The Australian Natural Hydrogen Conference is just months away, and time is running out for earlybird tickets and the chance for experts to help set the agenda.
NH2A chairman Neil McDonald opens the 2024 conference.
Since the inaugural Natural Hydrogen Association of Australia conference in 2024, the game has changed. Where are the new natural hydrogen targets; who are the prime movers; what have we learnt from the latest drilling programs; and how have the technical approaches to exploration morphed.
The call for abstracts is now open and abstracts should be submitted before June 30 to: conference@nh2a.com.au. A template for abstract submissions can be downloaded here.
The earlybird ticket sale ends on June 30, so get in early to get your discount and learn how much closer we are to having natural hydrogen as a tool in the carbon zero war. Get your earlybird tickets in the registration section below.
Sponsors are signing up fast, but there are still many sponsorship options available. All sponsorship options are listed in the sponsorship section below. Please contact conference@nh2a.com.au if you want to be involved in this unique event.
The conference begins on Tuesday October 21 with an afternoon workshop on natural hydrogen topics (agenda to be confirmed) and an evening icebreaker session. The official conference spans from Wednesday to Thursday (Oct 22-23), with an evening event on the Wednesday evening.
The organisers are working to include a wine tour of some of the world-renowned wineries of the Hahndorf wine region on the Monday (Oct 20) and a field trip to the Yorke Peninsula with a visit to the Ramsay 1 well site on Friday (Oct 24). To express an interest in either of these options, email: conference@nh2a.com.au.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
The National Hydrogen Association of Australia is putting together an impressive slate of keynote speakers for its October conference. They can fairly be described as trailblazers for this much sought-after new energy source. More keynotes will be announced each week.
Keynote speakers will include:
Jacques Pironon
Founder, GeoRessources Research Laboratory
Jacques Pironon is a Senior Research Fellow Emeritus at the CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research).
He specializes in geological fluids within sedimentary environments and leads research projects aimed at reducing anthropogenic CO2 emissions in the atmosphere, understanding the formation of oil and gas deposits, monitoring industrial sites, and mitigating the environmental impact of subsoil mining.
Mr Pironon is a key figure in partnership research, leading collaborative programs between industry and academia focused on underground exploration and exploitation.
He develops sensors and techniques for measuring gases in deep boreholes, including those used for exploration and underground gas storage (CH4, H2, He, CO2, H2S), as well as experimental equipment for modeling deep environments in the laboratory.
In 2011, he founded the GeoRessources Research Laboratory at the Université de Lorraine, which brings together 200 individuals, including researchers, technicians, and administrative staff, to cover the entire raw materials cycle from prospecting to recycling.
Alongside colleagues from CNRS, Université de Lorraine, FDE, and Solexperts, he discovered the large natural hydrogen deposit in Lorraine in 2022.
John Eiler
Professor of Geology and Geochemistry, California Institute of Technology
John Eiler is the Robert P. Sharp Professor of Geology and Geochemistry and the Ted and Ginger Jenkins Leadership Chair in the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences at the California Institute of Technology.
Eiler received his Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Wisconsin in 1994 and worked as a postdoctoral scholar and research scientist at Caltech for 4 years before beginning his faculty appointment there.
He directs a laboratory for stable isotope geochemistry that pursues a wide range of research in the earth, planetary, life and environmental sciences.
His work has centered on development of novel technologies and methods for isotopic analysis, enabling the development and application of ‘clumped’ isotope geochemistry and the study of site-specific isotopic structures of complex molecules.
Eiler is a fellow of the AGU and MSA, and recipient of the MSA award, the Macelwane medal of the AGU, the Epstein medal of the Geochemical Society and the Day medal of the GSA, and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Dr Trey Meckel
President, Koloma Australia
Longtime resource exploration leader, Dr Trey Meckel, is President of Koloma Australia. He leads a team of the best and brightest, exploring for sustainable primary hydrogen energy throughout the continent.
The company’s goal is to decarbonise the energy industry and other hard-to-abate sectors by utilising a science-based, technology-powered, commercially-focused approach.
Dr Meckel has more than 30 years of experience at the forefront of the energy industry, having previously held leadership roles in Australian and global companies active in renewable energy, mining technology, decarbonization, and petroleum E&P.
Dr Meckel holds a PhD in Earth Sciences from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH-Zürich), an MA in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin (USA), and a BA with Honors in Geology from Williams College (USA).
Dr Bronwyn Camac
Director, Geological Survey South Australia
Dr Bronwyn Camac brings over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, working as both a geologist and in management roles. Her career spans companies such as Comalco Exploration (now Rio Tinto), Wiltshire Geological Services, Origin Energy, Beach Energy, Santos Ltd, and InGauge Energy.
Her expertise includes digital log data management, operations geology, exploration and development of conventional and unconventional resources, and stakeholder engagement.
She holds a PhD in Engineering Science, focused on numerical modelling of naturally fractured shale for seal risk assessment. Bronwyn continues to contribute to this field through postgraduate supervision and applied research.
Since 2023, she has led the Geological Survey of South Australia, where she oversees the delivery of high-quality precompetitive data and provides strategic advice to the mineral and energy exploration sectors.
