Like many of us, when Aspiring Materials' CEO Mark Chadderton began his career, he was focused on his own goals. How to build his expertise, be involved with keystone projects and climb the proverbial ladder that leads to financial security and success.
He was focused on building his future.
But as a successful career in the oil, gas, sugar and dairy industries unfolded, Mark’s worldview began to change. He was struck by an uncomfortable realisation that the industries he’d invested his energy in, were fundamental contributors to the changes in the planet’s climate.
“My career to date has been extraordinary, and the opportunities and experiences I've had have uniquely positioned me to contribute to decarbonizing the very industries in which I spent 30 years building my expertise. Being in that position, where I could use my background to drive an initiative that could change the climate trajectory we’re currently on, it was a no brainer, I chose the ‘path less travelled’.”
Mark’s values kicked in and he made the firm decision to put his expertise and effort into solving the problems created by the industries he’d toiled for.
And in doing so, he’s refocused his view on building a better future for everyone.
Our past can define our future.
Mark’s career background reads like a climate activist’s hit list: big ag, oil and gas; companies that are interwoven with the story of human progress but also, more concerningly, with our current challenge of a changing climate.
There’s no denying it, working for companies that have directly contributed to the state of our warming climate doesn’t feel good now.
At the time though, Mark genuinely embraced the work and challenges these industries presented, finding great satisfaction in the opportunities they provided.
Responsible for commissioning large scale, complex operational plants, overseeing fast moving production teams, and managing eye-watering capex budgets, his work took him first to the UK and then Australia.
“I was deeply engaged in my work, eagerly taking on exciting roles and advancing my career. I was involved in leadership, systems development, commissioning & start-up, process improvement, safety, environmental performance, and energy management. I truly enjoyed the work and gained valuable insights. However, through this journey, I also became increasingly aware of the significant downstream impacts these industries have.”
As Mark's career advanced, he began to recognize the intricate connections between climate change and the industries he was involved in, gaining a broader understanding of their environmental implications. An increasing awareness of the problems within these industries began to outweigh his job satisfaction.
Mark had hoped things would change, and that those who have contributed to the state of emissions today might be magnanimous, do the right thing and lead the transition away from fossil fuels.
Then one day, point blank, Mark’s daughter asked, ‘Dad, are we going to be, OK?’.
“She meant how are we going to get ourselves out of this path we’re on with climate change. As a father, and as a human being, I couldn’t ignore that direct hit. It solidified a belief in me; change in these industries will not happen unless people like me, who have benefited directly from them, use our entitlement to do something to course correct, and right past wrongs. A ‘noblesse oblige’ of sorts.”
“We all have a level of obligation to do the right thing by the planet. But some of us have more obligation than others. I decided I had to do something that was going to be a major leap forward for climate change. I wasn't prepared to sit back and say to the next generation ‘it’s your problem’; we can’t continue to kick the can down the road.”
Mark decided he couldn’t be a passive passenger on the slow-moving train wreck of environmental degradation. He was all in to play an active role in being part of the solution.
A solution to clean up heavy industry.
In 2020, while the world stood still, Mark managed to move his family back home to Aotearoa New Zealand, back to his beloved Ōtautahi Christchurch. It’s where he was born and raised.
While disconnecting himself from the role he was in, Mark reconnected with an old university friend, Matt Watson, now Advisor for Chemical Process Development at Aspiring Materials.
At that time, the startup was a year old and ready to begin taking its first step from bench to lab scale.
His plan at first was to consult on scaling Aspiring’s operations. With his background in emissions-heavy industries, Mark immediately saw the potential in the technology Aspiring Materials was developing as a pathway to prevent industrial emissions.
“I’ve been involved in the industries that know the impact they’re having on the environment, on air quality, on water quality… but aren’t changing fast enough, or, are choosing not to change in some cases. While what Aspiring Materials offers is by no means a get out of jail free card for heavy polluters, I could see it as a solution to curb emissions immediately, a reprieve of sorts, while these industries sort out how to transition away from fossil fuels.”
The work Aspiring Materials was doing was exactly what Mark wanted to spend his energy on. The deeper he delved into the process, the clearer it became that this solution for preventing and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere was not only viable but far superior to anything he had encountered before.
As an engineer, he realized that the technology held unique potential, offering an innovative approach that could truly stand up to the daunting challenge of climate change.
Using what you’ve got to make a difference
Joining Aspiring Materials and leading the scale-up of a solution that will have global impact on industrial emission reductions, is like food for the soul for Mark.
But what he chooses to do outside of the office is more about feeding others. In his weekends, Mark spends his time on ‘the farm’, a small block of land on the Canterbury plains. He’s taking a regenerative approach to restore the soils and return the land to its natural characteristic, so he can then begin to grow food from the land.
Right now, his focus is to restore a wetland, replant natives and put in shelter.
The farm Mark is creating is not about building a business. Neither is it a hobby farm, or indulgence away from urban life. For Mark, the farm is a practice in giving back.
He sees it as a place where not only fruit and vegetables will one day bloom and feed local community, but where people themselves will blossom from a closer understanding in working with the whenua (land).
He recognises that where he is today is not only because of hard work. Mark knows the opportunities he’s had have come easier to him than for others, made possible by a better starting position from the get-go.
“We didn’t grow up well off, but my childhood was stable, I had parents who were able to prioritise three square meals every day of the year and getting me an education. I managed to finish a university degree in part because of their support. That puts you in a very small proportion of the population. It’d be wrong to squander that privilege and assume it all came down to me alone.”
Not because we can. Because we must.
Swapping corporate life for startup hustle has been a refreshing change for Mark. It’s given him a new kind of challenge as a leader who has always strived to get the desired outcome in the best possible way.
“I’ve always enjoyed working with people who are dedicated to delivery. Our team not only has that dedication, they also bring very finely tuned skills and an approach that doesn’t settle for just good enough. It’s been a highlight to work alongside them, helping to crystalise the systems and build the story to be more compelling to an industrial mindset. Our science is robust, the answer we have is outstanding.”
In the office or out on the land, Mark is pouring his energy into righting past wrongs. Whether he was responsible for them or not is not really the point.
The real point is that he’s seen his opportunity to lead change where he can, and he’s doing it.
Mark Chadderton is Chief Executive Officer and a co-founder at Aspiring Materials. His experience working for the very industries that need to decarbonise rapidly, but safely, means the technology Aspiring Materials is developing is cognisant of the challenges faced in achieving that goal.
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