Creating a Closed Loop Solution for Critical Materials: From Concept to Operation

28 Oct 2026
Located in Main Expo Hall A
Critical Minerals Conference

Many critical materials—unlike widely recycled metals such as aluminum—do not yet have fully established closed‑loop solutions.

This discussion will explore what it takes to move a critical materials recovery concept from research to real-world commercial deployment — and why success depends on ecosystem alignment as much as technical innovation.

Moderator
Bill Vasquez
Bill Vasquez, Chief Operating Officer - Paladin Envirotech
Speakers
Jack Jia
Jack Jia, Principal Sourcing Engineer - Microsoft
Rhownica Birch
Rhownica Birch, Partner, Western Digital Global Operations Product Sustainability & Circularity - Western Digital
Luke Wray
Luke Wray, SVP of Critical Materials & Defense - Paladin Envirotech
Munir Humayun
Munir Humayun, Professor - Florida State University
Daniel Bina
Daniel Bina, President/CEO - Critical Materials Recycling