About us
Operating since 2003, CO2CRC is a world leader in carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) research
Vision
To be Australia’s leading source of decarbonisation technologies, globally recognised for generating innovative emission reduction solutions.
Mission
To equip members and clients to achieve their own emissions reduction targets by leveraging our unique research infrastructure, products, and expertise.
Values
Excellence | Integrity | Delivery
About us
Operating since 2003, CO2CRC is a world leader in carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) research. We own and operate the Otway International Test Centre in Nirranda South, South-West Victoria, Australia.
Our investors and members recognise the strategic importance of CO2CRC systematically progressing the science and engineering of CCUS to ensure an efficient and safe deployment of the technology.
As an incorporated not-for-profit research organisation (company limited by guarantee), we are funded through government grants, membership fees and direct investments from industry and research bodies.
CO2CRC develops and trials next generation low-emission technologies in commercially relevant, first-of- a-kind demonstrations.
Its portfolio is developed together and in-line with industry and government priorities, which, combined with grant funding and the membership model, enables collaboration and financial efficiencies to trial the new low-emission technologies.
Applied Research
CO2CRC works with national and international discipline leaders, manages interdisciplinary and inter-institutional research projects, has well-established, decade-long relationships, strong international brand recognition, and an outstanding health and safety record.
The organisation has an internationally recognised track record of safely delivering complex demonstration projects within a well-established governance structure.
The Otway International Test Centre (OITC) is a globally unique research facility that, despite many efforts in several countries over the past two decades, has not been replicated elsewhere.
The OITC is a fully permitted site and allows research and technology demonstrations to be carried out faster than anywhere in the world.
CO2CRC Board
Martin Ferguson AM
Chairman
Martin Ferguson, Chairman, brings decades of experience working with the resource sector from a government and private sector perspective. Martin served as the Member for Batman from 1996 to 2013 and held a variety of Shadow Ministerial portfolios including Resources and Energy. Upon the Rudd Government’s election in December 2007, Martin was appointed Minister for Resources and Energy, and Minister for Tourism, positions he held until March 2013.
During his time as Minister he oversaw the largest ever investments in the oil and gas sector, and the rapid expansion of the mining sector. Post politics, Martin has accepted a number of positions in the oil and gas industry, including Group Executive in Natural Resources at Seven Group Holdings, Non-Executive Director of the BG Board, and Chairman to the APPEA Advisory Board.
Dr Matthias Raab
Executive Director and CEO
Dr Raab is committed to Australia’s energy transition as a leader in the global scientific, engineering, energy and resources sectors.
Passionate about finding innovative solutions to energy, climate and resource challenges, Dr Raab’s 25+ year career has spanned academia, government, industry, and the not-for-profit sectors, and involved collaborating with international leaders and experts in their fields.
Brian Kitney
Director
Brian Kitney is an independent Director with over 25 years industry experience in oil and gas in Australia and Asia. He has held senior industry positions including Vice President Commercial at Osaka Gas Australia, having spent nine years in the company. As head of the Commercial team, based in Perth, his primary responsibilities included managing the company’s upstream investments in Australia and Papua New Guinea, as well as evaluating new investment opportunities. Prior to joining Osaka Gas Australia he held the position of Vice President Commodities at JPMorgan Securities Japan, based in Tokyo. Brian has also held senior positions at Apache Energy Ltd and Mitsui & Co (Australia) Ltd.
Brian has obtained an MBA from Curtin University, a Master of Applied Japanese Linguistics and a Graduate Diploma in Diplomacy and Trade from Monash University, a Graduate Diploma from Swinburne University and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance from Kaplan. Brian is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and was previously Director of a number of Osaka Gas subsidiaries.
Bill McKenzie
Director
Bill McKenzie is the Vice President of Surat Developments and is a director of BG International (AUS) Pty Ltd, QGC Pty Limited and their subsidiary companies. He accountable for appraisal and development activities in the QCLNG Surat Asset including field development planning, subsurface and pre-sanction projects. Bill joined QGC in 2013 where he led operations assurance and development management for Phase II projects until 2015 when he was appointed VP of Surat Developments.
Bill is a chartered chemical engineer and RPEQ with significant experience in project development, process engineering, operations, process safety and management. After a 16 year career in BP primarily in refining, Bill joined Origin Energy’s oil & gas division in 2008 as the head of safety, then head of engineering and operations before becoming GM Technical. In 2011 Bill was appointed to GM Qld CSG, accountable for the APLNG Joint Venture’s Upstream assets. Bill holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering with 1st Class Honours from the University of Queensland.
Dr Graham Winkelman
Director
Graham Winkelman is Practice Lead Climate Change at BHP based in Melbourne, Australia, where his global role covers BHP’s response to climate change policy, including broad engagement across company executive leadership, federal and provincial governments, industry associations (including MCA, APPEA, BCA and CMI in Australia), peer companies, research institutes, think tanks and multilateral associations (e.g. IEA, UNFCCC). Graham’s role also includes leadership of BHP’s carbon capture and storage initiatives, with on-the-ground investment, research activity and policy engagement in various locations including Australia, the US, China, Canada, Japan and the UK.
