Bioenergy Research Network

Bernadette McCabe - USQ

Professor Bernadette McCabe is a principal scientist at the University of Southern Queensland's (USQ) Centre for Agricultural Engineering (CAE) and is the Research Program Team Leader for Energy and Bioresource Recycling. Bernadette is Australia's National Team Leader for the International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy program Task 37: Energy from Biogas and is a member of the Australian Research Council (ARC) College of Experts. Bernadette has a background in agricultural biotechnology and has over 20 years’ experience as an academic and researcher. Her research investigates technologies to enable intensive Australian farming and food-processing industries to turn their commercial waste into a valuable commodity. She works with these industries to be more profitable by using organic waste to produce biogas, clean recycled water and biofertiliser. Her research has been applied to the livestock and cropping sectors (both on and off farm) and water utilities. 

Daniel Roberts – CSIRO

Daniel is the leader of CSIRO’s Hydrogen Energy Future Science Platform, and has over 20 years R&D experience studying the combustion and gasification fundamentals of a variety of feedstocks. He has a background in environmental chemistry and chemical engineering, and has led the delivery of a range of collaborative R&D activities in support of local and international gasification projects, more recently with a focus on conversion of waste and biomass to useful energy products. He will be leading Australia’s participation in IEA Bioenergy Task 36, which will continue to explore the role of energy recovery in modern waste management practices.   

Dijana Dawe - Enesys

Fabiano Ximenes – DPI NSW

Fabiano Ximenes is a Senior Research Scientist with the NSW DPI, with extensive experience in forestry research projects involving carbon and biomass and applications for bioenergy. Fabiano holds a Bachelor of Forestry (University of Brasilia, Brazil) and a Master of Science (ANU).

Geoff Bell – Microbiogen

Geoff Bell is CEO of Microbiogen, a world leading industrial bio-technology company, specialising in yeast, alcohol fermentation and development of novel process and products for the global fuel, feed and food industries. Through more than a decade leading the company, Geoff has taken the company from a small R+D start-up, over the “valley of death” to its current position of multiple global license agreements with products now commercially available in the market.  His holds two Bachelor Degrees from Sydney and Macquarie University, one in Science and the other in Economics and Finance.  He also holds a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University.  Geoff has over 20 years’ experience as a senior analyst in the global investment banks of BNP Paribas and Prudential Securities.  Roles have also included Head of Asia Pacific Research, Head of Australian Research and Global Mining Analyst through his research and investment banking career. He has received a number of industry awards for insight and outstanding performance in his analytical work.  Geoff regularly presents at international conferences and is also currently Australian Head of the IEA Task 42 program that considers Bio-refineries in a Circular Economy.

Ian O'Hara - QUT

Professor Ian O’Hara is a researcher specialising in bioenergy, biofuels and biorefining at Queensland University of Technology. In 2016, Ian was appointed by the Queensland Government as the first ever Queensland Biofutures Industry Envoy. As the Envoy, Ian provides strategic advice to government and assists in securing domestic and international investment within the Biofutures sector. Ian has a degree in chemical engineering, MBA and PhD in biofuel systems. Prior to joining QUT, Ian worked in production management with Mackay Sugar Ltd where he managed sugar milling, refining and biomass cogeneration facilities and in policy development roles with the Australian Sugar Milling Council. Ian’s current research interests are on the economics, engineering, and commercialisation of bioenergy and value added bioproducts technologies.

Mark Brown - USC

Mark Brown is Professor of Forestry Operations – University of the Sunshine Coast. Professor Brown is the Australian National Team Leader for IEA Bioenergy Task 43. Professor Brown is also a Director of the Forest Industries Research Centre and the Australian Forest Operations Research Alliance (AFORA).

John Norwood - Enesys

John Norwood is the founding director and chief engineer of multi-disciplined engineering consultancy, The Project Office, and, more recently, the award-winning research, development, and sustainable innovations and solutions company Enesys. Enesys develops technical and economically sustainable energy and resource solutions involving the physical and commercial linking of waste to energy to growing and manufacturing industries to close resource loops and create circular economies. John’s expertise includes technical and commercial knowledge of renewable energy, sustainable precincts, and community infrastructure, high-density growing systems, PAR lighting design, manufacturing, and bespoke process control design and construction.