Muhammad Usman Rahim
Piara Waters,Australia
Summary
Senior energy and carbon professional with global experience leading procurement strategies across regulatory, voluntary, and hybrid carbon markets. Recognised for deep capability in designing carbon pricing protocols across multiple market mechanisms and ensuring compliance with corporate disclosure and GHG reporting requirements. Proven expertise in structuring and executing complex energy and commodities contracts, including electricity, biomass, explosives, and raw materials. Highly accomplished in procurement, contract governance, and data‑driven decision‑making, with a strong track record of cross‑functional leadership and commercial problem‑solving to deliver strategic outcomes.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal Energy & Carbon
South32 Group Operations Pty Ltd
Perth, WA
08.2022 - Current
- Lead global carbon credit procurement strategy across Australia, South Africa, Colombia, the European Union, and the United States to meet regulatory liabilities and voluntary commitments at group level.
- Set and govern carbon pricing frameworks for markets and carbon tax schemes relevant to South32, embedding these into corporate Planning and Business Evaluation processes.
- Establish regulatory carbon assumptions to support long‑term planning, scenario analysis, and investment decisions.
- Lead the execution and management of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for South32 operations in Brazil.
- Oversee biomass supply strategy and contracting for the Worsley Alumina Refinery in Western Australia.
- Develop and drive data analytics and AI‑enabled insights to strengthen supply‑side decision‑making and commercial performance.
Category Specialist – Chemicals, Raw Materials, and Instrumentation
South32 Group Operations Pty Ltd
Perth, WA
11.2021 - 07.2022
- Managed portfolio of chemicals, raw materials, and instrumentation within the supply function, supporting operations across multiple jurisdictions.
- Led commercial contract negotiations with Explosives, Cement, Ferrosilicon, Lime, and instrumentation suppliers to execute commercial outcomes.
- Oversaw contract performance and supplier relationships to ensure continuity of supply during Forced Majure events.
- Partnered with sustainability team to design and implement strategies to improve Scope 3 emissions accounting across supply chains.
- Delivered business intelligence and analytical insights to inform and optimise procurement strategies.
- Implemented supply standards and policies to strengthen supply resilience and ensure continuity during periods of global market disruption.
Sr. Business Intelligence Analyst
Management Control Inc.
10.2019 - 11.2021
- Led an insights team to deliver high‑impact analytics and insights packages from the Track platform in support of the Rio Tinto Contractor Management program.
- Collaborated with internal and external stakeholders to define and meet diverse insights requirements across project, procurement, and operational teams.
- Performed commercial and contract analysis to support procurement strategy development for RTIO contract owners.
- Presented supplier performance and insights analysis to senior leadership stakeholders to inform decision‑making.
- Delivered customised dashboards to support implementation of RTIO’s fatigue management policy for contractor oversight.
- Designed and deployed Power BI dashboards for project leadership, procurement, and operations teams.
Energy Technology Consultant
Rio Tinto Iron ore
, WA
08.2019 - 10.2019
- Delivered a comprehensive techno‑economic assessment of alternative fuels and decarbonisation technologies applicable to RTIO Pilbara mine and rail operations.
- Integrated key findings into RTIO’s emissions reduction roadmap, informing strategic decarbonisation planning.
- Identified biofuels as a near‑term abatement solution, while defining long‑term actions focused on monitoring and participating in the development of mining electrification technologies.
Researcher/Lecturer
Murdoch University
Perth, WA
02.2018 - 08.2019
- Delivered lectures in the following courses: PEN504 Greenhouse Gas Reporting and Life Cycle Assessment, PEN634 Solar Thermal and Biomass Energy, and PEN623 Renewable Energy Systems Design.
- Developed a biomass-based solid fuel with lower inorganic contents (Alkali, Alkaline Earth Metals, and chlorine), comparable calorific value, and better grindability than general sub-bituminous coals.
- This fuel has potential applications in the steelmaking process amid high calorific value, lower AAEMs, and required structural properties for potential blast furnace operations.
- Co-supervised a PhD study on the topic of "Treatment of pyrolytic wastewater and adsorption of heavy bio-oil vapour with biochar: Experimental investigation and molecular simulation."
Assistant Professor & Member Technical Procurement Committee
University of the Punjab, Pakistan
, Pakistan
03.2015 - 01.2018
- Developed project proposal, acquired approvals from various government bodies, and implemented the project for the installation of a biomass gasification pilot plant, a pulverized combustion pilot plant, and 4 research laboratories comprising 212 fuel and mineral processing equipment.
- Completed various stages of the procurement cycle including PC-1 writing, tender drafting, procurement, vendor management, development and application of standard operating procedures, and coordination with stakeholders.
- Drafted technical specifications of analytical equipment and pilot-scale plants for two public sector-funded projects.
- Lead technical tender evaluation committee.
- Drafted, tendered, technically evaluated, and executed contracts for 212 scientific/analytical equipment.
- Supported the contractors/suppliers with problem resolution during implementation.
