinguished Prof Damien Giurco
UTS
Circular economy
Ms Karen Marler
NSW EPA
Improving recycled polyolefin quality and driving a circular economy in NSW
Dr Alexander Wotton
NSW EPA
Dr Monique Retamal
UTS
Towards a zero-plastic waste circular economy in the City of Gold Coast
Prof Rodney Stewart
Griffith University
Dr Tingting Liu
Griffith University
RP3 panel discussion and Q&A
Moderator:
Dr Simran Talwar
UTS
Panel:
- Ms Karen Marler, NSW EPA
- Prof Rodney Stewart, Griffith University
- Dr Monique Retamal, UTS
Including:
Suzanne Toumbourou
CEO, ACOR
3.40 pm: Afternoon tea
4.00 pm: Research Program 4: Mitigating the risk of microplastics in agricultural soils
Presenters:
Introduction to Research Program 4 (RP4)
Distinguished Prof Andy Ball
RMIT University
Developing microplastic test methods in soils and composts
Dr Xiangyu Liu
Griffith University
Dr Alexander Wotton
NSW EPA
Sources, fate, and management of soil microplastics
Dr Scott Wilson
RMIT University
Microplastics in indigenous soils and traditional foods
Dr Fiona Sutton
Earthwatch Institute Australia
Engineering black soldiers flies for microplastic free compost
A/Prof Maciej Maselko
Macquarie University
Microplastics in industry
Dr Alexander Wotton
NSW EPA
RP4 panel discussion and Q&A
- Dr Alexander Wotton, NSW EPA
- Dr Xiangyu Liu, Griffith University
- Dr Fiona Sutton, Earthwatch Institute Australia
- Dr Scott Wilson, RMIT University
- A/Prof Maciej Maselko, Macquarie University
- Dr Anne-Maree Boland, RMCG
RP4 program wrap-up
Dr Anne-Maree Boland
RMCG
5.30 pm: Reflection and recap
5.40 pm: Closing remarks
5.45 pm: Conference ends
Annual Partners Dinner
The Annual Partners Dinner offers a valuable opportunity to connect with SPW CRC colleagues and expand your professional network in a relaxed setting. Guests will enjoy drinks and a meal, with an address from our distinguished guest speaker.
Date: Wednesday 22 October
Time: 6.30 pm – 9.30 pm
6.30 pm:
Pre-dinner drinks served in the Enoteca Bar
7.15 pm – 9.30 pm:
Dinner in the Blackburn 1+2 Rooms
Venue: PARKROYAL Monash Melbourne Hotel
872 Blackburn Rd, Clayton VIC 3168
Dress: Business / smart casual
‘Off and Running’ – Some things to think about when establishing a new CRC
DAY 2: Thursday 23 October
Mulgrave/Marrigul Room
ibis Melbourne Glen Waverley
297 Springvale Rd, Glen Waverley VIC 3150
8.30 am: Registration, tea and coffee
9.00 am: Workshop 1: IP and Patents 101
Workshop facilitators:
From ideas to impact: The role of the patent system and how it operates
This presentation will provide an overview of the patent landscape in the field of polymer recycling and explore the role of IP in the process translating an idea into commercial success. The presentation will also look at the journey of starting with an idea, transitioning it to a patent application and then on to a granted patent.
Dr Ramon Tozer
Principal Patent Attorney,
Davies Collison Cave
Patenting your invention: What a novel (and inventive) idea
This presentation is aimed at innovators seeking to understand whether their work or research is patentable, and the value of IP protection for early-stage ventures. In particular, we will discuss the concepts of novelty and inventive step (key patentability criteria), and how this is assessed under the established patenting framework. We will also examine a real-life case-study where we assisted a plastic recycling start-up file their first patent, developed filing strategies to attracting funding and investors and grow their IP portfolio (currently 7 patent families and over 70 patent applications in 5 years) to drive their commercial goal of bringing sustainable plastic recycling to the market.
