Critical minerals: The global race for resources
Why are nations around the world racing to secure critical minerals? What’s at stake, and what does it mean for you?
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Minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are crucial for the technologies driving our future – from smartphones and electric cars to wind turbines and military equipment.
With the push for green energy and advancements in technology, critical minerals are at the heart of global discussions on security, sustainability and innovation. It’s a hot topic these days, making frontpage news particularly for Ukraine, USA and Australia, who are seen as key players in securing access to these resources.
In this conversation, our expert panel will break down what you need to know about critical minerals – their role in the net zero transition, the geopolitical issues, and the environmental and community impacts.
You’ll also learn about the exciting research innovation and developments in the field, such as better recycling methods and discovering alternative materials to reduce our reliance on primary – finite – resources.
Hear insights from Professor Marjorie Valix, the Net Zero Institute’s (NZI) critical minerals pillar lead, global governance expert Professor Susan Park, the founder and managing director of Critical Minerals Association Namali Mackay and Andrew Petersen, the CEO of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia. Professor Deanna D’Alessandro, Director of NZI, hosts this discussion.
This event was presented on Tuesday 20 May 2025 with the University’s flagship multidisciplinary initiatives, the Net Zero Institute and Sydney Environment Institute.
Namali Mackay is Founder and Managing Director of Critical Minerals Association Australia (CMAA). 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.
Susan Park is Professor of Global Governance in International Relations at the University of Sydney. She focuses on how international organisations and global governance can become greener and more accountable, particularly in the transition to renewable energy. Her work has been funded by the Australian, Canadian, British and German governments.
Susan is also a lead editor of the journal Global Environmental Politics, and a member of the Net Zero Institute and the Sydney Environment Institute.
Andrew Petersen is the CEO of the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia (BCSDA), the Australian network partner of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. He leads national and international advocacy for business leadership in climate action, ESG and the transition to a net zero economy. Andrew has a legal background in environmental and corporate law and sits on several advisory boards focused on sustainable finance and transition governance.
Marjorie Valix is an Associate Professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Sydney, where she has been a faculty member since 1998. Marjorie completed her PhD and her undergraduate studies at the University of NSW South Wales.
She currently leads technical experts to provide professional advice, testing and research services for community, government, and industries, specifically in areas of waste management and transformation, mining extraction, refining, asset management and Critical Minerals. In this capacity she has led multi-industry projects including Cooperative Research Centre Project (CRC-P) on Smart lining project, a theme leader for Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Smartcrete and a pillar lead in Critical Minerals under the NZI initiative at the University of Sydney.
Deanna D'Alessandro (BSc PhD JCU) is the director of the Net Zero Institute, and a Professor in the School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, at the University of Sydney.
The NZI team aims to help government, industry and communities manufacture, deploy and adopt cost-effective, low emissions technologies at scale. Deanna has over 16 years' professional experience in materials science. She is passionate about interdisciplinary efforts to address climate change through net zero and negative emissions technologies.
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