Events

Dr Zicheng Su is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland.

Her research focuses on the recovery and recycling of pollutants from wastewater, biosolids, and contaminated soils, particularly per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). She specialises in developing sorbent-based upcycling solutions to enable cleaner and safer water and sludge for beneficial reuse. She is currently leading pilot-scale trials for PFAS-contaminated sites at Brisbane.

With a strong interest in bridging academic research and industrial application, she was part of a team recognised as awardee in the CSIRO ON Prime 15 program in Queensland. Her work has attracted interest from over 20 industrial partners worldwide, and she has published in high-impact journals such as Nature Reviews Materials, Environmental Science & Technology, and Water Research.

Andrew Kidd has worked in various roles in the manufacturing space for Brisbane City Council's asphalt operations, with a focus in laboratory testing and R&D activities for their two asphalt plants.

He is passionate in learning about asphalt mixture testing and characterisation, and how to apply these to improve Brisbane's road network while incorporating innovative and sustainable materials and practices.

Andrew is a PhD candidate at the School of Science, Technology and Engineering at the University of the Sunshine Coast, where his thesis aims to investigate the use of crumb rubber modified asphalt to improve aging resistance in local government roads.

Matthew Currell is a Professor in the School of Engineering and Built Environment at Griffith University, where he is the head of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is affiliated with the Australian Rivers Institute and is an adjunct professor at RMIT University, where he previously coordinated the environmental engineering program.

Professor Currell teaches hydrogeology, geochemistry and environmental engineering courses to civil and environmental engineering students and supervises PhD and masters projects in applied groundwater research, across a broad range of topics. His major research interests include using environmental tracers and other novel techniques to understand groundwater flows, sources of contamination, and impacts of water and resource extraction on connected springs and surface ecosystems.

He works collaboratively with a range of industry, government and non-government partners to find ways to enhance the quality, value and benefits deriving from groundwater.