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Strategic Insights for 2026: Price Trends, Market Balance and Policy Updates
Benchmark Week 2024
Benchmark Week 2024
Tuesday 12th November, 2024
Field Trips Depart
Benchmark Week will open with a series of field trips on the morning of Tuesday 12th November as way to add value to your trip and kick start your event networking.
Registration Opens
Exhibition & Networking Opens
Connect, network, and do business with fellow industry executives at the Meeting Hub. You can schedule 1-1 meetings via the Networking App.
Investor Networking & Luncheon sponsored by Evolution Metals
Words of Welcome
Marina Stage
Welcome to Benchmark Week 2024
- Andrew Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
US Policy Dialogue: Critical Minerals & National Security
Garden Stage
Join us in this session to hear about the Importance of building a Secure Critical Mineral Supply Chain for National Security
- Morgan D. Bazilian, Ph.D., Director, Payne Institute, Professor Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines
- Joe Bryan, Principal, Muswell Orange
Charting the Rise of Gigafactories
Marina Stage
In partnership with Rho Motion Live, in this session we explore the rapid rise of gigafactories in the USA, discussing their impact on manufacturing, innovation, and the energy transition.
- Caspar Rawles, Chief Operating Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Evan Leon, Senior Project Manager, Toyota Tsusho America
- Iola Hughes, Head of Research, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Robert Winans, Vice President of Supply Chain, Panasonic Energy
Critical Mineral Symposium: Advancing DLE Technology
Garden Stage
Hear from energy transition innovators on new projects and technologies to build a strong battery supply chain
Presentations include:
- How ultraselective membranes are adding value in DLE
- Accelerating lithium and critical minerals production
- Andrew Walker, Chief Commercial Officer, Evove Ltd.
- Daisy Jennings-Gray, Head of Prices, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Raef Sully, Chief Executive Officer, Lilac Solutions
- Felix Wang, Head of Marketing, alkaLi, Gradiant Corporation
EV Market Dynamics
Marina Stage
In partnership with Rho Motion Live, in this session hear from leaders across the downstream on current market trends, progress, and future expectations for EV demand
- William Roberts, Automotive Research Lead, Rho Motion
- Michael Maten, Director, EV and Energy Policy, General Motors
- Hunter Patton, Global Head of Automotive Investment Banking, Wells Fargo
- Stephen Kosowski, Manager, Long Range Planning & Strategy, Kia USA
- Chloe Ke, Vice President of Original Sourcing, BYD
Networking Break
Sustainability in the Consumer Electronics Market
Marina Stage
- The Challenge and Drivers of: Battery Circularity in Consumer Electronics
- Google’s current work in Battery Sustainability
- Future Challenges of Battery Sustainability in Consumer Electronics
- Aaggrim Sabharwal, Senior Group Manager – Global Supply Chain, Google
US Policy Dialogue: Beyond the IRA
Garden Stage
Join us in this session to hear about the path forward for the Inflation Reduction Act and the American Energy Transition.
- Chris Berry, Founder and President, House Mountain Partners
- David Howell, Vice President, Strategicmi
Building a Circular Battery Economy
Marina Stage
In partnership with Rho Motion Live, in this session major recycling players will address issues around leveraging policy to meet circularity goals, and outline technological innovation to help create a circular battery economy
- Matt Stock, Product Director - New Technology, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Sangjune Han, Director - US Recycling Operation, SK ecoplant
- Emil Nusbaum, Vice President of Strategy, Government and Regulatory Affairs, Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA)
Critical Mineral Symposium: Cathodes Materials Mines of the Future
Garden Stage
Hear from energy transition innovators on new projects and technologies to build a strong battery supply chain
Presentations include:
- Bonnie Claire: A World Class Lithium Deposit
- ReCRFT: A highly impurity tolerant lithium carbonate recrystallization technology
- Adam Webb, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Kevin Smith, Director, IRIS Metals
- Stephen Rentschler, CEO, Nevada Lithium
- Martin Andreatta, Chief Lithium Officer & Director, Hanaq Group
- Ryan Jansonius, Vice President of Chemistry Contract Services, Telescope Inc
Energy Storage Market Trends
Marina Stage
In partnership with Rho Motion Live, in this session we outline the importance of ESS as a battery demand centre and a key enabler of renewable energy grid networks.
