Mr. Chris Killmore | Weldment Softening Award | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Chris Killmore, BlueScope Steel, Australia

Christopher Ronald Killmore is a seasoned metallurgist hailing from Mount Ousley, NSW, Australia. Born on March 28, 1955, Killmore boasts an impressive educational background, having earned his Bachelor of Metallurgy from the University of Wollongong in 1978. His academic prowess was evident from his early years, having achieved the second highest mark for the final year students during his Higher School Certificate at Kiama High in NSW, Australia.

Killmore’s professional journey spans over four decades, marked by numerous significant contributions to the field of metallurgy, particularly in the realm of steel research and product development. He has held various managerial and leadership positions, showcasing his expertise in product design, project management, technical sales, and marketing within the steel industry.

Professional Profiles:

SCOPUS

🎓 Educational Odyssey:

Killmore embarked on his academic voyage by securing a Higher School Certificate from Kiama High, NSW, Australia, in 1972, earning accolades as the second-highest scorer among final year students. This feat propelled him to clinch a Federal Government Tertiary Scholarship for pursuing higher education. He graduated with flying colors, attaining a Bachelor of Metallurgy from the esteemed University of Wollongong in 1978, where he garnered the prestigious John Lysaght Australia academic prize for topping his cohort.

💼 Professional Prowess:

Armed with a profound understanding of metallurgy, Killmore’s professional odyssey commenced as a Development Officer for Cold Rolled Strip Products in 1978, gradually ascending the echelons of the steel industry. He honed his skills across diverse roles, from Tinplate Process Control Metallurgist to Chief Development Officer for Product Development. Noteworthy milestones include his tenure as Product Design Manager and subsequent elevation to Manager of Hot Rolled Products Research, where his visionary leadership spearheaded the development of cutting-edge steel grades and processes.

🏆 Key Achievements:

Killmore’s tenure is studded with groundbreaking achievements, including the commercialization of weathering steel for bridge construction, qualification of steel plate for submarine fabrication for the Australian Navy, and the development of enhanced shipbuilding plate steel for next-gen frigates, earning him accolades such as the Defence Eureka Science award. His pioneering work in developing TMCP 500MPa high-strength structural plate grades underscores his trailblazing spirit and commitment to innovation.

🔬 Technical Wizardry:

Killmore’s technical acumen is unparalleled, with expertise spanning steel research, alloy design, thermomechanical processing, and quality control. His prolific research contributions, coupled with numerous patents and publications, solidify his standing as a luminary in the field of metallurgy.

🌐 Global Footprint:

Killmore’s impact transcends geographical boundaries, with his presence felt in international conferences, standards committees, and industrial collaborations. As a board member of the BlueScope Steel Metallurgy Centre at the University of Wollongong, he championed collaborative research initiatives, fostering synergies between academia and industry.

🎤 Orator Extraordinaire:

A seasoned speaker, Killmore has graced numerous platforms with his erudition, delivering technical papers at international conferences, mentoring aspiring metallurgists, and championing knowledge dissemination through lectures and presentations.

Christopher Ronald Killmore epitomizes the pinnacle of excellence in metallurgical innovation, his illustrious career punctuated by groundbreaking achievements, visionary leadership, and unwavering dedication to advancing the frontiers of steel science.

Publication Top Notes:

Application of advanced experimental techniques to elucidate the strengthening mechanisms operating in microalloyed ferritic steels with interphase precipitation

Comparative effect of Mo and Cr on microstructure and mechanical properties in NbV-microalloyed bainitic steels

Martensitic wear resistant steels alloyed with titanium

The effect of cooling rate and coiling temperature on the niobium retention in Ultra-Thin Cast Strip steel

A transmission Kikuchi diffraction study of cementite in a quenched and tempered steel

Effect of Mo on dynamic recrystallization and microstructure development of microalloyed steels

Assoc Prof Dr. Jacek Górka| Inconel | Research Pioneer Award in Welding

Assoc Prof Dr. Jacek Górka , Silesian University of Technology , Poland

Jacek Górka, born in 1968 in Sanok, is a distinguished figure in the field of mechanical engineering and welding. Graduating with honors as a mechanical technician specializing in welding from the Mechanical Technical Secondary School in Sanok in 1988, Górka embarked on a remarkable journey of academic and professional excellence.

He furthered his education at the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, earning a Ph.D. in technical sciences from the Faculty of Mechanical Technology, Department of Welding, in 1999. Recognized for his expertise, he obtained a habilitation doctorate in 2014 with a thesis focused on the “Properties and structure of welded joints of thermomechanically processed steel with high yield strength.”

Throughout his career, Górka has been deeply involved with the Department of Welding, beginning his tenure in 1993 and eventually assuming leadership roles. Notably, he spearheaded postgraduate studies in “Welding technologies and quality control” since 2012 and has served as the head of the Department of Welding since 2017.

Górka’s contributions extend beyond academia; he is an active member of various professional societies including the Polish Welding Society and the Polish Materials Science Society. His international engagements include memberships in organizations such as Modtech in Iasi, Romania, and the ECNMgroup at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Professional Profiles:

Scopus

ORCID

Early Education and Career Beginnings

Dr. Jacek Górka, born in 1968 in Sanok, embarked on his journey in the field of mechanical engineering at an early age. In 1988, he graduated from the Mechanical Technical Secondary School in Sanok, specializing in welding, thus laying the foundation for his future expertise.

Academic Pursuits

His academic journey continued as he pursued higher education at the esteemed Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice. There, he graduated from the Faculty of Mechanical Technology, Department of Welding, marking the commencement of his profound association with the domain of welding.

Ph.D. and Habilitation Achievements

In 1999, Dr. Górka attained his Ph.D. in technical sciences, a significant milestone in his academic career. Later, in 2014, he further solidified his expertise by obtaining a habilitated doctorate, substantiated by his thesis on the “Properties and structure of welded joints of thermomechanically processed steel with high yield strength.”

Professional Development

Dr. Górka’s commitment to professional development is evident through his completion of the EWE European Welding Engineer Course in 1999. This achievement underscores his dedication to mastering the intricacies of welding technology.

Leadership Roles

His leadership prowess is demonstrated through his roles as the head of postgraduate studies in “Welding technologies and quality control” since 2012, and subsequently, as the head of the Department of Welding since 2017. These positions reflect his capability to steer academic programs and departments towards excellence.

Membership and Affiliations

Dr. Górka’s active involvement in professional societies is reflected in his membership in the Polish Welding Society, the Polish Materials Science Society, and the Professional Association in Modern Manufacturing Technologies, Modtech Iasi-Romania. Additionally, his affiliation with esteemed institutions such as ECNMgroup Electric Carbon Nanomaterials, University of Cambridge, further enriches his professional network.

Contribution to Research

His research interests encompass a wide array of topics including the weldability of modern construction materials, metallurgy of welding processes, quality control of welding processes, abrasive and erosive wear processes, and the utilization of nanostructured carbon materials in modifying the properties and structure of welds, as well as thermal cutting processes.

Institutional Contributions

Dr. Górka’s contributions extend beyond academia, as evidenced by his membership in the Scientific Council of the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Welding Institute in Gliwice from 2017 to 2022, and his current membership in the Surface Engineering Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences since 2023.