Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: Tom Huizinga

The World Refining Association is proud to announce Tom Huizinga, Business Consultant at Avantium and CEO of Huizinga Enterprises, as the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, a recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the global refining industry.

With over 30 years of experience spanning global oil refining, manufacturing, technology, and operations, Tom has made an indelible mark on our industry. His career began at Shell, where he rose to become the global expert in Hydrocracking Developments, overseeing unit design, catalyst selection, operational strategy, and R&D programs. Tom’s pioneering work in zeolite synthesis, modification, and application in processes such as hydrocracking, dewaxing, isomerisation, and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis helped transform refining practices. He played a pivotal role in developing commercial manufacturing routes for new catalyst formulations, leading to groundbreaking hydrocracking catalysts that reshaped Shell’s middle distillate selective hydrocrackers, now deployed in refineries in sites such as Rayong and Pernis.

His later work included comparative catalyst testing for refineries, notably through Avantium’s Centre of Expertise, ensuring refiners worldwide could access reliable, data-driven solutions. Tom also co-developed the Global Margin Uplift methodology, a powerful framework that identified margin improvement opportunities without heavy capital spending. This methodology has been practiced in all Shell refineries and implemented with Shell Global Solutions’ international clients delivering lasting impact and clear results.

During this time, Tom also contributed extensively to the scientific community, authoring over 30 patents and publications that continue to influence catalysis and refining technologies today.

Since joining Avantium in 2012, Tom has been instrumental in expanding the Avantium’s Refinery Catalyst Testing business, earning industry-wide respect for his technical expertise, strategic foresight, and collaborative approach. In parallel, as CEO of Huizinga Enterprises, he has continued to provide invaluable consultancy to refinery clients, sharing his unique ability to bridge molecular-scale understanding with large-scale operational solutions.

Beyond his technical contributions, Tom has been a mentor and inspiration to professionals, always encouraging curiosity in the molecular foundations of catalytic processes. His guidance has fostered faster problem-solving and smoother implementation of emerging technologies, an influence still felt today across Avantium and many of Huizinga Enterprises’ clients.

Tom Huizinga’s legacy is defined by integrity, innovation, and impact. His lifetime of achievement has shaped the future of refining, and we are honored to celebrate his extraordinary career at this year’s Awards of Excellence.

“Tom’s been a huge influence on me over the last nine years at Avantium. He’s always been there with advice, support, and a ton of energy that somehow never runs out. His drive is contagious, and working with him has pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect. His journey reminds us that true innovation flourishes where expertise meets vision, and where every challenge is embraced as an opportunity for transformation. Couldn’t be happier to see him get this award, he really deserves it.”

Tiago Vilela, Director Refinery Catalyst Testing, Avantium