- Iola Hughes, Head of Research, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Isabelle Christensen, PHD, Head of Energy Storage, Anza Renewables
- John Cerveny, Sr. Director & Program Manager, NENY Supply Chain Program, NY-BEST
- Anne Torricelli, Managing Director, ESS, Gotion
- Amit Mathrani, Vice President, Senior Energy Transition Research, Rabobank North America
- Maheep Mandloi, Director, Senior Clean Energy Equity Research Analyst, Mizuho Securities USA
Benchmark Week Opening Reception sponsored by ExxonMobil
Join us for the conference's highlight: our famous poolside reception to kickstart your networking with cocktails, canapés, and stunning views of the Marina del Rey sunset.
Wednesday 13th November, 2024
Networking Breakfast
Opening Keynote: Can batteries underpin a Golden Age for America?
Marina Stage
Understanding the Direction of Travel: From inception to the rise of the gigafactory to now policy and politics, the forces shaping the battery supply chain are many. Here, we breakdown what the medium term future looks like for the battery supply chain.
- Simon Moores, Executive Chairman, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
JB Straubel Fireside Chat
Marina Stage
- Simon Moores, Executive Chairman, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Andrew Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- JB Straubel, Founder & CEO, Redwood Materials
Lithium Spotlight: Expert Panel
Marina Stage
What explains the current lithium price environment and what might move the market?
- Joe Lowry, President, Global Lithium
- Rock Hoffman, Equity Research Analyst, Bank of America
- Daisy Jennings-Gray, Head of Prices, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Tara Berrie, Senior Group Manager, Battery Cell Material Purchasing, Operations & Manufacturing, Rivian
- Anthony Tse, Founder, NEO Capital
US Policy Dialogue: US Election Aftermath: Policy and Industry Implications
Garden Stage
- Tom Moerenhout, Professor; Critical Materials Lead, Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy
- Sarah Bianchi, Senior Managing Director, Chief Strategist of International Political Affairs and Public Policy, Evercore
Lithium Keynote: Building a Green Lithium Supply
Marina Stage
- Utilizing existing technologies to secure a sustainable future lithium supply
- Outlining the importance of government and industry support in achieving a zero-carbon value chain
- Identifying funding opportunities and navigating investor relations
- Positioning Brazil as a leader in the global lithium supply chain
- Adam Webb, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Daniel Abdo, Director of Business Development, Sigma Lithium
Critical Mineral Symposium: Graphite Projects
Garden Stage
Hear from energy transition innovators on new projects and technologies to build a strong battery supply chain
Presentations include:
- Intricacies of Domestic Manufacturing of Battery-Grade Graphite in the United States
- Falcon Energy Materials: Morocco Anode Plant
- Daniel Fletcher-Manuel, Director - Indexing & Derivatives, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Matthieu Bos, President and Chief Executive Officer, Falcon Energy Materials
- Igor Barsukov, Manager Business Development, American Energy Technologies
Strengthening Global Alliances for a Resilient Clean Energy Future
Marina Stage
- Adam Webb, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Scott Woodard, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Competitiveness and Supply Chains, Department of State
Navigating the US Policy Landscape
Marina Stage
- Rohan Patel, Former Senior Global Director of Public Policy at Tesla,
- William Roberts, Automotive Research Lead, Rho Motion
Networking Break
Building Strategic Global Partnerships
Garden Stage
In this session, industry experts will highlight case studies to outline the current global battery material landscape; including the importance of building strategic partnerships in order to secure domestic supply and how to incentivize growth and production domestically
- Tom Moerenhout, Professor; Critical Materials Lead, Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy
- Annie Gayman, Senior Vice President, Lot Sixteen
- Daanish Hussain, Investment Lead, Advanced Manufacturing, Invest Ontario
- Akshat Singh, Associate Fellow, Chair on India and Emerging Asia Economics, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Graphite & Anodes Keynotes
Marina Stage
Hear insights into the current challenges in building the global anode supply chain, including scaling natural and synthetic graphite, and the role of future anode technologies
Further speakers to be announced.
