From the President

Welcome to the June 2020 edition of Materials Australia magazine, and my first President’s Report.

I took on the role of Materials Australia National President in May 2020. As such, I thought I would start by introducing myself. A Physical Metallurgist, I completed a Bachelor of Science (Hons.1), PhD and Doctor of Engineering at the University of Queensland. Since then, my professional experience has spanned roles in research, industry, and academia. I am a registered Chartered Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Australia, as well as a registered Chartered Engineer and Scientist in the United Kingdom through the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. I am also an elected Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. I advocate for Australian manufacturing, as a member of the Victorian Skills Commissioner’s Industry Advisory Group, and deputy chair of the Victorian Defence Alliances Submarines Committee. I strongly believe in the value of business-to-business research and development initiatives as a path to technology commercialisation in advanced manufacturing industries. As a Senior Technical Specialist with AWBell in Melbourne, I lead the company’s long-term research strategy and advanced manufacturing technology development associated with ferrous and non-ferrous metal casting, as well as being the Level III for non-destructive testing. I am also working on the development of a new training program for the VET sector in Precision Investment Castings, supported by the Department of Education and Training in Victoria.

The Impact of COVID-19

Australians are moving through an important point in history that will impact our lives for some years to come. Within a reasonably short period of time, we have seen our daily commute replaced with working from home arrangements and home-schooling, or being subject to complete workplace shut downs. For those of us who have continued working through the lockdown, we face the new challenge of social distancing in workplaces. This has necessitated a rethink of the way in which we organise our workflow, production and interactions with our colleagues. We have had to shore up our supply chains and evaluate risk differently to ensure we have the materials and resources we need to operate. We have all become experts at meeting via Zoom and it is encouraging to see technical presentations attract larger audiences when online than they might have if presented in person.

What has become clear from the events that have unfolded during the first half of 2020 are the fantastic opportunities available to the materials and manufacturing communities.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that Materials Australia facilitated five different online meetings in June, including three webinars and two panel discussions. There is a great opportunity to continue these networking opportunities online and take part in professional development. Our corporate sponsors deserve special acknowledgement of their support for Materials Australia and their resilience during this time. I look forward to showcasing more of their capabilities, their successes, and their special projects in future issues of the Materials Australia magazine.

The Opportunities Ahead

What has become clear from the events that have unfolded during the first half of 2020 are the fantastic opportunities available to the materials and manufacturing communities in the coming months and years. We need to plan for an altered economy where the importance of sovereign capability and self-sufficiency begin to take on new importance. I recently read the results of a survey of nearly 30,000 people, which showed that in the current economic climate, 97% of respondents believed that Australia should become less reliant on imports. I have stated for many years that people are proud of the products made by their countrymen and will support local industries where possible. I also believe that this message will not fall by the wayside when the current situation subsides. Together, with support from our energy sector, we can build a strong, modernised manufacturing industry utilising advanced materials and technologies that position Australia for the future. I also have to note that some of the Materials Australia events originally planned for 2020 have been deferred to later dates. We are going to have a very busy 2021, with APICAM 2021 and LMT 2021 both already scheduled for July, and the CAMS meeting (which was originally scheduled for 2020), now planned for December 2021. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the fantastic job Paul Plater (outgoing President of Materials Australia) and Dr Robert Acres (outgoing Vice President of Materials Australia) have done during their time in the roles. They have left the organisation in a very good position. I hope that, together with the National Executive Committee and the National Council, I can work to continue to deliver outstanding services to our members. 2020 continues to be a challenging year. I would like to wish you, your family and colleagues the best of health and to stay safe. Materials Australia looks forward to seeing you all at our online events, and then in person, once the pandemic has safely passed.

Best Regards

Roger Lumley,

National President