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Meet some of our team

Kumbi Gutsa

Why did you decide to join Cyan Ventures?

What drove me to join Cyan Ventures is the need for urgency in the energy transition. We need to design and deploy new solutions across a spectrum of technologies and industry at pace and scale – and I want to be a part of helping to do that. We are at the point of the energy transition where action is the name of the game and this is exactly where Cyan Ventures plays.

Cyan is mission-focussed. This means we look to advance ‘big bets’ – the solutions that can make material change in the transition to a low carbon, green economy, but are not receiving the attention or investment they need because of challenges such as a lack of understanding, market failures or ambition. I want to spend my time solving these challenges and securing tangible investment flows and project development in the areas it’s needed most.

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

I live in Melbourne but grew up in regional Western Australia and Perth. I studied a Bachelor of Commerce and Masters of Economic Policy at UWA. Outside of my professional life I like to do just that – be outside. A perfect weekend contains some combination of hiking, camping, the beach or in the stands at the footy – cheering on the Bombers of course!

While at Accenture, I spent six years working with and advising some of the largest organisations in the country and the globe, this included:

  • Delivering recommendations to the Federal Government for how Australia could seize a $300b+ opportunity by becoming a leader in exporting clean energy materials such as value-added critical minerals, green iron, and parts of the renewable energy supply-chain.
  • Collaboration with the World Economic Forum, to convene a coalition of the world’s largest heavy industrials to identify options for shared acceleration on the use of clean power in their hard-to-abate industries.
  • Developing sustainability strategies and conducting climate risk assessments to support financial disclosures for leading Aussie corporates.

What is one Big Bet you are personally excited about?

I’m really excited about the potential of Power-to-X (PtX) technology. PtX converts renewable electricity into synthetic fuels, hydrogen, gases, or chemicals, offering harder-to-abate industries an alternative to fossil fuels. It has the potential to be an essential lever in the decarbonisation of industries such as aviation, steel, cement, and shipping.

One benefit I love about PtX is its potential to reduce our overall resource intensity by capitalising on renewable energy that would otherwise go to waste. Think about those times when solar and wind farms overproduce – PtX offers a storage and use solution, turning the spill of renewable into a new energy fuel source.

Michael Robinson

Why did you decide to join Cyan Ventures?

From a young age, I was a carer for my sister, who had a severe intellectual disability with a range of other health complications. Despite the challenge of moving to a new city like Adelaide and growing up as a young carer in a city where we had no real family support network, we received amazing support from a range of other networks. As such, part of what has been instilled by my family from a very young age is a sense of giving back to the broader community that supported my journey, looking outwards and always trying to find ways to drive a broader societal impact across what I do in my life.

Cyan’s focus on building the Big Bets to transition to a green economy resonates deeply with me. My goal at Cyan is to support clients and innovators in navigating the challenges that come with transition but also help them build on the opportunities that will come from this such as reducing emissions and generating employment.

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

I live in Sydney but grew up in both regional NSW and Adelaide. I studied a Bachelor of Economics (Advanced) and Bachelor of Finance. In 2020 I obtained first class honours in economics. I love the outdoors and being active. In my spare time you may find me running around the streets of Sydney, at the gym, having a hit of golf, watching footy (AFL and the Adelaide Crows of course!) or even playing footy for the mighty UTS Bats.

While at Accenture, I spent close to three years working with and advising both government and large organisations across the country and the globe, this has included:

  • Collaborated with ClimateWorks Centre and ARENA to develop the “Pathways to Industrial Decarbonisation” report for the Australian Industry Energy Transitions Initiative.
  • Provided economic and strategic advice to a state government on a local advanced manufacturing industry development plan, delivering recommendations to bolster an industry poised to contribute approximately $10 billion to the state’s economy over the next 10-20 years.
  • Supported the creation of a strategic business case for a government-industry venture capital fund, securing $10 million in government funding to assist female-led start-ups.

What is one Big Bet you are personally excited about?

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a Big Bet I am very keen to advance. While electrification shows promise for short-haul flights, for the prevalent long-haul journeys in Australia, SAF appears to be the most viable near-to-mid-term decarbonisation solution.

Cyan’s approach is about unlocking the collaboration new industries need – among government, industry, and ecosystem stakeholders to invest and take significant strides in innovation. I’m looking forward to Cyan’s role as the “connective tissue” to bring together all players across the ecosystem to help catalyse the creation of a SAF industry. Leveraging Australia’s strengths in renewable energy, the creation of a SAF industry can decarbonise a challenging sector.