Michael Leslie Johns

Michael Leslie Johns is a Professor of Chemical and Process Engineering at The University of Western Australia. He co-leads the Fluid Science and Resources Research Group and serves as Research Director for the Future Energy Exports CRC, focusing on hydrogen export themes such as liquefaction process optimization and supply chain integration. His work spans two decades, bridging applied research in food and oil/gas engineering to emerging hydrogen technologies, including underground storage and combined blue/green hydrogen production.

• PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge (1999)

Research interests center on decarbonizing energy systems, particularly through hydrogen technologies and shipping emissions reduction. His team’s modeling explores cost-effective clean fuels like green ammonia for international shipping, aligning with global net-zero goals by 2050.

Recent publications highlight regulatory frameworks for maritime emissions, emphasizing carbon levies and cap-and-trade mechanisms. These studies analyze impacts on Australian exports, notably iron ore, and advocate for technological innovation to make green fuels economically viable.

Grants from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and Future Energy Exports CRC support his work. He contributes to multidisciplinary collaborations on energy decarbonization and has participated in three spin-off companies.

He leads the Fluid Science and Resources Research Group, which comprises over 40 researchers, and partners with institutions like CSIRO and the University of Melbourne on hydrogen and marine fuel projects.