Image of Marghanita Johnson, CEO of the Australian Aluminium Council.

Marghanita Johnson

Marghanita Johnson has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Aluminium Council since 2019. She has over 25 years’ experience in the Australian mining and manufacturing sectors, predominantly within the aluminium industry.


Marghanita has Environmental Engineering and Chemistry degrees from the University of Western Australia. She is currently a Non-Executive Director of Alpha HPA Limited, Australian Industry Greenhouse Network and the Energy Users Association of Australia. She has previously been a non-executive director on the boards of the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter and the Tomago Aluminium Company.

Australia’s Aluminium Industry in a Global Context

Abstract. Australia has played a key role in the global aluminium industry since 1955. Aluminium is critical to the transition to clean energy, with global demand expected to nearly double by 2050. While recycling will meet part of this demand, primary aluminium production and increased bauxite mining and alumina refining will still be necessary.Australia’s historical advantage comes from its large bauxite reserves, early industry investment, and skilled workforce. With the right policy settings, bauxite, alumina and aluminium will have a central role in Australia’s transformation to a clean energy superpower, with policy support to be commercially and environmentally sustainable.Opportunities for the industry include high-quality raw materials, proximity to growing markets, and political stability, but rising domestic energy costs and competition from regions with lower production costs, faster approval timelines and more attractive industry policy pose challenges. Sustainability is increasingly important, and Australian producers are investing in lower-carbon and renewable energy sources, which will require strong policy support.

Sessions by
Marghanita Johnson

Day – TBA

Time TBA

Australia’s Aluminium Industry in a Global Context