Graham is Chair of the Board of the International Carbon Capture and Storage Knowledge Centre (Regina, Canada) and a Board Member of the Australian Industry Greenhouse Network and the Energy Policy Institute of Australia. Graham has a PhD in Materials Engineering from Monash University, and has been contributing to the resource sector’s response to climate change for 13 years in both direct and consulting roles.
Ernie Delfos
Director
Ernie Delfos is the Managing Director of Eni Australia Limited, and is responsible for Upstream Oil & Gas and Renewable activity in Australia and Timor Leste.
Ernie has over 35 years of oil and gas industry experience ranging from Government entities, small independents to major international oil companies; Mobil and Eni. In the last 25 years, Ernie has been responsible for global exploration portfolios in addition to roles in production, planning, strategy and portfolio optimisation.
Ernie currently holds 6 board positions of Eni subsidiaries in Australia and Timor Leste, while previous board positions include CEO of EniRepSa Gas Ltd and a director of industry association APPEA.
Ernie has a Bachelor of Science Degree (Geology) from the University of Western Australia, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has a Master of Business Administration Degree from Bocconi University of Milan, Italy.
Prof Claus Otto
Director
Dr Claus Otto is an Adjunct Professor at Curtin University and a CCUS consultant. He was the inaugural director till 2023, leading the Institute for Energy Transition at Curtin University. The cross-faculty Institute brings together its interdisciplinary research, teaching and engagement to facilitate the net zero carbon energy transition, taking into account environmental, social and economic considerations. Before joining Curtin, Claus was the Technology Manager at Shell in the Netherlands and Australia for nine years, leading innovative upstream technology developments for its global operations, including CCUS projects. Claus worked for 15 years at CSIRO leading various research teams and programs. Claus has an MSc in Geology and a PhD in Hydrogeology. He is the chair of the SPE GAIA Sustainability sub-committee in Western Australia.
Mark McCallum
Director
Mark is Chief Executive Officer of Low Emission Technology Australia. He is an experienced advocate and communicator on resources and energy issues. Prior to joining LETA he was Managing Director of a public relations and communications agency with clients in the resources and energy sectors. Previous roles also include an Executive at the Minerals Council of Australia, the Australian Head of Government Relations with Shell and the Deputy Chief Executive of APPEA — Australia’s peak oil and gas industry association. Mark has also held roles as a senior manager in resource industry representative bodies and as an advisor to the Federal Government. Mark is a non-Executive Director on a number of Boards currently including Australian National Low Emission Coal R&D Limited and the Coal Industry Advisory Board to the International Energy Agency. Mark has a Masters of Environmental Law (ANU), Bachelor of Science (ANU), and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
David Byers
Director
David Byers is Principal of Inlet Advisory Pty Limited and has more than 35 years experience in the resources and energy industry in Australia and internationally. This includes appointments as chief executive of CO2CRC, APPEA and CEDA and in senior executive roles with BHP and ExxonMobil. He has served as a member of the board of Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd, CEDA and the Australian Statistics Advisory Council (ASAC) which advises the Australian Bureau of Statistics on national statistical services. From 2020-2022, he was Chair of the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC), an independent committee that assures the integrity of method determinations for the award of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU’s). David has degrees in economics and law, postgraduate qualifications in energy and resources law and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Distinguished scientists
Professor Peter Cook
CO2CRC Distinguished Scientist
Peter is one of Australia’s foremost scientists and technology leaders in the areas of energy, greenhouse technology and sustainability. He is a Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne, a company director, author, consultant and senior advisor to organisations and governments worldwide. His work on CCS with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), alongside Kelly Thambimuthu, made both contributors to the award of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize to the IPCC, and prior to that in 2005, the adoption of CCS as a climate change mitigation technology under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Peter was CO2CRC’s chief executive from its inception until 2011.
Professor John Kaldi
CO2CRC Distinguished Scientist
John is CO2CRC’s former chief scientist as well as Emeritus Professor and SA State Chair of Carbon Capture and Storage at University of Adelaide. John’s career includes being the inaugural head of the Australian School of Petroleum (ASP) and earlier, Director of the National Centre for Petroleum Geology and Geophysics (NCPGG) at University of Adelaide. Prior to academia, John spent 18 years working in the petroleum industry. He has received numerous awards, is an accomplished lecturer and trainer and has been the author and presenter of over 150 journal articles and technical conference papers.
Professor Kelly Thambimuthu
CO2CRC Distinguished Scientist
Kelly has over thirty years’ experience in low-emissions technology. For over two decades he has chaired the IEAGHG, a technology collaboration program of the International Energy Agency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He pioneered advances in cleaner fossil fuel technologies while heading the Centre for Low Emissions Technology in Queensland from 2004 – 2009. Kelly has been a scientist and program director at CANMET Energy, Natural Resources Canada and professorial fellow at the University of Queensland and has received many awards for his work.