E/PROF MARIA SKYLLAS-KAZACOS
Chief Investigator
Professor of Chemical Sciences and Engineering
Maria Skyllas-Kazacos AM, Emeritus Professor of Chemical Engineering at UNSW Sydney, is a distinguished electrochemist renowned for her groundbreaking work in energy storage. An original inventor of the All-Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) with over 30 related patents, she is internationally recognised for her ongoing technical contributions to the commercialisation of the technology. With a global reputation for technical excellence, her expertise is instrumental in developing and standardizing the global VRFB value chain.
Her battery research also encompasses: Vanadium redox-cell batteries for remote area and load levelling applications, commercial prototype design and development, field testing of vanadium batteries in Solar House applications and electric golf carts, and redox fuel cells and batteries for electric vehicles.
A Member of the Order of Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, she has been honoured with accolades such as the CHEMECA Medal and the Castner Medal.
Apart from her illustrious career, Professor Skyllas-Kazacos generously dedicates time to mentorship of chemical engineering PhD students at UNSW. Passionate about inspiring the next generation of scientific leaders, she emphasizes the versatility of engineering education and its crucial role in solving complex problems. With ongoing research interests spanning metal extraction, battery technology, electrode processes, and membranes for electrochemical systems, Professor Skyllas-Kazacos continues to shape the future of sustainable energy.