EP 20 — Evolution Energy Solutions’ Stacy Newstead on Navigating Regulatory Challenges in Tech and Defense
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Stacy Newstead, CEO of Evolution Energy Solutions , the US subsidiary of Evolution Energy Minerals, to explore her journey to leadership in the tech-defense sector. Stacy shares invaluable insights on balancing personal and company goals, highlighting how aligning these objectives can drive mutual success. She also dives into the complexities of navigating regulatory challenges while fostering innovation, emphasizing the importance of adhering to strict regulations.
Stacy also discusses the significant impact of advanced technologies on national defense, offering strategies for enhancing defense capabilities through strategic partnerships.
Topics discussed:
- The importance of aligning individual objectives with company goals to drive mutual success and achieve organizational growth.
- Insights into how to adhere to strict regulations while fostering innovation in the tech-defense sector.
- How advanced technologies can enhance national defense capabilities and the importance of integrating these innovations.
- The significance of fostering global partnerships while ensuring national security and navigating international collaborations.
- Understanding and mitigating risks within supply chains to ensure stability and efficiency in technological industries.
- The role of critical thinking in leadership and how it can drive effective decision-making in complex scenarios.
- The balance between economic interests and national security needs in the tech-defense landscape.
- The time and money involved in qualification processes for new technologies and how they impact company strategies.
- The necessity of investing in research and development to drive technological advancements and maintain a competitive edge.
Guest Quotes:
“I think I got to my role, or my role kind of found me through the product of a couple character traits that I have applied to most things that I do. So the first one's hard work speaks for itself. The second one is initiative. It's definitely what I think makes a difference among a lot of people. Critical thinking, a trait that I took for granted until my previous role. And I had to really recruit people who had that skill. I think I maintain a focus on where I want to go, but I remain very open to opportunity or something that I might not expect as it comes along.”
“In natural graphite, 100% of the graphite that's processed for batteries is coming from China right now. And for synthetic, pretty much about the same when you're talking about graphite applications for batteries. So it is a significant supply chain risk if you're talking about foreign dependency.”
“Because typically, if it's a defense-unique item, the quantity you're purchasing is too small to really have buying power, and you can't sacrifice the performance requirements. So you're kind of stuck with the price that is commanded for that item. But if it's a secure decision to use the same lithium ion battery in defense pieces of equipment that's being used in a commercial EV, then you get to leverage the power of the commercial buying market to bring down those prices.”
“So you care about your power being cost effective. And then Evolution has a net zero carbon footprint goal. So we are trying to find every way possible to ensure that we're reaching that goal and moving towards that goal. So then you're going to look for clean, green, renewable energy.”
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