Natalie Curach is Chair at HydGene Renewables where she brings her expertise in Biotechnology to the Hydrogen sector. Natalie has been at the forefront of the growth of Synthetic Biology in Australia commencing with the establishment of the Synthetic Biology Research Priority at Macquarie University and led the Synthetic Biology Translation Fund for Bioplatforms Australia. Natalie co-authored the Australian Government’s Synthetic Biology infrastructure investment plan which culminated in the opening of the Australian Genome Foundry. She was instrumental for the creation of the Australian Research Council’s Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, served as the Chief Scientific Officer at Eden Brew, President of the Synthetic Biology Australasia Association and Co-Chaired the Global Biofoundry Alliance with executive members from Imperial College London and UC Berkeley. Natalie has been invited to present at numerous international meetings and is well published in peer review journals and thought leadership papers such as for the World Economic Forum. Natalie has worked as a scientist in the engineering of biology within startups, university and government laboratories. She conducted her PhD on recombinant protein production in filamentous fungi, has a Graduate Diploma in Business Management and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Currently, Natalie is also leading the Australian operations for Ginkgo Bioworks – a Boston-based synthetic biology company with a leading platform for cell programming.