- haibo mo, Managing Director, Hensen Graphite & Carbon Corp.
- Shaun Verner, CEO, Syrah Resources Ltd
- Daniel Fletcher-Manuel, Director - Indexing & Derivatives, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Anna Motta, Group Chief Technology Officer, Talga Group
- Eric Desaulniers, CEO, Nouveau Monde Graphite
Critical Mineral Symposium: Lithium Supply of Tomorrow
Garden Stage
Hear from energy transition innovators on new projects to strengthen the lithium supply chain.
Presentations include:
- Closing the Lithium Conversion Gap
- Unlocking Northern Lithium: Yellowknife Lithium Project's Initial Mineral Resource Estimate - Canadia's newest source of supply chain of lithium
- Rapid Lithium, Focus upon the Historic Spodumene Districts of South Dakota
- Alex Hanly, President and CEO, Lithium Universe
- Tom Drabble, Sustainability Analyst, Benchmark
- Michael Schlumpberger, COO, Rapid Lithium
- David Smithson, SVP Geology, Li-FT Power Ltd.
- Blake Hylands, CEO, Lithium Ionic Corp
Copper Spotlight
Marina Stage
Copper sits at the core of the energy transition and is critical to the lithium ion battery. Here we explore copper price drivers and outlook.
- Paul Gait, Group Head of Strategy, Anglo American
- Michael Finch, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Networking Lunch Sponsored by Evolution Metals
Continue the day's networking over lunch in at the marina promenade or in the poolside rose garden.
Cathodes: Building localized & next generation supply chains
Marina Stage
In this session, we discuss the advantages and challenges of creating localized supply chains for cathode manufacturing.
- Dan Blondal, CEO, Nano One Materials Corp
- Marco Romero, CEO, Positive Materials Inc.
- Adam Webb, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Inclusion in the Energy Transition
Garden Stage
Join this session for a discussion on growing diversity in the critical minerals workforce, which will be informed by a fireside chat with Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes about her career growth from engineer to CEO to Deputy Director at DOE.
- Emma Bishop, Vice President, Venn Strategies
- Annie Gayman, Senior Vice President, Lot Sixteen
- Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes, Deputy Director, Batteries and Critical Minerals, MESC, U.S. Department of Energy
- Daisy Jennings-Gray, Head of Prices, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Cathodes: Breaking Ground in Direct Lithium Extraction
Marina Stage
In this session, we look at innovations in Direct Lithium Extraction
- Daisy Jennings-Gray, Head of Prices, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Bruce Richardson, CEO, A1 Lithium
- Nicholas Lugansky, Head of Mining, SLB
Critical Mineral Symposium
Garden Stage
Hear from energy transition innovators on new projects and technologies to build a strong battery supply chain
Presentations include:
- Solving the heavy rare earth challenge
- Cathode Materials Low-Carbon Mines of the Future
- Advanced solutions for efficient, scalable, homogenous slurry mixing of lithium-ion batteries
- Christine Burow, Chief Marketing Officer, Torngat Metals
- Matt Hughes, Energy Solutions Business Field Manager, NETZSCH
- Sean Samson, President, CEO, Director, Transition Inc.
MESC Grants: Boosting the US domestic battery supply chain
Marina Stage
A panel to discuss the recently announced MESC grants and their potential impact in supporting the scaling of a US domestic battery supply chain through strategic funding.
- Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes, Deputy Director, Batteries and Critical Minerals, MESC, U.S. Department of Energy
- Jamie Liang, President and CEO, TerraVolta Resources
- David Park, CEO, Standard Lithium
Networking Break
Critical Mineral Consolidation: A deep dive on the impact of M&A activity on investment and supply across key battery raw materials
Garden Stage
This presentation will explore the consolidation trends within the critical minerals sector, with a focus on M&A activity across key battery raw materials such as lithium, graphite, and cobalt
- Ryan Hanrahan, CEO, Wave International
- Katherine Wright, Consultancy Sales Director, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Rare Earths Spotlight
Marina Stage
- Emma Bishop, Vice President, Venn Strategies
- Michael Finch, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Sean Grixti, Director Circular Partnerships, Cyclic Materials
- William Izod, Vice President, Rare Earth Industry Association
- Christine Burow, Chief Marketing Officer, Torngat Metals
Lithium Market Debate: Bulls vs. Bears
Garden Stage
- Christopher Robb, Principal, Robb Commodity Consulting
- Howard Klein, Founder, RK Equity
Graphite & Anodes: Future Anode Technologies
Marina Stage
A discussion on anode innovation and how these new technologies can impact the market.
