Speakers

The 2024 National Manufacturing Summit aims to bridge the gap between ambitious targets and practical implementation. The Summit should act as a catalyst for action, innovation, and collaboration, steering Australia towards a sustainable and prosperous future.

By uniting industry leaders from both the manufacturing and energy sectors, the Summit aims to leverage the opportunities presented by the renewable energy revolution, and translate these into action. The Summit will foster collaboration, drive innovation, and facilitate the exchange of knowledge, empowering sustainable growth and technological advancements in these interconnected industries.

Discover more about our confirmed speakers below.

Weld Australia is honoured to have Queensland Premier, the Hon Steven Miles MP open the 2024 National Manufacturing Summit in Brisbane on 31 July.

The Queensland Government has made significant strides in renewable energy, driven by ambitious targets and substantial investments. In 2015, Queensland established a 50% renewable energy target by 2030. In 2022, this target was increased to 70% by 2032, and 80% by 2035.

Queensland is accelerating towards its renewable energy targets and now boasts 54 large-scale renewable energy projects (operating, under construction or financially committed) since 2015. This represents more than $11 billion of investment, around 8,700 construction jobs, over 6,000 megawatts (MW) of clean energy and more than 15 million tonnes of avoided emissions each year (as at 29 February 2024).

Combined with rooftop solar, the state has more than 10,000MW of renewable energy capacity, putting downward pressure on electricity prices. In total, 27% of electricity generated in Queensland is produced from renewable energy sources (as at 29 February 2024).

Premier Miles will offer a unique insights into Queensland’s successful renewable energy strategies and initiatives. Attendees will learn from real-world examples of how government investment and strategic planning can drive the renewable energy agenda, providing valuable lessons for other regions and states. Learn how Australia might replicate and build upon Queensland’s success to make the renewable energy revolution a reality across the nation.

 

TANIA ARCHIBALD  

CHIEF EXECUTIVE AUSTRALIAN STEEL PRODUCTS, BLUESCOPE 

Tania was appointed Chief Executive Australian Steel Products in 2023.  Prior to that, Tania was Chief Financial Officer for five years. Tania leads all major operations in Australia including the Company’s key operations at Port Kembla (NSW) and Western Port (VIC). She joined the Executive Leadership Team in 2016 with responsibility for the optimisation of investment returns from BlueScope’s global coated products assets, in addition to her role as Chief Financial Officer, BlueScope ANZ, which she held from May 2015. Tania has also held the positions of Vice President, Corporate Finance and Strategy, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, and finance leadership roles in Vietnam and Indonesia. 

 

GEORGES ANTOUN 

CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER, FIRST SOLAR 

Georges Antoun was appointed Chief Commercial Officer in July 2016. He joined First Solar in July 2012 as Chief Operating Officer before being appointed as President, US in July 2015. Georges has over 30 years of operational and technical experience, including leadership positions at several global technology companies.

Prior to joining First Solar, Georges served as Venture Partner at Technology Crossover Ventures (“TCV”), a private equity and venture firm that he joined in July 2011. Before joining TCV, Georges was the Head of Product Area IP & Broadband Networks for Ericsson, based in San Jose, California. Georges joined Ericsson in 2007, when Ericsson acquired Redback Networks, a telecommunications equipment company, where Georges served as the Senior Vice President of World Wide Sales & Operations. After the acquisition, Georges was promoted to Chief Executive Officer of the Redback Networks subsidiary.

Prior to Redback Networks, Georges spent five years at Cisco Systems, where he served as Vice President of Worldwide Systems Engineering and Field Marketing, Vice President of Worldwide Optical Operations, and Vice President of Carrier Sales. Prior to Cisco Systems, he was the Director of Systems Engineering at Newbridge Networks, a data and voice networking company.Georges started his career at Nynex (now Verizon Communications), where he was part of its Science and Technology Division.

Georges serves as a member of the board of directors of Marathon Digital Holdings. He is also the Chairman of the University of Louisiana’s College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council board. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Master’s degree in information systems engineering from NYU Poly.

 

HON TIM AYRES MP

FEDERAL ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR TRADE AND MANUFACTURING 

Tim Ayres is the Assistant Minister for Trade and Assistant Minister for Manufacturing in the Albanese Labor Government.

