Swinburne announces Professor Joy Sumner as FACET Co-Director

Swinburne University of Technology has appointed Professor Joy Sumner as the new Co-Director of the Franco-Australian Centre for Energy Transition (FACET), alongside current Co-Director Prune Bokobza. 

An internationally renowned expert in materials science, Professor Sumner will drive cutting-edge research in energy systems and develop new training opportunities for students and professionals in this field. 

Established in 2023, FACET is a historic climate change-focused partnership between Australia and France, which aims to enhance cooperation on sustainable and inclusive energy initiatives and support energy transition needs in the Indo-Pacific region.

Professor Joy Sumner will also join the Department of Mechanical and Product Design Engineering in Swinburne’s School of Engineering and collaborate with the university’s Space Technology and Industry Institute and Innovative Planet Research Institute.

Professor Sumner’s expertise spans advanced materials, engineering and materials lifetime assessment with a focus on material degradation and innovative engineering solutions. She has published widely on corrosion, material longevity and product quality enhancement in the context of future fuels and renewable energy technologies, including for biomass power plants, hydrogen/gasification fuel use, offshore wind turbines and concentrated solar power environments.

Swinburne's Professor Karen Hapgood, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, welcomed Professor Sumner to the role. 

"Professor Sumner’s appointment strengthens Swinburne’s commitment to advancing complex energy systems research, in collaboration with our Franco-Australian Centre for Energy Transition (FACET) co-leads, CEA and Université Grenoble-Alpes," said Professor Hapgood. 

“I look forward to seeing France and Australia’s advance dialogue and collaboration in energy transition, as Professor Sumner leverages her expertise to address global energy challenges.”

About Professor Sumner

Professor Sumner holds both a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree from the University of Cambridge, with a focus on materials science. Professor Sumner developed her expertise during a PhD at Cambridge, where she specialised in scanning probe microscopy techniques for characterising semiconductors. She has spent 14 years at Cranfield University including as Head of the Centre for Energy Engineering since 2022, in close collaboration with industrial partners.

Her research focuses on understanding the degradation mechanisms of materials in energy systems, with particular emphasis on the performance of steel and nickel-based alloys in the extreme environments generated within energy systems. Her work significantly advances the understanding and development of materials critical to the energy transition, ensuring that energy systems are both efficient and sustainable. In addition to her research, Professor Sumner has a strong commitment to STEM outreach and education.

"I'm delighted to accept these roles at Swinburne and FACET and look forward to collaborating with our partners to make a meaningful impact on the energy transition," said Professor Sumner.