This seminar launches the concept and findings of a Monash University research project on biofuels. The inter-disciplinary team are drawn from chemical engineering, policy, tax, law & regulation. 

The research re-thinks the outcomes of major technical studies on biofuels published in Australia between 2007 and 2014 to inform current energy policy. We examine selected biofuel developments in the EU and also present the latest developments in biofuels production, such as ethanol and renewable diesel obtained from non-food feedstocks. 

This research empirically and theoretically examines a number of questions.  What is still valuable from early 2000s Australian biofuels studies? What type of fiscal and regulatory support could encourage biofuels innovation and investment in Australia? Can EU legal frameworks on biofuels be transitioned to policy in Australia? Are there further technology breakthroughs in biofuels needed? These questions have been developed by reference to advanced biofuels, policies and law outside of Australia, and the contention that economic benefit is no longer considered the sole criteria for evaluating renewable energy projects. Our results are analysed through the lens of ‘energy justice’ where it is argued that not only economics (energy pricing), but also environmental (sustainable fuel production) and political (energy security) considerations are needed to progress Australia’s biofuel policies and laws.  

Investment is needed to promote the important role of biofuels in the transition of the Australian energy market towards a sustainable future. Appropriate policy, laws, and regulations are essential drivers of such investment and the ultimate success of the Australian biofuels sector.  The inter-disciplinary seminar is supported by showcasing the work of other leading scholars in biofuels technical developments, and in energy justice.    

Chair: Monash Energy Materials and Systems Institute (MEMSI). 

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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS 

Dr Diane Kraal, Department of Business Law and Taxation, Monash Business School

Associate Professor Victoria Haritos, Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash Faculty of Engineering 

Dr Rowena Cantley-Smith, Monash Faculty of Law 

INVITED GUEST SPEAKERS 

Professor Raphael Heffron, Global Energy Law & Sustainability, Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy, University of Dundee 

Associate Professor Karinne Ludlow, Monash Faculty of Law  

Ms Megan Wheatly, Manager - Communications and External Affairs, Senvion  

Other speakers to be advised.  

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REGISTRATION 

Register here 

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REFRESHMENTS  

A light lunch will be provided between 1:00 - 2:00pm.   

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SPEAKER PROFILES 

Dr Diane Kraal, Department of Business Law and Taxation, Monash Business School, Monash University 

Diane has held roles in the minerals resource sector as a management and financial accountant. She is an experienced CPA professional having worked with the ‘Big 4’. For eight years she was Manager (Taxation and Banking) at La Trobe University. Diane has worked in the financial services sector as the taxation manager with Australia's largest administrator of industry superannuation funds. Diane has presented tax research papers at conferences both in Australia and overseas, including at the University of Cambridge, University of Houston and Groningen University. Diane was a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University followed by a visit to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC to pursue extractive industry tax issues. The National Research Institute of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the PNG Treasury appointed Dr Diane Kraal and Dr Craig Emerson (former Minister with the Australian government) to research petroleum and mining tax reform. Tax reform in PNG has the support of the IMF. PNG's National Budget 2017 broadly includes Kraal and Emerson’s petroleum and mining tax reform initiatives. In 2017-2018 Diane is conducting further research for the National Research Institute of PNG. In July 2017 Diane was called as an expert witness to the Federal Senate inquiry into corporate tax avoidance in relation to Australia's offshore oil and gas industry. In 2018 Diane received the Monash Business School Dean’s Commendation for Research Impact.  

Associate Professor Victoria Haritos. Chemical Engineering Dept., Faculty of Engineering, Monash University  Associate Professor Victoria Haritos

Associate Professor Victoria Haritos is an academic and Deputy Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University Australia. Her research investigates the design and modification of biological systems for engineering applications especially in bioprocessing; an important area has been the development of enzymes biomass degradation for biofuels production and CO2 capture and developing yeast as biofactories. A/P Haritos holds Bachelor of Science (Hons), MAppSci and PhD degrees and has published 58 peer reviewed articles and 7 patent applications. A/P Haritos is the recipient of awards including 2018 BHERT Award for Outstanding Collaboration in Research & Development: Industry Partnership and finalist in the 2016 IChemE Global, Biotechnology. Prior to joining Monash University in October 2014, A/Prof was a Principal/Research Scientist at the Australian national research organisation, CSIRO, where for 16 years she undertook industry-related research including leading the organisations research program in Advanced Biofuels.
 