He was elected as a Senator for New South Wales in the 2019 election. During the 46th Parliament, he was Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration and Member of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Standing Committee. He led the work of several Select Inquiries including a Senate report on the capability of the Australian Public Service.

He was appointed as Assistant Minister for Trade and Assistant Minister for Manufacturing in June 2022, after the election of the Labor Government led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Before entering Parliament, Tim spent twenty-four years in the trade union movement, representing the interests of workers across a variety of sectors including manufacturing, defence, food processing, aviation and metal industries.

He held several elected leadership roles in the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union. He has been a long-standing member of the Australian Labor Party’s National Executive.

Senator Ayres grew up on his family’s beef cattle farm on the north coast of NSW and completed high school in Glen Innes. He studied industrial relations at the University of Sydney and lives in Sydney.

 

GLENN BUTCHER

QUEENSLAND MINISTER FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING AND MINISTER FOR WATER

 

KOEN DE BACKER

INTERNATIONAL EXPERT IN PUBLIC POLICY

Koen De Backer is results-driven leader who combines policy analysis, data development and analytics, executive management, operational responsibilities and stakeholder management. Koen has extensive experience in evidence-based economic research and strategic policy advice on industry, competitiveness, economic globalisation, innovation, and productivity. His previous roles include Executive Director Strategy and Analysis at Investment New South Wales, Associate Director Economic Research at NSW Investment, and Head Of the Structural and Industry Policy Division at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) where he led the activities of the Steel Committee and the Council Working Party on Shipbuilding.

 

NATALIE COLLARD

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, FARMERS FOR CLIMATE ACTION

Natalie Collard is the CEO  for Farmers for Climate Action. She is a highly regarded advocate for regional Australia, agriculture, renewable energy, innovation and women’s leadership. Natalie was awarded Telstra Business Woman of The Year (2013) for her transformation of Australian Dairy Farmers Ltd, and International Woman of Renewables of the Year for her work as the Chair of Women in Renewables(Australia) and as EGM Industry Development at the Clean Energy Council.  Her non-executive experience includes Landcare Australia Ltd, Agsafe Ltd and the Victorian Government Agriculture Energy Investment Plan Independent Advisory Council and she is a current member of Powercor Customer Advisory Group. 

 

GEOFF CRITTENDEN

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WELD AUSTRALIA

Geoff is a chartered engineer with over 30 years’ experience and a diverse background that includes CEO and senior leadership roles in the not-for-profit, consulting, engineering and healthcare industries. Geoff started his career as an engineer in the British Army, serving for over 15 years. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, Geoff decided upon a career change and, with his family, immigrated to Australia. Geoff’s first role in Australia was CEO of the Association of Consulting Engineers, after which he held senior leadership positions with Transfield Worley, Cynergy Group, and the Risk Management Institute. Geoff joined the Weld Australia team in 2014 as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. Geoff is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the British Army Staff College. Geoff holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering and is an IIW International Welding Engineer (IWE).

 

LINDA DOBE

DIRECTOR GENERAL, QUEENSLAND DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MANUFACTURING AND WATER

Linda took up the role of Director-General of DRDMW in March 2023. Prior to that, she was the department’s Deputy Director-General, Water Resource Management, and has been the Queensland Government’s most senior water executive for more than 5 years.

Linda has broad government and private-sector experience in senior roles across the water, lands, mining, finance and education portfolios. She has held lead roles in government water functions in key areas such as strategic water policy and reform, regulation of water entitlements, drinking water and dam safety, water planning and science, water security planning, and progression of bulk water infrastructure projects.

Linda has led numerous large multi-disciplinary teams, successfully facilitating cultural transformation while delivering strategic, innovative solutions. She also has extensive experience in stakeholder engagement and consultation, with a commitment to building long-lasting and authentic relationships across diverse stakeholder groups. She has a particular interest in working with First Nations Peoples on water management issues.

Linda holds a Bachelor of Science (Geology) from The University of Queensland, and began her career as one of the first female exploration geologists working in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

 

MONIQUE ENGLISH

ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Monique English is the Engagement Manager at Standards Australia in the Manufacturing and Agriculture sectors. Monique started with the organisation in 2021 after a 20-year career in stakeholder management, project management and business administration. Monique is passionate about engaging with industry and learning where standards can play a pivotal role in resolving challenges and supporting innovation.

