Prof Xinying Liu obtained his PhD in Chemistry from Nankai University, China and has been working in South Africa since 1999. He is currently a Full Professor and Co-Director of Institute for Catalysis and Energy Solutions (ICES) in the University of South Africa (UNISA). His research focus is int he field of synthetic gas conversion, traditionally in improving the efficiency of the coal to liquid process, to convert coal into liquid fuel and chemicals.  Currently his research is focused on green fuel and chemical production using biomass and captured CO2 as feedstock, the Biomass to Liquid (BTL) and Power to Liquid (PtL) processes. His work is focusing on providing a dispatched solutions for the BTL and PtL processes which is more suitable for African need, to utilize local energy resource to provide energy for Africa. He has won the 2010 South Africa NSTF innovation award, 2021 South Africa NRF Science Team award and was elected as a member of the Academy Sciences of South Africa Academy in 2021.