Dr Lyn Chan
Associate Patent Attorney,
Davies Collison Cave
10.30 am: Morning tea
10.45 am: Workshop 2: CRC IP and Commercialisation
Workshop facilitator:
Technology Licensing 101: The Mechanics of CRC IP & Commercialisation
Jason Watson, Principal of Elementary Law, will run us through the CRC IP context and structure, key aspects of IP ownership and mechanisms for funding, utilising and commercialising IP.
Jason Watson
Principal, Elementary Law
11.55 am: Closing remarks
12.00 pm: Workshops end
Keynote, Guest Speaker and Workshop Facilitator Bios
Dr Deborah Lau
Research Director, Industry Environments,
CSIRO
Dr Deborah Lau, MAICD, FRACI, leads CSIRO’s Industry Environments research program, setting the scientific vision and providing research leadership to tackle Australia’s major environmental challenges caused by industrial activity. She guides teams in developing innovative solutions to manage industrial waste, protect ecosystems from pollutants, and create economic value from sustainable practices.
Deborah has over 15 years experience in developing innovation strategy, leading multidisciplinary research groups and delivering scientific outcomes.
Dr Ian Christensen
CEO, iMove CRC
Ian is a passionate and experienced practitioner in innovation and collaboration, and these were the driving motivators behind his initiative to establish the iMOVE Co-operative Research Centre.
He has spent most of his working life developing and delivering innovation in real-world environments, with particular achievements in manufacturing, biotechnology, and transport.
His leadership of iMOVE draws on sixteen years of experience in managing multi stakeholder collaborations and over forty years of activity in technology innovation.
Dr Ramon Tozer
Principal Patent Attorney,
Davies Collison Cave
Ramon is a Principal of the Chemistry group at DCC and specialises in providing patent related IP advice and services, including drafting/prosecution of patent applications and providing validity/infringement advice.
Ramon has over 25 years of experience in the IP profession, assisting universities and their spin out companies, private/government research organisations, international corporations and SME’s, with securing local and international patent rights across a diverse range of technologies, with a particular emphasis in the fields of materials science and polymer technology.
Prior to joining DCC, Ramon worked as an industrial polymer chemist at ICI Australia (Orica). He also worked as a polymer research scientist at CSIRO in collaboration with the CRC for Polymers. Ramon gained further industry experience working as an analytical polymer chemist at Montell.
Ramon’s PhD research was conducted in the field of synthetic organometallic chemistry.
Dr Lyn Chan
Associate Patent Attorney,
Davies Collison Cave
Lyn Chan is an Associate of the Biotechnology group at DCC who is experienced in patent drafting prosecution and IP strategy of biotechnology inventions, including in relation to bio-recycling of plastics.
She works with corporate, academic, and startup clients, helping them navigate complex IP considerations to maximise the commercial potential of their technology. She enjoys assisting early stage-ventures build IP strategies that are aligned with their evolving business goals and position them for growth in both domestic and international markets.
Lyn has a PhD in molecular genomics, and cell biology (University of Melbourne) and undertook postdoctoral research at Monash University studying stem cell genomic integrity and molecular drivers of ALT cancers. This scientific expertise underpins and informs her commercially focused approach to IP, making her a valuable partner to founders and investors seeking to bring innovations to market.
Jason Watson
Principal, Elementary Law
Jason commenced his legal career in 2000 as the sole in-house counsel for the University of South Australia and its commercialisation company, ITEK Pty Ltd. In 2007 Jason ‘jumped ship’ to a boutique firm in Melbourne on both the Commonwealth and State legal panels before forming his own firm, Elementary Law, in 2017.
Jason has extensive experience in commercial and corporate law, IP/IT, innovation and commercialisation.
Jason’s clients include research organisations, start-up companies, SMEs, listed companies, government departments and Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs). He has acted as corporate counsel and the Chair of the Board for ASX-listed bio tech companies.
Jason’s capabilities have been recognised by his inclusion in:
- Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) list of the World’s 250 Leading Patent and Technology Licensing Lawyers (2010 and 2011)
- IAM Patent 1000 (2014 and 2017)
- Doyle’s Guide 2015 Leading Victorian Non-Contentious IP Lawyer
Solving Plastic Waste CRC Partners
We acknowledge the traditional custodians across all the lands on which we live and work, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise that these lands and waters have always been places of teaching, research and learning.
