Signature Series - Andrew Jenkin (CSIRO): CSIRO Mineral Processing – capabilities and current activities

Guest Lecture presentation, 30 July 2025:

Topic: CSIRO Mineral Processing – capabilities and current activities

Presented by Andrew Jenkin BEng (Chem), MBA, GAICD, MAusIMM 

Research Director – Mineral Processing

Mineral Resources, CSIRO

Abstract

CSIRO has over 300 employees within its Minerals research unit (RU), conducting R&D across the entire value chain. The largest program within the RU is Mineral Processing (100+ employees), which is currently focussed on 3 key areas (critical minerals, decarbonisation and preserving the economic prosperity of Australia’s minerals industry). The program has core capabilities in beneficiation, hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy, and electrochemistry. These capabilities are deployed across a wide range of projects, with the overriding objective of maximising the quantum and likelihood of positive impact for Australia. Current key projects are focussed on managing the transition to greener iron for Australian iron ores, and seeking to add value to our abundant critical mineral resources.

Biography

Andrew has over 30 years of experience in the minerals industry, across a range of technical, operational and strategic leadership roles. He completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) from Melbourne University in 1987, and an MBA at Melbourne Business School in 1996. Following employment as a Senior Research Engineer with Comalco Ltd (now Rio Tinto Aluminium) from 1988 – 1996, he worked for WMC Resources Ltd from 1997 – 2005 in a number of strategic and operational management roles. Andrew re-joined Rio Tinto from 2006 – 2018, commencing as GM Technology for the Iron Ore product group, before moving into Rio Tinto’s corporate Technology & Innovation group, as GM Innovation and then Director Partnerships. During this period, he also served as a director on the Boards of CRC Mining and the Parker Centre. Since 2020, Andrew has been employed by CSIRO as Research Director – Mineral Processing. He is also a trustee of the AusIMM Education Endowment Fund, supporting the development of students planning to enter the minerals industry.