Achievements and awards

A group of Swinburne researchers have been honoured with two prestigious international awards at The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS) 2026 conference in San Diego, USA. 

The awards rewarded their collective efforts in sustainable metallurgy, including extracting and refining metals.

The EPD Science Award 

This award was presented to Swinburne researchers Dr Deddy Nababan (now at the Argonne National Laboratory, USA), Professor Akbar Rhamdhani, Associate Professor Yvonne Durandet, and Dr Reiza Mukhlis. Professor Leon Prentice (SDI), William Rickard (Curtin University), and Mark Pownceby (CSIRO) also contributed. 

The award recognises papers that contribute to scientific understanding in extracting and processing metallurgy, presented to the team for their paper Recycling of LiCoO2 Battery Cathode Material Through Aluminothermic Reduction Using Aluminium Waste Chips, published in Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B. 

Led by Dr Deddy Nababan as part of his PhD research at Swinburne, they found that high temperatures and aluminium waste chips could be used to recycle battery cathodes, using a low energy and zero carbon process.  

The EPD/LMD Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy Best Paper Award

This award was presented to Swinburne researchers Bima Satritama, Professor Akbar Rhamdhani, Associate Professor Andrew Ang, Professor Geoffrey Brooks, Dian Fellicia, Dr Reiza Mukhlis, and Professor Suresh Palanisamy. Other contributors include Christopher Cooper, Associate Professor John Pye, and Alireza Rahbari (Australia National University); and Mark Pownceby (CSIRO).

This award recognises their paper Hydrogen Plasma for Low-Carbon Extractive Metallurgy: Oxidises Reduction, Metals Refining, and Wastes Processing, published in the Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy. 

Led by Bima Satritama, a current PhD student at Swinburne, this research used SwinH2+, a new hydrogen plasma reduction reactor, to make metals from stable minerals. This process has zero emissions and leaves water as the only byproduct.

Swinburne Professor Akbar Rhamdhani, who supervised Dr Deddy Nababan’s PhD research and is currently supervising Bima Satritama’s research, said the awards are a great honour and recognition of the teams’ innovative research. 

“Our research focuses on fundamentally rethinking how metals are produced and recycled, particularly by replacing carbon-based reactions with alternative pathways,” he said.

“Receiving these awards from TMS is a great recognition of our team’s work on developing low-emission metallurgical processes.”

Swinburne plumbing student Lachlan Radford has scored second place in the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC) 2026 World Plumbing Day Apprentice Skills Contest, held on March 13.  

Celebrated on 11 March, World Plumbing Day is recognised internationally to raise awareness of plumbers and plumbing in water management and protecting public health. 

The PICAC competition is a test of plumbing apprentice skills, rewarding quality work such as no misaligned pipes, no excess glues or sealant, and accurate measurements.

Lachlan said the competition gave him the opportunity to demonstrate the skills developed during his studies.  

“I’m there for a reason: I’ve got the skills I need and I really liked showing how precise I could be,” he said.  

“It was a really great feeling to win and show my best work.”

James O’Connor, senior plumbing educator at Swinburne, explained competing in competitions such as the World Plumbing Day Apprentice Skills Contest  helped to sets apprentices apart. 

“Being involved can help apprentices develop further relationships in the plumbing community with mentors,” he said.

“These competitions also allow them to test their skills and knowledge against their peers. The leadup to the competition makes them become more accountable and well-rounded plumbers, with proven job-ready skills.”

One of the top three apprentices at the PICAC competition is selected to compete in the United Association of Plumbing Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada.

Louisa Ellum, Director of VET Pathways and Engagement, has been awarded the Leadership Excellence in VET Award at the 2026 Australia VET Conference Awards, held on 12 March. 

This award honours registered training organisation (RTO) managers and leaders that make exceptional contributions to training quality, compliance and organisational culture. 

Louisa said she is proud of this achievement and her work in a sector that highlights skill development for social and economic impact. 

“My leadership comes from being an enabler and champion of my team, my colleagues, and our industry and community partners – we all create change and opportunities from the ground up,” she said.  

Swinburne Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Vocational Education Madelyn Bolch said Louisa’s leadership is defined by clarity, integrity and purpose – fostering a culture of support and pride in vocational education. 

“This achievement reflects Louisa’s expertise and dedication, as well as her positive and lasting impact on learners, staff, and the broader Swinburne community,” she said. 

The Australian VET Conference Awards is an annual event that brings together RTOs, sector leaders and decision-makers to shape the future of Australia's vocational education and training system.

Swinburne Professor Geoffrey Brooks has been awarded the 2026 AIST Distinguished Member and Fellow Award by the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST). Professor Brooks was recognised for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of steelmaking technology and his dedicated service to the global steel industry. The award is one of the highest distinctions presented by the AIST.

The AIST Distinguished Member and Fellow Award recognises exceptional technical contributions to the iron and steel industry and outstanding service to the AIST. With only 1% of members eligible, it is one of the AIST’s most prestigious honours.

“I am really humbled by this award. To be acknowledged by the peak global industry body in my field in this way is really something. I am so grateful to my many excellent students and collaborators over the last 30 years. I also need to say that the support I have received in the last twenty years at Swinburne have been central to my success. Thank you,” says Professor Brooks.

Professor Brooks is a longstanding member of Swinburne’s academic community, where he serves as a leading researcher in advanced steelmaking science. His work has significantly shaped Swinburne’s research capability in advanced manufacturing and has strengthened global partnerships across the steel industry. 

Congratulations to Swinburne’s Dr Sarah Barradell, Senior Lecturer, Physiotherapy, who has been recognised in the Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT).

Dr Barradell received an AAUT Citation for excellence in research-led curriculum design, teaching and evaluation. Her work has enhanced physiotherapy students’ readiness for practice through scholarly, evidence-informed educational innovation. 

To understand their future roles and become self-aware practitioners, contemporary learners in physiotherapy require capabilities beyond traditionally valued clinical techniques. Dr Barradell’s unique research-led approach has allowed her to critically examine not just what students learn but how they learn.

Dr Barradell has challenged assumptions about becoming a physiotherapist, designed curriculum that enhances learning and prepared learners for professional practice.

School of Health Sciences Executive Dean Distinguished Professor James Ogloff AM said that by placing professional practice at the heart of the course, Dr Barradell’s work has grounded the physiotherapy curriculum at Swinburne in authentic, relevant and meaningful experiences that are responsive to the evolving demands of healthcare. 

“The unique demands of the Master of Physiotherapy program require a targeted and thoughtful approach to curriculum design,” Distinguished Professor Ogloff said.

“Dr Barradell’s contributions benefit not only individual graduates but also the broader physiotherapy profession. I am confident that her work will continue to shape the future of physiotherapy education in Australia.”