Our Mission
The Global Syngas Technologies Council (GSTC) mission is to be the central meeting place for the international syngas industry. We provide a platform to showcase the cutting edge technologies that move the industry forward as voiced by the industry’s technology providers, as used and evaluated by the industry’s manufacturers, and as supported by the industry’s engineering, construction, and equipment providers. We provide attractive settings where industry leaders and decision makers network, do deals and make life-long friendships. Finally, we promote the industry to the public by articulating its value and environmental sensitivity and amplifying our member’s news, operational achievements, and accomplishments.
GSTC Leadership
William E. Preston
Executive Director
Bill has been involved with the GSTC and its predecessor organizations since 1983. He has had a 38-year career in the process industry including all aspects of the syngas industry. He is the President and Chief Operating Officer of KP Engineering.
Bill had a 22-year career at Texaco that encompassed technical positions, and leadership positions in technology licensing, project development, and ultimately, division management. He went on to top management positions in international technology companies Linc Energy Ltd., Synthesis Energy Systems, GreatPoint Energy, and the Energy Capital Group.
Bill holds an MS degree in Chemical Engineering from his beloved University of Texas at Austin, and a BA in Chemistry from Pomona College in Claremont, California. He is the recipient of numerous industry awards and honors and has authored and presented numerous technology-related articles and papers.
Bea Ann Phillips
Director, Membership and Planning
Bea Ann Phillips has been an independent meeting planner and consultant for over 20 years, managing conferences and trade shows for a variety of national and international clients in the energy sector. She has worked with the GTC/GSTC since 2000.
Prior to establishing her consulting business, Bea Ann spent 16 years managing an association in Washington DC where she wrote and managed grant projects and served as chief financial officer; membership development specialist and education coordinator. Prior to that, Bea Ann was a research analyst in the public relations firm of Hill and Knowlton.
Bea Ann holds a BA in Communications from Kent State University and a Master’s in Public Administration, specializing in Non-Profit Management from Virginia Polytechnic institute and State University.
Executive Committee
David Burns
Chairman
Dr. David Burns is the Vice President of Global Business Development for Linde. While based in Pullach, Germany he is responsible for supporting the hydrogen and syngas businesses growth globally.
Prior to Praxair’s merger with Linde, David was Praxair’s Director of Business Development for hydrogen and syngas and also held several positions before that supporting the growth of new business globally in the chemical and energy industries. Before joining Praxair, Dr. Burns worked for Dow Chemical as the Business Manager for their gas treating and specialty amine businesses.
Dr. Burns has a B.Sc. and Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Leeds in the UK, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas in Austin.
Julian Morris
Vice Chairman
Julian is currently the Head of Americas Regional Sales-Chemicals for Johnson Matthey based in Chicago.
From 1986 to 1997 Julian held senior plant process and project management roles within the Methanex New Zealand organization including a 3-year overseas secondment role with Methanex in Canada. Julian joined Johnson Matthey (formerly ICI) in 1997 as a Technical Sales Engineer in the gas processing, CO2 and chemical business units. He then managed the regional team before becoming the Global Business Manager of the fats and oils catalyst business unit. Since 2003, Julian has held various regional and business development management roles across the Johnson Matthey syngas, GTL and refinery business units, and now manages the commercial team for the chemicals business for Johnson Matthey in the Americas region.
Julian graduated with a BSc (Chemistry) in 1984 and a BEng (Chemical and Process) in 1986 from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.
Carrie Lalou
Treasurer
Carrie Lalou is Director of Business Development for Linde Gases US where she has responsibility for the hydrogen and syngas business for the US and onsite atmospheric gases business for the South Region. She joined Linde Engineering’s Hydrogen & Syngas business unit for North America in 2017, where she was responsible for the development and implementation of projects involving the production of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, ammonia, methanol, and other syngas-derived gas products.
Prior to that, she served as Vice President of Business Development and Vice President of Technology for Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc, a gasification technology and chemicals company. Carrie came to Linde with 20 years of experience in the gasification and EPC industry with roles at GE Power & Water, S&B Engineers and Constructors, and the M.W. Kellogg Company.
Carrie holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and is a licensed professional engineer in Texas.
Geoff Achilles
At Large Member
Geoff is currently the Director of the Process Gases Technology group at Air Products. The group consists of 30 international researchers and scientists in the areas of gasification, synthesis gas, process gas cryogenics, and materials. Their goal is to create new, value-added technologies and to improve existing technologies for the related businesses. They work closely with the Engineering Process Gases Product group and the operating plants.
After joining Air Products in 1992 he spent 18 years in HyCO with assignments in engineering, technology, and operations. He then managed the technology group as the Energy Business Technology Manager before transitioning to his current role as Director of the Process Gases Technology Group.
Geoff received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
David Kelling
At Large Member
David is the Business Development Manager of the Syngas Technology division at Haldor Topsoe, Inc.
Over the past 30 years, he has gained experience throughout the syngas industry specializing in operations and engineering of ammonia, methanol, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, partial oxidation and supply and service of catalyst and syngas technology.
David holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Kansas State University.