Calix has appointed Dr Matt Boot-Handford to the role of research and development (R&D) manager for batteries and catalysts.
Matt will be responsible for defining and executing the R&D for battery and catalyst materials to ensure the programs are conducted safely, cost-effectively, timely, as well as being accurately budgeted and regularly reported to an agreed standard.
Matt is a post-doctoral chemical engineering research scientist. His previous role was acting head of the Energy Engineering and Carbon Capture Research Group in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London. He has also held roles as a research associate at the Imperial College London, and visiting scholar at the University of Technology Sydney. Matt has a PhD and a MRes.
Phil Hodgson, CEO, Calix, said:
“Calix is committed to R&D in the battery space and bringing on Matt is a critical part of advancing our research in this area. The application of Calix’s technology to batteries could be a game-changer for providing a viable, sustainable option that supports the global goal of renewable energy.
“In late 2017, Calix announced it received an Australian Advanced Manufacturing Growth Fund award to produce advanced materials for lithium ion batteries, a major growth market over the coming decades. Matt’s extensive experience in the formulation, characterisation and testing of sorbents and catalysts for clean energy production and background in the thermochemical conversion process makes him a great asset to the team.”
Matt Boot-Handford said, “I had exposure to Calix through my post-doctoral work at Imperial College. I was at a crossroads as to whether to stay in an academic environment or work in industry. To me, Calix offers the best of both as a business with a strong focus on R&D. The opportunities Calix offers will let me make a difference to global challenges, particularly in the electrochemical energy storage space. I couldn’t pass that up. This is an important area as the world continues, by necessity, to transition away from fossil fuels, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
