UQ-Latin American Colloquium

7:30am-11:30am, 26 September 2023

The 16th annual Latin American Colloquium will address:

Powering Australia and Latin America toward a clean energy future.

The Colloquium will explore how countries can work together towards a pathway to clean, reliable and affordable energy systems to provide power for generations. This theme will highlight the importance of a strong and meaningful Australia-Latin America partnership as we move into the future.

The event will be using Padlet for a real-time collaborative web platform where you can share comments, notes and content. Please feel free to add your thoughts before, during or after the event.

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Panel 1: Supporting the reliable supply of critical minerals in Australia and Latin America

Policy makers have a crucial role in determining whether critical minerals are an enabler for clean energy transitions or a bottleneck in the process. This panel will discuss how supply and investment plans must adapt to accelerate energy transitions, and how networks can be strengthened to mitigate geopolitical and market risks.

Panel 2: The journey to net-zero: opportunities and challenges for Australia and Latin America amid the global push towards renewables and zero-carbon

Experts will investigate pathways through which Australia and Latin America could export zero-carbon energy and products, such as green hydrogen, and support emissions reduction incentives. This panel will explore the opportunities and challenges of Australia’s and Latin America’s push for a cleaner energy future.

Keynote speaker

Namali Mackay
Ms Namali Mackay, Managing Director, Critical Minerals Association Australia


Most recently Namali led on the critical minerals agenda for the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) in London where she worked with UK and Australian critical minerals stakeholders, on behalf of the Australian Government. Following Brexit, Namali was the Trade Advisor to Make UK (the UK’s largest manufacturing industry body) where she worked with UK manufacturers on supply chain and trade strategies for Brexit-readiness. Namali is a former Australian diplomat and trade negotiator, covering the trade, industry, resource and climate portfolios during her posting at the Australian High Commission in London. After her posting, Namali was appointed Group Head of International Relations at Prudential plc UK in London where she managed the Group's trade and international agenda across the ASEAN region. Namali has returned to Australia and is the Founder and Managing Director of the newly formed Critical Minerals Association of Australia.

Panel 1

Supporting the reliable supply of critical minerals in Australia and Latin America

Director, Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry; and Group Leader Environmental Excellence through the Mining Cycle, Sustainable Minerals Institute, UQ
Project Acquisition Manager, Cobalt Blue Holdings
Director, Minerals Geoscience at Geological Survey Queensland
Deputy Director (HDR); and Research Fellow, Sustainable Minerals Institute, UQ

Panel 2

The journey to net-zero: opportunities and challenges for Australia and Latin America amid the global push towards renewables and zero-carbon commodities’

Director, Andrew N. Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership, UQ
Executive Director, IBF International Institute for Better Futures
Research Fellow, Sustainable Minerals Institute, UQ
Petroleum Engineer and Senior Consultant, Arche Energy Pty Ltd

Program

 

Time (AEST)Activity
7:30-8amRegistration and stand-up networking breakfast
8-8:15amMaster of Ceremonies
Professor Rick Valenta, Director (Acting), Sustainable Minerals Institute, UQ

Welcome address
Mr Brett Lovegrove Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Partnerships), UQ
His Excellency Mr Ronald Recinos, Ambassador of Guatemala
8:15-9:15am

Panel 1: Supporting the reliable supply of critical minerals in Australia and Latin America

Moderator: Professor Claire Côte, Director, Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry, Sustainable Minerals Institute, UQ

  • Dr Liliana Pagliero, Deputy Director (HDR); and Research Fellow, Sustainable Minerals Institute, UQ
  • Dr Janelle Simpson, Director Minerals Geoscience, Department of Resources, Queensland Government
  • Dr Helen Degeling, Project Acquisition Manager,  Cobalt Blue Holdings
9:15-9:50am Networking morning tea 
9:50-10:20am 

Keynote speaker followed by Q&A

Ms Namali Mackay, Director, Critical Minerals Australia

10:20-11:15am

Panel 2: The journey to net-zero: opportunities and challenges for Australia and Latin America amid the global push towards renewables and zero-carbon commodities

Moderator: Professor Tim Kastelle, Director, Andrew N. Liveris Academy for Innovation and Leadership, UQ

  • His Excellency Mr Jaime Chomali, Ambassador of Chile
  • Dr Isabel B. Franco, Executive Director, IBF International Institute for Better Futures
  • Dr Juliana Segura-Salazar, Research Fellow, Sustainable Minerals Institute, UQ 
  • Mr Daniel Esteban Nieto Martínez, Petroleum Engineer and Senior Consultant, Arche Energy Pty Ltd
11:15–11:30amClosing remarks
Her Excellency Mrs Dianela Pi, Ambassador of Uruguay
Professor José Celso Freire Junior, Associate Provost for International Affairs, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP)

Event contact

For more information about the event or UQ's engagement in Latin America, contact

Daphne Kwong, Senior International Visits and Events Officer, Global Partnerships, UQ.