Join us for our first NewH2 Knowledge Exchange for 2024! This event will be centered around the Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub.

Speakers Include, Robert Catchpoole from Origin Energy, Craig Kimmorley from Endua and Mike Newman, from Tokyo, introducing the investment and offtake opportunities from Japan and Korea, this will be followed by a panel Q&A.

When: Thursday 16th May
In person: 102/470 King St, Newcastle West ($10pp includes light morning tea)
7.45am arrival for 8am start

The State of Play for Japan and Korea in the New Energy Journey

Learn about the growing trend in Japan and Korea to move to blue hydrogen before attempting green as a way to accelerate deployment of commercial projects. There is a growing realisation that the cost differential is too wide without a significant uplift in subsidies.

Also covered will be the importance to promote the industrial base and capabilities in the Hunter to leverage from in the Australian hydrogen race. Japanese & Korean companies will want to find local supply chain partners who can help long-term.

Michael Newman, Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner North Asia, Investment NSW

Michael is a financial industry executive and consultant who worked in Japan for 25 years with large corporate firms, and, for the past three years has worked as the Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner, North Asia at Investment NSW based in Tokyo.

He has undergraduate degrees is in both Economics and Japanese Studies, a Master of Management from Macquarie Graduate School of Management in 2004, and post his graduation he moved to Tokyo as a sales executive for Nikko Securities. He was an analyst for ABN AMRO working in the Aerospace, Defence and other industries between London and Tokyo between 1999 and 2003.

Michael moved fully back to Japan in 2004 as Head of Sales for HSBC Securities. From 2007 to 2015 Michael was Division Director and Country Head of Macquarie Capital Securities Japan, a role he held alongside roles in Research, Client Audit and M&A. Michael covered the auto industry in Japan where he frequently visited Korea to understand the developments in the Korean auto industry, including the steel and technology sectors which were vital to understand the competitive advantages of both countries. Early in 2015 Michael returned to Australia, based in Sydney, and has continued to lead his own advisory business, Ginga Vale Investments working largely between Sydney, Tokyo and Seoul.

Michael has a very well-informed understanding of Japanese business, culture and language which he has practised for over 20 years. His major focus in recent years has been advising Japanese and Korean companies about investments and government interaction in Australia, but he has also advised Australian companies regarding investments in Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Update from Origin
The Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub project proposes to deliver a safe, reliable, and commercial-scale hydrogen supply chain in the Newcastle industrial and port precinct. Located on Kooragang Island, Phase 1 of the project aims to decarbonise part of Orica’s nearby ammonia manufacturing plant existing natural gas feedstock with hydrogen. Origin will join to provide an update on how the project is progressing and share some learnings.

Robert Catchpoole - Engineering Manager – Domestic Hydrogen Projects

Rob is an Engineering Manager and Process Engineer who has enjoyed working in the Australian process and energy sector for over 30 years. During his nearly 20 years at Origin he has worked as a technical specialist in the onshore and offshore conventional gas business as well as in the development of Origin’s coal seam gas capability. He has also worked in a Joint Venture management role in Origin’s coal seam gas business where he represented Orgin’s non-operated interests in the Surat Basin. In 2021 he joined Origin’s Future Fuels team and has been focussed on electrolytic hydrogen projects, reviewing and selecting the preferred technology for the Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub.

Update from Endua

Founded in 2021 by our CEO Paul Sernia (PhD), Endua is backed by extensive technical research and development, electrical, manufacturing, and green energy industry experts; as well as through partnerships with trusted, reputable, global leaders such as Ampol, CSIRO, Main Sequence, and more.

At Endua, our mission is simple: Empowering industries to achieve self-sufficient, sustainable, cost-effective energy by harnessing renewables to their fullest potential.

Combining 15 years of research and development by the CSIRO in PEM electrolysis and our team's extensive experience in hydrogen innovation, we are engineering a suite of technologies that enable the distributed on-site production of green hydrogen. Our approach is uniquely focused on making it possible to produce hydrogen where it is needed, when it is needed, even at smaller scales - eliminating the need for long-distance transportation and storage, and reducing the associated costs and environmental impacts.

Craig Kimmorley - Business Development Manager - Ampol Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd
Craig is currently the Customer Development Lead at Endua. He brings over 15 years of strategy, Business Development and operational execution at Ampol. Craig manages sales and marketing and is working with Endua to help scale up their business. He also acts as a board member at the Newcastle racecourse and is the President at Lakes United RLFC.