- Benoist Ollivier, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer / Deputy CEO, Ferroglobe
- Andre Zeitoun, Founder & CEO, Ionic Mineral Technologies
- Richard Clark, Global Head of Specialty Materials and Processes, Appian Capital Advisory LLP
- Tim Porcelli, Senior Director of Business Development, NanoGraf
Networking Reception sponsored by ExxonMobil
Marina Stage
An opportunity to unwind after day two with informal networking over drinks and canapés along the marina promenade.
Thursday 14th November, 2024
Networking Breakfast
Connect, network, and do business with fellow industry executives at the Meeting Hub. You can schedule 1-1 meetings via the Networking App.
Opening Keynote: The Transformative Potential of California’s Lithium Valley for the Salton Sea and the World
Marina Stage
- Noemi Gallardo, Commissioner, California Energy Commission
- Michael Finch, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Financing the Energy Transition: Navigating the Government Investment Landscape
Marina Stage
Initiatives, incentives, and policies designed to boost domestic production, secure resources, and strengthen the EV ecosystem to accelerate the clean energy transition.
- chelsea sexton, Manufacturing and Transportation, DOE Loan Programs Office
- Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes, Deputy Director, Batteries and Critical Minerals, MESC, U.S. Department of Energy
- Adam Webb, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Anthony Huston, Founder and CEO, Graphite One
- David Riposo, Business Development Director, Development Finance Corporation
Financing the Energy Transition: Bridging the funding gaps in the race to scale the giga economy
Marina Stage
Evolving financial strategies and introducing new capital streams to strengthen battery supply chains and scale battery manufacturing.
- Logan Goldie-Scot, Director of Research, Generate Capital
- Will Turlington, Head - Battery, Mining and Industries Americas, Societe Generale
- Erez Ichilov, Founder, Cedrus Arbor LLC
- Anthony Tse, Founder, NEO Capital
- Stefon Crawford, Partner, GM Ventures
- Katherine Wright, Consultancy Sales Director, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
US Policy Dialogue: State Level Developments
Garden Stage
- Shane Khoury, Secretary, Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment
- Iola Hughes, Head of Research, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- John Cerveny, Sr. Director & Program Manager, NENY Supply Chain Program, NY-BEST
- Jesus Eduardo Escobar, Supervisor, Imperial County
- Chris Reilly, State Infrastructure Coordinator, Office of Governor Joe Lombardo, State of Nevada
Networking Break
Battery Innovation
Marina Stage
Hear about the successes and challenges of scaling new battery technologies like sodium ion, solid state and lithium metal
- Matt Stock, Product Director - New Technology, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Marina Yakovleva, Director, R&D and New Business Development, Arcadium Lithium
- Richard Clark, Global Head of Specialty Materials and Processes, Appian Capital Advisory LLP
Understanding Benchmark's prices: why they are industry leading and how they can be used to mitigate risk
Garden Stage
- Daniel Fletcher-Manuel, Director - Indexing & Derivatives, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
- Daisy Jennings-Gray, Head of Prices, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Building a Sustainable Supply Chain
Marina Stage
- Scaling critical mineral production sustainably
- Understanding the role of due diligence in critical mineral supply chains
- Highlighting tools to effectively meet decarbonization goals
- Achieving a just transition and a social license to operate
- Astrid Karamira, Sustainability and Governance Manager, International Lithium Association
- Tom Drabble, Sustainability Analyst, Benchmark
- Andrew Bogrand, Senior Policy Advisor for Natural Resource Justice, Oxfam
- David Anonychuk, Global VP Metallurgy & Consulting, SGS
Networking Lunch
Close of Conference
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