Pre and post conference workshops
Unlocking AI Opportunities in Process, Chemical & Environmental Engineering Workshop
Monday 28 September 2026, 12.30-14.00
Victory Room E, Marvel Stadium
While AI has significant potential to solve industry challenges, many organisations are finding it difficult to build a clear ROI business case and address concerns regarding development costs and implementation complexity. We invite you to join industry and academic delegates to collaboratively explore real problems, real opportunities, and real pathways for AI adoption.
The session will be facilitated by Liz Hallifax with insights from;
Tony Ma, Senior Associate, Modelling, Simulation and AI Lead, Beca Engineering
Tony leads Beca’s Industrial Digital team, a group of engineering scientists applying data driven modelling, simulation, optimisation, and AI to solve complex operational challenges across industry and infrastructure. With more than 18 years of consulting experience across New Zealand, Australia, Asia Pacific, and the UK, he has helped organisations turn complex supply chain, manufacturing, logistics, and infrastructure questions into clear, actionable decisions. His experience includes discrete event simulation for manufacturing, network optimisation studies supporting major capital investment decisions, and more recently advising on supply chain resilience relating to Australia’s SOCI Act.
For Tony’s team, AI is a practical delivery tool used to answer real business questions such as where to invest, how to de risk decisions, how to size infrastructure with confidence, and how to move from promising concepts to outcomes that leadership teams can support. In this workshop, Tony will share a practical perspective on where AI creates measurable value, the realities of implementation, and what it takes technically and organisationally to build a credible business case for adoption.
Benjy Lee, Entrepreneur in Residence - Energy & AI, Natural Velocity
The goal is to help organisations understand where AI can create value — and how experts can support turning ideas into practical solutions.
The material presented in these workshops has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions are the presenter's own and do not necessarily represent those of IChemE. The information is given in good faith but without any liability on the part of IChemE.
This workshop is free to attend. Register via the conference registration below.
Chemical Engineering Design Projects in the Age of Generative AI Workshop
Monday 28 September 2026, 14:30-15:30
Foundry Room, Marvel Stadium
How are universities adapting chemical engineering design projects (capstone subjects) now that students have ready access to generative AI? This interactive workshop brings together design project coordinators and other interested educators to compare subject structures, assessment practices and approaches to maintaining confidence in student learning.
Participants will discuss models ranging from restricting AI use to treating it as an authentic professional and learning tool, supported by assessment methods such as oral design reviews, client meetings and technical defences. The session will provide an opportunity to share what is working, identify emerging best practice and explore practical ways to assess students’ genuine understanding while retaining meaningful, industry-relevant deliverables.
The workshop will also help build connections between coordinators, creating opportunities to exchange project topics, teaching resources, industry contacts and potentially collaborate on projects across universities.
The material presented in these workshops has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions are the presenter's own and do not necessarily represent those of IChemE. The information is given in good faith but without any liability on the part of IChemE.
This workshop is free to attend. Register via the conference registration below.
The Membrane Society of Australasia Early Career Researcher (ECR) Symposium
Thursday 1 October 2026, Time: TBC
University of Melbourne Campus
-
The Membrane Society of Australasia Early Career Researcher (ECR) Symposium provides a unique forum for PhD students, post-docs, and early career membrane scientists and engineers to present and exchange new research results and emerging ideas.
Member rates are open to those who are current members of Membrane Society of Australasia. To learn more, please visit the website.
Registration is open via the conference registration form
-
MSA Member:
PhD Student $5
ECR (up to 10 years post PhD) $10
Non-member:
PhD Student $40
ECR (up to 10 years post PhD) $110
-
Call for Abstracts Now Open!
We’re excited to invite PhD students, Post-docs and Early Career Researchers to showcase their work and engage in meaningful discussions with peers at the Membrane Society of Australasia Early Career Researcher Forum 2026.
Abstract submission deadline: 30 June 2026
Submit your abstract via the website before 30 June 2026.
*This is not an IChemE event and as such the Institution will not be storing or controlling any data linked to this event. If you have any concerns or questions about how your data is stored please contact the event organisers directly. Please see IChemE privacy policy www.icheme.org/legal/