 

ELLEN FANNING

HOST, ABC TV’S THE DRUM 

Ellen Fanning is the host of ABC TV’s The Drum, a nightly national current affairs program that draws Australians for diverse backgrounds into a discussion about national issues. An award winning journalist, Ellen served as the ABC’s Washington correspondent and has been a reporter for the Nine Network’s 60 Minutes and Sunday programs, and was a columnist on legendary The Bulletin magazine. At 24, Ellen Fanning broke new ground, becoming the first woman to host one of ABC Radio’s national current affairs programs. Two years at the helm of PM were followed by several years anchoring AM on ABC Radio and serving as occasional host of ABC TV’s 7.30 Report.

 

DR ROY GREEN 

PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY

Roy is Emeritus Professor and Special Innovation Advisor at the University of Technology Sydney, where he was Dean of the UTS Business School. Roy has enjoyed a career in universities, government and industry, and has undertaken a range of projects on innovation and industrial policy, including with the OECD and European Commission. At various times, he chaired the CSIRO Manufacturing Sector Advisory Council, the Enterprise Connect Innovative Regions Centre, the Queensland Competition Authority and the NSW Manufacturing Council. Currently, he chairs the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub and the Port of Newcastle, and he is a board director of CSIRO and SmartSat CRC.

 

CHARLIE JOYCE

RESEARCHER, CENTRE FOR FUTURE WORK

Charlie Joyce is a Researcher at Carmichael Centre in the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work. He was previously employed as an Anne Kantor Fellow in 2023.

Charlie has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Politics and International Studies from the University of Melbourne. His interests include industrial policy, labour rights, social policy, and geopolitics.

 

SIMON KUESTENMACHER 

CO-FOUNDER, THE DEMOGRAPHICS GROUP 

Simon Kuestenmacher is a Director and Co-founder of The Demographics Group based in Melbourne, Australia. Simon holds degrees in geography from leading universities in Berlin and Melbourne and worked for several years as a business consultant with KPMG Australia. In 2017 Simon, with Bernard Salt, co-founded The Demographics Group. The group provides specialist advice on demographic, consumer and social trends for business. Simon is a columnist for The New Daily newspaper and a contributor to The Australian newspaper and he is a media commentator on demographic and data matters.

 

BILL MUNDY

CONSULTANT, B MUNDY AND ASSOCIATES 

Bill recently left Federation University where he led the Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Training Centre project. Over the last seven years, this project has been recognised as the premier response mechanism to the workforce demand needs for the wind energy sector, both on and offshore and recently established his own consultancy supporting the energy sector. With a commercial background in telecommunications, IT, HR, and a variety of other sectors Bill brings a strong commercial approach to the work he does. As a past Board Member of the Committee for Ballarat, Bill now chairs the Committee’s BEN initiative which aims to develop a DER response for the Ballarat community. With a focus on building meaningful win-win relationships, Bill has an extensive network of contacts across the wind energy and energy sector in general, government and supply chain partners supporting the sector. 

 

VESNA OLLES

DIRECTOR STRATEGY & CLEAN ENERGY, BOC 

Vesna joined BOC in 1997 and was appointed as Director, Strategy and Clean Energy in 2019. Over the last six years Vesna has been accountable for the clean energy business, including project commercialisation for projects ranging in value up to $1.4 billion. Prior to this role, Vesna held various senior roles across the sales and marketing functions at BOC including General Manager Industrial Marketing; and General Manager Channels. Before she joined BOC, Vesna held general manager, sales and engineering roles including as General Manager for Tradelink NSW/ACT, Business Analytics at Boral and Sales and Applications Engineer at Nalco (now EcoLab). Vesna holds a Degree in Chemical Engineering and a Masters in Commerce from the University of New South Wales.

 

PETER ONG

QUEENSLAND STATE SECRETARY, ELECTRICAL TRADES UNION AUSTRALIA

Peter Ong started his time in 1986 in the oil and gas industry as a 15-year-old apprentice Electrician on the North West Shelf and went on to work around Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea in the Oil and Gas and mining sector.  In 2000 he started working as an organiser for the Electrical Trades Union, he has held the position of Assistant Secretary and now Secretary for the Queensland and Northern Territory Branch and is the National President of the Electrical Trades Union Australia.