Dr Rowena Cantley-Smith. Law Faculty, Monash University 

Dr Rowena Cantley-Smith [BEc, LLB, GCLT (Monash); LLM (Leiden); LLD (Leuven)] is a legal academic and Barrister. Dr Cantley-Smith’s key legal expertise encompasses energy law, climate change law, and human and environmental rights (Australian and International). Her interdisciplinary research focuses on sustainable transitions and the energy sector in international, regional and Australian settings. This includes polices, laws, and regulations concerning energy security of supply, renewable energy, demand-side management, energy efficiency, environmental regulation of energy markets, and the protections afforded to energy consumers in energy market transitions. In addition to being an invited contributor to Edward Elgar’s forthcoming international climate change law publication on the Paris Agreement (2019+), Dr Cantley-Smith is involved in several cross-disciplinary research projects, including (i) Energy justice and the role of biofuels in sustainable energy market transitions; (ii) Regulating renewable energy transitions and energy consumers’ protections in emergent complex markets behind the meter (including Monash Net Zero and Micro grid). Relevantly, Rowena is a member of Grid Innovation Hub (Monash Energy Materials and Systems Institute -MEMSI), Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub, the Advisory Panel to the Monash Micro-Grid Energy Market Operator (MEMO), Monash Sustainable Campus Integration Group and was appointed as Head of Monash University’s Official Delegation to the annual international climate change negotiations (COP23 and COP24).  

Professor Raphael Heffron, Global Energy Law & Sustainability, Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy, University of Dundee 

Raphael Heffron is Jean Monnet Chair in Energy & Natural Resources Law (awarded by the European Commission) at the Energy and Natural Resources Law Institute at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). His work is international and combines a mix of energy law, policy and economics – including interdisciplinary energy research, EU and US energy law and policy. Raphael’s research has involved funding from UK national research councils (the ESRC, and the EPSRC), the EU (in a Horizon 2020 project) and currently through the European Commission (Jean Monnet Chair). He has acted as a consultant for the World Bank and London think tanks, is on the Editorial Board of the International Energy Law Review, and is also Consulting Editor of the Halsbury’s Laws of England volumes on Energy Law. Raphael is currently the Co-Chair of the UK Energy Law and Policy Association; Visiting Professor in Energy Law at the International Hellenic University (Greece); and an Associate Researcher at the Energy Policy Research Group at the University of Cambridge. He will be Visiting Professor at ParisDauphine University later this year (2018). Raphael read for his PhD at Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge. He is also a trained Barrister-at-Law and was called to the Bar in July 2007 in the Republic
of Ireland. He holds degrees from the University of Cambridge (MPhil, PhD), the University of St. Andrews (MLitt), and Trinity College Dublin (BA, MA). 

Associate Professor Karinne Ludlow 

Karinne's expertise is on the application of legal instruments and principles, such as regulatory frameworks and torts, to scientific innovation. Her focus is the integration of science, commercialisation challenges and law. A key feature of her research is its incorporation of law reform recommendations which have been acted on by relevant bodies. Law around innovative science crosses commercial fields. For example, her expertise around genetics crosses agriculture and human reproduction. It is dynamic and specialised, requiring a multidisciplinary approach based on a solid understanding of science and commercialisation issues. Karinne's research focuses on the integration of science, commercialisation challenges and law, particularly around biotechnology and nanotechnology in all their applications including health, agriculture and industry. Current projects include a project on regulating genome editing in food and agriculture as well as an ARC Discocvery grant funded research on inheritable genetic modification of human embryos, including the use of mitochondrial donation and genome editing. Karinne served on the Victorian Biotechnology Ethics Advisory Committee (VBEAC) 2006-2008). Prior to academia, Karinne's commercial expertise was developed through 10 years in private legal practice with major law firms including 3 years with legal advisors to CSIRO and Cooperative Research Centres on commercialisation, intellectual property and funding. 

Ms Megan Wheatly, Manager, Communications and External Affairs, Senvion Australia 

Megan received a Mechanical Engineering Degree from Monash in 1998, and since then she has worked in the energy sector both in Australia and the UK with a strong focus on sustainable energy. She is currently on the senior management team of Senvion Australia, a leading wind energy company. Prior to this, Megan was Head of Policy for the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy in London. Megan’s career in renewables began in the Victorian Government where she led the development of the Victorian Wind Atlas, and the black balloons energy saving campaign. She also contributed to key policy initiatives, including the Victorian Wind Energy Planning Guidelines. In 2009, Megan was awarded Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Alumni of the Year from Monash University. Megan is one of eight engineering alumnae behind the Female Leaders Alumni Monash Engineering Scholarship (FLAMES) which provides a financial scholarship, and a diverse mentoring network to a female engineering student. Megan is a Director on the Clean Energy Council Board, and a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

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QUESTIONS & CONCERNS 

For further information please contact Chad Drever at chad.drever@monash.edu; or Dr Diane Kraal at diane.kraal@monash.edu  E-Mail: buseco-events@monash.edu