Professor John Mavrogenes Featured on ABC’s Rear Vision to Discuss Global Rare Earth Supply Tensions
Canberra, Australia – June 8, 2025 — As rare earth elements (REE) dominate global headlines, Professor John Mavrogenes of the Australian National University contributed expert insights on ABC Radio National’s flagship documentary program Rear Vision.
In a 29-minute segment titled “Rare Earth Minerals”, Mavrogenes joined an international panel of experts to explore the complex and increasingly fraught geopolitics of REE supply, ownership, and strategic leverage. Other guests included Gracelin Baskin (CSIS, Washington DC), Olivia Lazard (Carnegie Europe), and Dr. Chris Vernon (CSIRO, Perth).
REEs are vital to the green energy transition, military systems, and cutting-edge electronics. As global trade tensions intensify and resource nationalism rises, countries are urgently re-evaluating their access to these strategic materials.
“Understanding who controls REE supply chains is not just an economic issue—it’s a geopolitical imperative,” said Mavrogenes during the broadcast.
John Mavrogenes, who leads the “Accelerating Processing” theme at the Centre for Critical Resources for the Future (CCRF), emphasised Australia’s critical role as a major REE supplier and the pressing need for innovation in extraction and refining technologies.
The episode, presented by Ros Bluett, can be streamed on ABC Radio National’s website and podcast platforms. https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Flisten%2Fprograms%2Frearvision%2Frae-rearth-minerals%2F105340230&data=05%7C02%7Cnatasha.bartlett%40uwa.edu.au%7Cd7a4b750b81a431b42bd08dda680d08a%7C05894af0cb2846d8871674cdb46e2226%7C0%7C0%7C638849794384687713%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=cF6LGZPeMazkLYeyGUZ%2FXOtliDYXC3HRuMmk1PHQ6ko%3D&reserved=0