 

MICHELE O’NEIL

PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS

Michele is the President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. She began her working life as a waitress, went on to work in the community sector with homeless young people and to then work in the clothing industry. Before being elected as ACTU President in 2018, Michele represented workers in the textile, clothing and footwear industry as an organiser and then Branch and National Secretary of the TCFUA (Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia). She represented her union nationally and internationally and led campaigns to win world leading rights for workers throughout clothing supply chains. A model of supply chain accountability for workers which increased pay and conditions for some of Australia’s most exploited workers. Following the amalgamation of the TCFUA and the CFMEU, Michele was CFMEU Vice President.

 

JIM STANFORD

ECONOMIST AND DIRECTOR, CENTRE FOR FUTURE WORK

Jim founded the Centre for Future Work in 2016, after serving for over 20 years as Economist and Director of Policy with Unifor—Canada’s largest private-sector trade union. Jim is the Harold Innis Industry Professor in Economics at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, and Honorary Professor in the Department of Political Economy at the University of Sydney. Jim received his PhD in Economics from the New School for Social Research in New York. He also holds an Master of Philosophy in Economics from Cambridge University, and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Economics from the University of Calgary. Jim is the author of Economics for Everyone: A Short Guide to the Economics of Capitalism (second edition published by Pluto Books in 2015), which has been published in six languages. He has written, edited or co-edited six other books, and dozens of articles and reports in both peer-reviewed and popular outlets.

 

CORI STEWART 

FOUNDER & CEO, ADVANCED ROBOTICS FOR MANUFACTURING (ARM) HUB 

Professor Cori Stewart is a skilled and versatile science and technology commercialisation leader, who works in executive and advisor roles across industry, government, and the research sector. She is passionate about driving impact through university and industry collaboration and building strategic and trusted collaborations in Australia and across the globe.

As the Founder and CEO of the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub, Cori has built an Australian-first not-for-profit technology commercialisation company. ARM Hub has nurtured hundreds of businesses to validate, commercialise and modernise using cutting-edge technologies, design thinking, new IP and workforce development strategies in defence, energy, medical, resources, agriculture sectors and more.

Cori is a member of the Australian Government’s Industry Innovation Science Australia Board and is currently one of Australia’s 2023 & 2024 ‘Superstars of STEM’ where she lifts the profile of women and science in our communities.

Cori is a keynote speaker on topics such as industrial policy, robotics, artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0, university and industry collaboration, research commercialisation, advanced manufacturing, supply chains, innovation strategies, and inclusion.

 

ELIZABETH THURBORN 

PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF NSW

Elizabeth’s research examines the strategic role of the state in the green energy shift, with a special focus on the role of the state in Northeast Asia and Australia. She has written widely on these topics for academic and popular audiences. Her most recent co-authored book Developmental Environmentalism (Oxford University Press, 2023) provides the first comprehensive account of East Asia’s green energy shift and its geo-economic and geo-strategic implications for Australia and the globe. Elizabeth is currently a Chief Investigator on three major collaborative grants: an Australian Research Council Discovery Project examining East Asia’s Clean Energy Transition, an Academy of Korean Studies Laboratory Project Grant examining Korea’s past, present and future economic development trajectory, and an Australian Department of Defence Strategic Policy Grant examining Weaponised Trade and its implications for Australia. 

 

PHILIP TONER 

HONORARY SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, UNIVERSITY OF NSW

Prior to commencing an academic career Phillip worked in labour market and economic research for the federal government including an agency of Federal Treasury. He gained his PhD in Political Economy at the University of Sydney in 1997. The thesis was on the role of manufacturing industry in economic development. After working for four years in economic consulting he was appointed a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Industry and Innovation Studies, University of Western Sydney in 2002. He was responsible, singly or jointly with other researchers at the Centre, for winning and completing $2.068m in competitive research grants. In 2012 he moved to the University of Sydney as an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Political Economy. His research interests include industrial structure analysis and industry policy; the economics of technical change; national vocational skills formation systems and labour market analysis.