SPARC Evolution’s Mission & Vision
SPARC Evolution was founded with a clear purpose: to redefine the way we recover critical materials from lithium-ion batteries. As demand for electric vehicles and energy storage grows, traditional recycling methods fail to meet efficiency, cost, and environmental standards.
Our Mission
Drive the global transition to clean energy by developing scalable and sustainable solutions for critical material recovery.
Our Vision
Transform critical materials supply so that every battery contributes to a truly circular, sustainable economy.
Leadership Team
Science-led, impact-driven. Our team brings deep expertise in critical materials, technology scale-up, and global commercialization.
SPARC Evolution is built on more than 70 years of combined expertise in process development, engineering design, piloting, scale-up, and commercialization. With a foundation in real-world pilot validation and technical leadership, the company is advancing a next-generation battery recycling solution that delivers high-purity critical materials and strengthens the foundation of the clean energy supply chain.
Dr. Ghazaleh Nazari
Founder & CEO
Dr. Ghazaleh Nazari, a seasoned expert in hydrometallurgy and battery recycling, brings over 17 years of experience in developing and scaling cleantech solutions for critical material recovery. She is the Founder & CEO of SPARC Evolution, where she is advancing scalable, circular solutions to strengthen domestic critical material supply through a next-generation battery recycling platform.
Throughout her career, she led major programs at Hatch and Coherent, developing and scaling technologies to extract and refine critical elements such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earths. Her work spans the full innovation lifecycle, from lab development and piloting to commercialization and deployment, with successful projects across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
Dr. Nazari holds a Bachelor’s and Ph.D. in Materials Engineering, with a minor in Business and Engineering Management, from the University of British Columbia. She is a licensed Professional Engineer, an inventor on multiple patents, and the author of numerous technical publications focused on sustainable metals recovery and purification. Her leadership integrates scientific depth, operational execution, and a commitment to clean technology innovation.
Dr. Peter Kondos
VP of Strategy & Commercialization
Dr. Peter Kondos is a globally recognized mining innovator and former technology executive at Barrick Gold, Inco (Vale), and Noranda (Glencore), where he delivered transformative solutions across R&D, operations, and strategy. His career has focused on turning complex challenges into scalable innovations, bridging industry and academia, and creating long-term roadmaps that generate sustained value. He co-founded YaKum Innovative Mining Consultants and currently advises multiple cleantech and deep-tech startups.
Dr. Kondos is the recipient of the Sherritt Hydrometallurgy Award and two Innovation Awards (2016 & 2019), and served as Chair of the Canada Mining Innovation Council. He also holds an Adjunct Professorship at the University of Toronto and remains an active contributor to Canada’s national innovation ecosystem, with a focus on technology commercialization, circularity, and decarbonization.
He holds a Ph.D. in Hydrometallurgical Engineering from McGill University and is known for integrating technical insight, commercial strategy, and collaborative leadership. His impact spans North and South America, Europe, and Asia, where he has led programs at the interface of environmental stewardship, advanced materials, and the energy transition.
Dr. Yeonuk Choi
VP, Operations & Technology
Dr. Yeonuk Choi is a metallurgical engineer and operational leader with over 30 years of experience in process innovation, technology commercialization, and industrial scaling. His career includes senior roles at Barrick Gold, Noranda/Falconbridge, and Korea Zinc, where he advanced new hydrometallurgical solutions and built operational strategies to deliver measurable value across multiple sites worldwide.
He is the President of YaKum Consulting, providing strategic and technical expertise to the mining and metals sector, and serves as an Advisory Board member at Cyclic Materials, helping guide innovation in circular economy and sustainable critical materials recovery. Dr. Choi has led the development and commercialization of several first-of-kind processes, including cyanide-free gold recovery, and is the inventor on more than 10 patents.
Recognized for bridging research and industry, Dr. Choi combines practical problem-solving with systems thinking to overcome complex technical challenges. He holds a Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and has received multiple honors, including the CIM Sherritt Hydrometallurgy Award and the CIM Innovation Award (2016).
Renata Arsenault
Advisory Board
Renata Arsenault is a recognized global expert in advanced battery recycling and sustainability, with nearly two decades of leadership at Ford Motor Company. Since 2006, she has been at the forefront of Ford’s battery initiatives, developing recycling strategies, advancing supply chain circularity, and building collaborations with suppliers, recyclers, and research institutions to accelerate sustainable solutions for the EV and energy storage industries.
She plays a leading role across the industry as NAATBatt Chair Emeritus, Board Member, and Co-Chair of the Recycling Committee. She also serves as a program lead for the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), where she manages collaborative R&D initiatives spanning second life, lifecycle analysis, and closed-loop recycling pathways. Renata has been widely recognized for her ability to bridge technical innovation with industry adoption.
Renata holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University and began her career in process development and scale-up of specialty chemicals before transitioning into the battery sector. She brings deep industry ties across the global battery supply chain and continues to be a driving force in shaping sustainable materials strategies for the automotive industry.
Together, our leadership team draws from decades of experience in battery materials, engineering, and global business development , committed to advancing sustainable solutions for critical mineral recovery.
Our Breakthrough
SPARC™ was created to solve the bottlenecks that hold back battery recycling. Conventional processes rely on multi-stage separations and crystallization, driving high costs, high energy use, and waste. SPARC™ changes that. With a streamlined process, we recover lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite at battery-grade purity without the costly, multi-step flowsheets. The result is lower energy use, lower capital requirements, and direct outputs ready to flow back into new batteries.
Why It Matters
Our work goes beyond recovery. It enables circularity at scale. By designing a process that is simple, efficient, and industrially viable, SPARC™ is building the foundation for a cleaner, more resilient supply chain.
Circular by design: High-purity pCAM and lithium salts feed directly into battery manufacturing.
Scalable and deployable: Compact plants with smaller footprints accelerate adoption worldwide.
Global impact: Reducing waste and emissions while securing critical materials for electrification.
SPARC™ closes the loop by transforming battery waste into battery-grade materials, powering sustainable electrification across NMC and LFP chemistries.
Join Us in Building the Future
We are building a cleaner, smarter, scalable future for critical materials recovery. If you are an investor, partner, or industry leader committed to sustainable energy, we’d love to hear from you.