Stephen holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Metallurgical Engineering and a doctorate in Architecture and Applied Anthropology. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Energy, a chartered engineer and has been a senior adviser to both commercial, government and non-government organizations, in renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture and forestry. Stephen has extensive experience worldwide in all forms of renewable energy including biodiesel, oil from algae, biomass combustion, pyrolysis and gasification plant, biochar, plastic wood composite, microhydro, wind and solar energy additives for high strength concretes. He has also been involved in multi-country market research into areas related to biochar, waste recycling and renewable energy. He has written over 100 books and articles and lectured and trained other engineers and scientists throughout the world. He was the founding vice chairman of the International Biochar Initiative and co-editor with Dr. Johannes Lehmann of Biochar for Environmental Management. He served on the committee of Australia New Zealand Committee and was a founding memebr from 2017-2020. He is currently a visiting Professor at UNSW, UNE, Univ. of Wollongong and Nanjing Agricultural Univ., China

Russ has over 30 years’ experience in product stewardship, circular economy, public policy, bioenergy and sustainability, both in government and as an advisor to industry and governments. These roles have been in the US, Australia, New Zealand and Middle East. Primary responsibilities include serving as CEO of the not-for-profit Global Product Stewardship Council, Director of consultancy MS2 and Founder of the International Stewardship Forum series, including the Sydney Forum 2018 and Paris Forum 2019. Russ was awarded the Global Green Future Leadership Award by the World CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Congress. Russ was appointed to the Australian Government’s Product Stewardship Advisory Group, as the Independent Chair leading the development of a national product stewardship approach for handheld batteries in Australia, and to the advisory body for Australia’s development of product stewardship framework legislation. Russ has also worked with Australian wool, sugar, timber and energy industries on stewardship and bioenergy. Russ has delivered major presentations in China, Singapore, Serbia, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand on product stewardship and sustainability for products ranging from packaging to electronics and hazardous wastes. From developing and implementing a market-based approach to increase packaging recycling in Florida to chairing the inaugural Australian Greenhouse Conference, to crafting innovative waste management legislation in the United Arab Emirates, Russ has long been a leader in developing innovative yet pragmatic policies and programs.