- Lead various laboratory teams to establish state-of-the-art laboratory operations.
- Build and maintained professional working relationships with suppliers, research groups, and industrial clients.
- Maintained records of supplies and coordinated with audit teams.
- Developed project reports and presented the progress of the project in accordance with the relevant regulatory framework.
- Acquired installation, operation, and data processing training for CRI-CSR system, a key analytical tool to assess the coking properties of metallurgical coke in the steelmaking process, from R.B. Automizione, Italy.
Ph.D. Scholar
Curtin University
Perth, WA
12.2010 - 12.2014
- Developed 2 novel methods for the quantification of chlorine in solid fuels by addressing the limitations of the conventional Eschka mixture method.
- Conducted research on lab-scale biomass pyrolysis systems by using different reactor configurations.
- Operated lab-scale drop tube furnace for generation and analysis of particulate matter (PM10) formed during biomass, coal, and sewage sludge combustion.
- Carried out rigorous analytical regimes for sample preparation, analysis, and product analysis.
- Major instruments/techniques included acid digestion followed by cation-ion chromatography, anion chromatography, inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP–OES), inductively coupled plasma–mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS), thermogravimetric Analysis, and elemental analysis.
- All the results were published in reputed peer-reviewed journals.
- Ensured the development and execution of safe chemical handling procedures in coordination with the departmental HSE team.
Lecturer
University of the Punjab, Pakistan
, Pakistan
01.2008 - 11.2010
- Prepared project proposal, acquired requisite approvals, and implemented the project for 2 development of fuel research laboratories.
- Designed laboratory infrastructure and acquired operation training for gas chromatograph, thermogravimetric analyser, bomb calorimeter, particle size analyser, hard groove grindability Index, and other comminution equipment.
- Delivered courses on coal characterisation and comminution, cement analysis, and clean coal technologies to M.Sc. Coal Technology Students.
Industrial Training in Cement Industry
Bestway Cement
, Pakistan
08.2006 - 08.2007
- Acquired training of routine chemical analysis for quality control department including XRF analysis, wet chemical analysis and physical analysis of raw materials, cement clinker, coal and ordinary Portland cement.
- Developed mathematical model to determine thermal efficiency of pyroprocessing unit, clinker cooler and 4 component based raw mix design.
Education
Ph.D. - Chemical Engineering
Curtin University
Australia01.2014
M.Phil. - Environmental Sciences
University of the Punjab
Pakistan01.2010
M.Sc. - Coal Technology
Centre for Coal Technology, University of the Punjab
Pakistan01.2007
Skills
- Carbon Markets (Regulatory, Voluntary, and Hybrid)
- Compliance in Carbon Tax and Allowance‑Based schemes
- Carbon Pricing Protocols and Governance
- Disclosure and GHG Reporting
- Strategic Procurement
- Commercial Negotiation
- Data Analytics
- Cross‑Functional Leadership
Awards
- Letter of Commendation, Chancellor of Curtin University, For excellent research achievements in the field of biomass based renewable energy technologies.
- Finalist, JCEC (WA)'s Inaugural Postgraduate Research Excellence Award, Engineers Australia, 2014
Policy Publications
- Prepared and submitted South32’s position to the European Union Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) consultation, advocating for the recognition of carbon credit procurement as part of the effective carbon price paid in a third country. (Link)
- Co‑authored a 2016 study assessing the current state, capacity gaps, and technology, policy, and regulatory frameworks in the coal sector across SAARC member states, with a focus on Pakistan, aimed at strengthening regional collaboration in the adoption of clean coal technologies.
- Co‑authored the report “Review of the 2016 Collie Coal and Energy Industry Opportunities Study”, prepared for the South West Development Commission (Ref: SWDC/234), which explored techno‑economic opportunities for Collie coal beyond power generation.
Personal Information
- Citizenship: Australian
- Driving License: WA Driving Licence
Timeline
Principal Energy & Carbon
South32 Group Operations Pty Ltd
08.2022 - Current
Category Specialist – Chemicals, Raw Materials, and Instrumentation
South32 Group Operations Pty Ltd
11.2021 - 07.2022
Sr. Business Intelligence Analyst
Management Control Inc.
10.2019 - 11.2021
Energy Technology Consultant
Rio Tinto Iron ore
08.2019 - 10.2019
Researcher/Lecturer
Murdoch University
02.2018 - 08.2019
Assistant Professor & Member Technical Procurement Committee
University of the Punjab, Pakistan
03.2015 - 01.2018
Ph.D. Scholar
Curtin University
12.2010 - 12.2014
Lecturer
University of the Punjab, Pakistan
01.2008 - 11.2010
Industrial Training in Cement Industry
Bestway Cement
08.2006 - 08.2007
Ph.D. - Chemical Engineering
Curtin University
M.Phil. - Environmental Sciences
University of the Punjab
M.Sc. - Coal Technology
Centre for Coal Technology, University of the Punjab