Dr Christopher Munnings


Contact details:

https://people.csiro.au/M/C/Christopher-Munnings

Biography

Dr Christopher Munnings is a senior research scientist with CSIRO Energy Technology based in Melbourne and has a strong background in energy conversion technologies such as fuel cells. Christopher joined CSIRO in 2010 and is currently working in the High efficiency thermal & electrochemical technologies group. He has a special interest in the conversion of cutting edge fundamental science into commercial products with a passion for the creation, storage and use of energy. He has worked across the full spectrum of the innovation chain from fundamental structural chemistry studies carried out within synchrotron facilities in Europe and Australia to applied R and D within large commercial organisations such as Rolls-Royce and MEL chemicals. In addition to his work in the field of energy conversion he has also worked on a diverse range of projects including the developing advanced ceramic armour for vehicles, novel ceramic thermal barrier coatings for gas turbines and nano-zirconia materials that are resistant to hydrothermal aging. He is a keen advocate of collaborative research and has worked in projects with a range of partners from across the globe including groups in the US, UK, Singapore, Canada and Portugal. He has a PhD from Imperial College London and has worked within a number of European universities, the NRC (Canada) and Rolls-Royce. He won the annual Imperial college Entrepreneurs challenge in 2001, was awarded an early career Marie Curie fellowship in 2004, selected to represent CSIRO at the annual science meet parliament event in 2011 and became a fellow of the centre for sustainability leadership in 2012.

Christopher currently leads the Centre for hybrid energy systems (CHES) in Clayton, Melbourne.
www.csiro.au/CHES

Key search terms: hybrid energy systems, renewable hydrogen, industry & innovation, sustainable transport,

Fields of Research

Current

Current Roles

  • Project Leader
    Centre for hybrid energy systems (CHES)

Academic Qualifications

  • 2001

    BEng.
    Imperial College London

  • 2006

    PhD.
    Imperial College London

Professional Experiences

  • 2010-2010

    Fuel cell consultant
    Self employed

  • 2010-2010

    PDRA
    Loughborough University

  • 2009-2010

    Materials consultant/PDRA
    Loughborough University / MEL Chemicals

  • 2005-2009

    Advanced technologist
    Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems Ltd

  • 2005-2005

    Materials consultant
    Southside Thermal Sciences Ltd

  • 2004-2004

    Marie Curie Fellow
    University of Aveiro (Portugal)

Achievements and Awards

  • 2013

    Invited speaker International workshop on Molten carbonates and related topics
    CSIRO

  • 2010

    Invited speaker The Welding and Joining society, lecture title: Characterisation of aluminium/alumina bond within interpenetrating metal ceramic composites

  • 2008

    Invited speaker at Supergen (Fuel cells) workshop, lecture title: Fracture mechanics in thin films

  • 2002

    Winner of the London Materials society lecture competition

  • 2001

    Winner of the annual Imperial College Entrepreneurs Challenge competition (2001), Commended entry (2003)