Lord Howard of Lympne
Chair, Earth Source Hydrogen
Michael Howard was a barrister for 21 years and was elected to Parliament in 1983. He served as a Government Minister for 12 years and was a member of the Cabinets of Margaret Thatcher and John Major – as Secretary of State for Employment, the Environment and Home Secretary.
In 2003 he was elected Leader of the Conservative Party and served as Leader of the Opposition from 2003 to 2005. He retired from the House of Commons and was made a Life Peer in 2010 and a Companion of Honour in 2011.
From 2010 to 2018 he served as Chairman of Hospice UK and continues to be one of its Vice-Presidents.
He chairs a number of corporate boards including Earth Source Hydrogen Limited. Earth Source Hydrogen is a UK company currently investigating the possible existence of natural hydrogen in exploitable quantities in Western Australia and other areas including Scotland.
Dr Melissa Duque
Experimentalist and Research Scientist, CSIRO
Dr Duque is based in Perth, Australia.
With DSc, MSc, and BSc degrees in Geology, and a BSc degree in Civil Engineering, she has a strong interest in geomechanics, underground fluid circulation, and rock-fluid interactions.
Since 2022, she has been investigating geologic hydrogen systems, with a focus on hydrogen migration through faults, fractures, and complex interbedded rocks, as well as hydrogen generation processes.
Prior to CSIRO, Dr Duque worked for Petrobras for ten years at their research centre in Brazil, using lab and numerical tools to explore the hydromechanical behaviour of faults and fractured reservoirs from microscopic to field scale, developing software for fault reactivation analysis and delivering training on reservoir geomechanics.
She has also worked as an associate researcher on CO2 storage at Curtin University and as a civil engineering lecturer at EIT.
Adam Craig
Director Geoscience, RISC Advisory
Adam Craig is a highly experienced geoscientist with more than 30 years of experience in the upstream energy sector. He has a deep knowledge of geological and geophysical interpretation across exploration, development and production as well as expertise in due diligence and new business development.
Adam has delivered hydrogen-focused presentations at forums around the world and has provided advice on hydrogen to a range of clients from publicly listed companies to governments.
RISC Advisory is an independent firm offering technical and commercial advice to the energy industry.
As director of geoscience, Adam has helped RISC become one of the leading resource certifiers for natural hydrogen resources in the world.
Our Sponsors
We would like to introduce you to the first of our sponsor family.
Without their support, the Australian Natural Hydrogen Conference would not be possible.
Our first sponsors announced all have a significant stake in the natural hydrogen eco-system – including world-leading explorers and key partners involved in surveying, hydrogen testing and analysis.
These companies are leading the world in the natural hydrogen field. We will announce more sponsors in coming weeks.
GOLD sPONSORS
Koloma Australia is a natural hydrogen company that leverages its technology, proprietary data, and human capital advantages to identify and commercialize natural hydrogen resources on a global scale.
Gold Hydrogen is a world-leading natural hydrogen and helium explorer advancing the tier-1 Ramsay Project in South Australia, with globally significant discoveries including 95.6% pure natural hydrogen, record-high helium purities, and elevated levels of Helium-3.
Silver sponsor
Total Seismic is an Australian owned-and-operated company who provide expert geophysical/geotechnical consulting and project delivery services for all sectors with recent experience in executing projects for natural hydrogen exploration companies.
Bronze Sponsors
Axiom Sensing is Australia's premier supplier of autonomous soil gas sensors for natural hydrogen and carbon capture and storage industries, setting global industry standards.
Constellation Resources: Exploring for and responsibly developing copper, gold, nickel, and natural hydrogen, each of which plays a vital role in the global energy transition.
Associate sponsor (including Icebreaker sponsorship)
Terrex Seismic is Australia's leading seismic technology company, supplying innovative geophysical solutions to the natural hydrogen industry.
Who should attend?
Industry professionals
Researchers
Policymakers
Stakeholders
Topics
Australian exploration
Regulatory frameworks
Developments and economics
Resource estimation
International projects
Advances in research
Exploration tools and methods
Bask in the grandeur of the Adelaide Hills
We're turning on the style for the inaugural National Hydrogen Association of Australia national conference.
The venue is a multi-award-winning facility a convenient 20 minutes from Adelaide’s CBD – the Adelaide Hills Convention Centre.
Rising above the valleys in the picturesque Mount Lofty Ranges, the centre is perched atop 32 acres of manicured grounds 800 metres from Hahndorf Resort’s main street.
Combine this with incredible food from the on-site 5-star executive chef and we're confident you'll have all of the extras this part of South Australia is famous for.
The first class accommodation should ensure our event is a huge success.
You'll love the evenings on either of their massive 150m² decks which showcase the Adelaide Hills in all of their natural glory.
Accommodation recommendations for the NH2A conference
We are arranging to put on hold a number of rooms with several hotels in the greater Hahndorf region.
Options at this stage include:
Discovery Holiday Park, where the conference centre is located
Rooms are on hold under the name Australian Natural Hydrogen Conference, and this should be referenced when delegates are making their reservations. Delegates are to organise their own accommodation independently of the NH2A.
Other options to consider include the Hahndorf Old Mill Hotel (https://hahndorfhotel.com.au/) and the Hahndorf Motel (https://hahndorfmotels.com.au/).
