Shannon O’Rourke

Chief Executive Officer

Shannon commenced his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre on 1 December 2021.

He is a seasoned executive with 25 years’ experience in the energy sector including senior management roles with Woodside, Chevron and industrial research with Rio Tinto.

His career spans traditional and renewable energy markets with a track record of success in the commercialisation of research outcomes including managing CRC collaborations through the Future Fuels CRC and the CO2 CRC.

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Jacques Eksteen

Chief Scientist

Jacques leads the FBICRC’s comprehensive whole-of-value-chain research program for future battery industries and is responsible for driving high quality research outcomes which address industry needs.  Jacques has been a key member of the CRC consortium since its inception leading much of the consultation with industry and research participants which formed the basis of the successful bid for Commonwealth funding.  Prior to joining the CRC he was Director of the Curtin University Gold Technology Group and held the Chair for Extractive Metallurgy in the WA School of Mines at Curtin University.

He has extensive experience in managing complex research projects in industry and academia.  He is the listed inventor on a number of patents relating to the mineral processing, hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes and have published extensively in these areas. He has led a number of other industry and government funded research projects and is a recipient of various awards in research development, innovation and commercialisation.

E: jacques.eksteen@fbicrc.com.au

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Derek Hall

Chief Financial Officer

Derek is a Chartered Accountant, Fellow of the Financial Services Institute and Member of the Governance Institute of Australia. A finance and compliance specialist, he has significant commercial experience identifying key business drivers and bringing cost control and process improvement into sharp focus.

Prior to joining the CRC, he was Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary for a number of publicly listed and unlisted companies, providing corporate advisory and investor relations services across the technology, mining, oil and gas and construction sectors.

E: derek.hall@fbicrc.com.au

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Abbie Williams

Executive Assistant

Abbie provides direct executive support and coordination for the CEO. She also assists with the management and administration needs of the FBICRC team, the Board chair, directors and advisor.  She provides support across a range of delivery activities such as diary management, travel arrangements and every aspect of day to day requirements.  Abbie has worked as a Personal Assistant for over 15 years in variety of organisations in Western Australia.

E: abbie.williams@fbicrc.com.au

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James Westcott

Project Director

James has been a professional engineer for over 30 years, working globally in the oil & gas, aerospace, fuel cells, electric vehicles, hydrogen and renewable energy sectors, in a variety of engineering, leadership and project management roles.

He is a Fellow of  Engineers Australia and served as the WA President  from 2017-18. James is passionate about sustainability, the urgent need for rapid decarbonisation of our economy and the adaptation of our society to the impacts of climate change.

He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from UWA and an MBA from INSEAD in France.

E: james.westcott@fbicrc.com.au

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Trish Miller

Director External Affairs

Trish joined the FBICRC  in July of 2021. Trish is responsible for promoting the FBICRC’s research portfolio, government and stakeholder relations, media relations, branding and marketing communications collateral.

She has extensive external affairs and corporate communications experience in the not-for-profit, private and public sectors across energy, resources, education, ports, transport and retail, gained within regional, national and global settings.

Trish has held senior corporate affairs roles with global, national, and West Australian based organisations including Alcoa, ATCO Australia, Southern Ports, Catholic Education WA and Quick Service Restaurants Holdings (Red Rooster, Chicken Treat and Oporto).

E: trish.miller@fbicrc.com.au

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Rod Thiele

Education and Training Manager

Rod joined the FBICRC as Education and Training Manager in January 2022. He has extensive experience working in and around collaborative research centres, as well as consulting in science education and policy development.

Prior to joining the FBICRC team, Rod was a Principal Policy Officer in the STEM skills team within the Western Australian Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. Before that he had a management role within CSIRO Education and Outreach where he drove innovative national programs, including using advanced videoconferencing technologies to increase students’ exposure to contemporary science-related industries.

E: rod.thiele@fbicrc.com.au

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Danielle Griffiths

Commercialisation Advisor

Danielle joined the FBICRC in 2022.  She holds tertiary qualifications in Accounting and Business Law, with many years of experience in the tertiary education sector supporting STEM programs.

With experience in project coordination at the FBICRC, Danielle approaches commercialisation activities with a comprehensive understanding of the project portfolio. In collaboration with CRC participants, Danielle supports utilisation and commercialisation of CRC outcomes, towards the betterment of the Australian battery industry.

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