Carbon Nexus director to receive award

THE director of Deakin University’s Carbon Nexus research centre will be honoured at the 2018 Advance Awards for his contribution to Australia’s place on the world stage.

Derek Buckmaster, whose leadership and experience within the composites, plastics, petrochemicals and automotive sectors has seen the $34 million facility established as one of the world’s most advanced fibre research centres, has been announced as the winner of the Advanced Manufacturing Award category for 2018.

Now in its seventh year, the Advance Awards celebrate international Australians, those living abroad and those who have returned home following high achievement overseas, who exhibit remarkable talent, exceptional vision and ambition.

Mr Buckmaster, who has worked in countries including China, Japan, Singapore, The Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and the United States, said he was honoured to receive the award.

“It’s an honour to be recognised by Advance for the work we have been doing in the global carbon composites sector; it came as a real surprise.

“At Carbon Nexus it’s important to approach our research and our advanced manufacturing from a global perspective.

“We are connected into a global market, and a global carbon fibre industry that’s growing at a great rate, with more and more companies starting to make use of lightweight material technologies.

“The impact this will have across a wide range of industries over the coming decade is profound, and the work we’ve been undertaking for these past four years has placed Carbon Nexus at the core of one of Australia’s most significant investments in global technology, developing the people and research base that will shape our world in years to come.”

The awards will be presented on October 18 in Sydney across categories from education, sustainability and the arts to financial services and technology innovation.