Presenters Name: Shaun Patrick
Employment Title: Chief Chemist
Company: Evic
Biography: Neil Armstrong is the Global Commercial Manager at First Graphene, a leading innovator in graphene production and applications. With a background as a Senior Process and Chemical Engineer, Neil brings extensive technical expertise and commercial acumen to the role. He has played a key role in the development and commissioning of First Graphene’s state-of-the art production facility in Henderson, Western Australia. His contributions span process optimisation, equipment development, and scaling graphene production for industrial applications. With over a decade of experience in manufacturing and technology, Neil has a strong track record in project management, research and development, and commercialisation. Passionate about innovation and sustainability, he is committed to advancing graphene’s commercial viability across diverse industries. His leadership continues to drive First Graphene’s success in pioneering new applications for this groundbreaking material.
Presentation Title: Academics vs Paint Chemists – The Two Cultures.
Presentation Abstract: What if the very education that prepares paint chemists for their careers is both simultaneously their greatest asset and most significant hindrance? After years of tertiary study, industrial chemists often find themselves caught unawares in a cultural chasm between scholarly ideals and commercial reality. We must face the question squarely. In what ways does a scholarly outlook become a hindrance to success, once outside the ivory towers of universities? The central issue is not merely academic, so to speak. How do these chemists, tasked to solve industrial challenges, best exploit their scientific inheritance? And what must change, in order to thrive in this new, fast-paced environment? Drawing on extensive industry experience and case studies, we will dissect the fundamental philosophical differences between these two research cultures, and suggest practical strategies for professionals navigating this difficult divide.
