NIM Industry Insights Series: Innovations to Decarbonise the Steel Industry

Elvira Lutter has been working as a program manager at the Climate and Energy Fund since 2011. The business economist is responsible for the conceptual design and management of the energy research program and the FTI initiative „Vorzeigeregion Energie“ (german for “Energy Model Region”), as well as for the Climate and Energy Fund’s international participation in European research programs.

Andy Purvis is Director, Sustainable Manufacturing with the World Steel Association, a dynamic member-led industry association with a strong focus on sustainability. In his role, Andy leads world steel programmes relating to Environment, Safety, Technology, and Industry and Product Sustainability. Andy has been in and around the steel industry for almost 30 years, working in the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium and Australia in roles increasingly focused on environmental performance, sustainability and greenhouse gas abatement technology and policy. Andy is a Chartered Engineer and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from the University of Leeds and an MBA with distinction from Warwick University.

Geoff Brooks is a Professor in the School of Engineering at Swinburne University of Technology. Since completing his PhD in 1994, Geoff has been a Senior Lecturer at the University of Wollongong (1993-2000), an Associate Professor at McMaster University (2000-2004), a Senior Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO (2004-2006), and a Professor at Swinburne since 2006.

Since joining Swinburne, Geoff has been the Associate Dean of Research, Head of Mathematics and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Future Manufacturing). He currently coordinates research for extraterrestrial processing and is a Program Leader in the ARC Steel Innovation Hub and leads several projects at the Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC). He has also been active in recent years working with physicists on dark matter detection.

Geoff has published over 250 papers on fundamental aspects of steelmaking, aluminium production and materials processing in general. He has won significant international awards from the TMS, AIST, ASM and IOM3 for his contribution to metallurgical processing. Geoff is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (UK).

With 20 years’ experience in the energy & industry sector, Cécile Seguineaud currently works for the OECD Clean Energy Finance and Investment Mobilisation (CEFIM) Programme, focusing on industry decarbonisation financing. Previously, she led the decarbonisation program of the OECD Steel Committee. Prior to joining the OECD, she held management & project management positions in a worldwide energy company, as well as consultancies on energy transition. She holds a MA in Political Sciences (Energy/Environment) from Sciences Po Paris and engineering / MSc degrees in Energy from Mines Paris, Ecole Polytechnique Universitaire de Marseille, and Aix-Marseille University.

Chris Ormston joined Calix in October 2023 bringing over 20 years of experience within metals and minerals processing technology companies and large scale heavy industrial facilities. Chris leads the development and application of the Calix calciner technology aligned to globally strategic business opportunities to generate revenue streams for Calix across the mineral and metals industry.

Chris joined the Stainless Steel industry in Sheffield, UK, in 1999 and held various engineering, project and operations management positions in heavy industrial melting shop and coil products plants. In 2007, Chris joined Outotec and over a 15-year period, working in both Australia and Germany, led global business lines and market area business portfolios related to metals processing technologies with emphasis on decarbonisation strategy in the iron and steel supply chain. Prior to joining Calix, Chris was General Manager for Austin Engineering Ltd, based in Perth, Australia.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Engineering and Environmental Studies from Sheffield Hallam University, UK, and a Master’s in Materials, Manufacturing and Management from the joint Universities of Sheffield. He is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer (I.Mech.E), member of the Institution of Engineers Australia, and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Jonathan Geifman co-founded Helios in 2018, initially focusing on space technology. Over the past three years, under his leadership, Helios has shifted its focus to green steel technology solutions. Jonathan is an accomplished entrepreneur with extensive experience in product development, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution across the globe, C-level executives management, raising funds, and driving business development strategies. With over 15 years of management experience in the public sector, Jonathan brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his current role.