Speakers

Dr Michael Lucas is a Chartered Professional Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Australia with three decades of leadership in applying process design, robotics and automation to manufacturing and intralogistics optimisation across four continents and a diverse array of industries.  

Michael is the Founder and CEO of Manufacturing Catalyst, helping Australian manufacturing businesses scale to make the right amount of the right product at the right place and time in the most efficient way possible.  

Prior to founding Manufacturing Catalyst, Michael headed up the Industrialisation team at maverick solar startup 5B; he lead teams in manufacturing engineering, material flow and supply chain optimisation at Tesla through the roll out of their Gigafactories; at CHEP he led the team responsible for developing the world’s first automated pallet inspection and repair system; and as design manager for Woolworths landmark MSRDC automated distribution centre he contributed to ensuring the right products went from supplier to each store shelf through algorithmic automation. 

With several patents arising from his work, Michael has been at the forefront of advancing sustainable manufacturing and material flow technologies with robotics, AI, and automation.

Michael started Manufacturing Catalyst with one goal: to help people who make things, make things better.