Keynote speaker

Rob Williamson

Executive Director and Chief Operations Officer, Alpha HPA

Presentation title

Conquering the challenges in commercialising great tech

Presentation synopsis

While Solvent Extraction (SX) has been a well-established technique for extracting metals, Alpha HPA has uniquely adapted it to aluminium purification. The use of our Smart SX technology is transformative in the production of HPA as a sustainable alternative to traditional HPA production methods, setting a new industry standard for a 70% reduced carbon footprint HPA product. This decarbonised approach offers a sustainable alternative to traditional methods, with HPA applications spanning various decarbonisation technologies such as lithium-ion batteries and LED lighting.
 
But how did we go from an idea and a technology that works in a beaker to commercialising and leveraging the technology to be the cornerstone of our business?  Why do so many great ideas and technologies never see the light of day? We will discuss the process of commercialisation of Solvent Extraction for aluminium purification developed by Alpha HPA as a case study and potentially a framework for others to consider.

Biography

Rob Williamson is the Executive Director and Chief Operations Officer at Alpha HPA, with nearly 25 years’ experience in large facility operations and executive leadership. His pragmatic approach and strategic acumen have been instrumental in propelling the company's vertical integration strategy for advanced materials, contributing significantly to the decarbonisation of the tech sector. Rob is passionate about instilling a culture of accountability both in “what we do and how we treat each other” and sees it as a key to the success of any business.