Chair

Richard has wide ranging experience in manufacturing, technical development and business management in the sugar industry, petrochemicals, oil and gas industry and solar thermal systems. He has taken products from the patent stage through to market in two different industry sectors. Has successfully run a number of his own private businesses, two of which having been on sold to major international operators. He is also experienced at board level in government business enterprises, listed companies and tertiary research organisations. Richard is keen to share experiences with others and assist in developing business opportunities into great business outcomes. Richard has a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree (First Class Honours) from the University of Adelaide and a Master of Science (Operations Research and Business Management) degree from Imperial College, London, and is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Managing Director

Matthew has completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronic) and Computer Science at the University of Adelaide with First Class Honours. He has led technical teams to successful outcomes in several projects including his honours project with the design and build of a table tennis playing robot. Upon graduating, Matt worked as a Research Engineer at the University of Adelaide, leading the development of robotic equipment for testing semi-autonomous features in new vehicles. Matthew has always enjoyed building technical solutions to worthwhile problems; making the global challenge of large scale energy storage irresistible. This has led to the discovery of the technology on which Economical Energy was founded.

Director

Andrew’s work career in the Upstream Oil & Gas industry spanned over 3 decades. His experience has included all operational facets, as well as contractor management, with a strong focus on environmental, occupational health and safety issues. Andrew has managed complex projects, able to provide a holistic approach to achieve outcomes. He has worked multiple state jurisdictions in Australia. Whilst on expatriate assignment in South and South East Asia he managed multiple businesses, engaging with Joint Venture parties and Governments alike. Andrew holds degrees in Applied Science and Business Management, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Andrew is Rotarian, and donates his time to numerous local causes.

Andrew held the position of Exploration Futurist at OZ Minerals, bringing with him 20 years of experience in data and information management, business analysis, and information technology in the exploration geology field. His role involved leveraging his extensive expertise to enable the identification of new opportunities and the implementation of cutting-edge approaches to exploration, significantly contributing to the advancement of geological exploration practices.

With over 35 years’ of experience Jonathan Whalley is a successful entrepreneur, project manager and engineer. He has two engineering degrees (BSC Hons, and MSc) and an MBA. Prior to his Australian start-up career Jonathan was a signal processing research engineer at a leading UK research centre and held technical leadership roles on the development of ground segment components of the European Space Agency’s first remote sensing satellite (ERS-1). Jonathan has worked as an entrepreneur and engineer in Australia for almost 30 years. He founded DSpace Pty Ltd in 1995 where he led the growth of the Company through organic expansion and completed a multi-million-dollar venture capital funding round. DSpace further developed its globally supplied, proprietary mobile satellite terminal technology before being sold to a NASDAQ listed company in 2007. Over the past 15 years Jonathan has been an active angel investor, and Director and C-level Executive in multiple technology start-ups. In addition to founding Spatial Hub Analytics Pty Ltd (www.spatialhub4d.com), he was founding CEO of energy storage company 1414 Degrees Ltd (www.1414degrees.com.au) (ASX.14D), where he led the development of the Company’s first demonstration system. Subsequently as Head of Contracts he was a member of the due diligence committee for 1414’s successful ASX listing.

Jo is a partner at an international law firm, specialising in energy transition projects and commercialisation. She has over 20 years' experience in the power, decarbonisation and climate change fields. Jo has guided clients through the State's biggest industrial scale renewable energy micro-grid, (what was) the world's largest hybrid power system for a remote mine site, Australia's first co-located wind and solar farm, a $65 million ARENA funded virtual power plant solution, vanadium flow battery commercialisation and electric vehicle infrastructure rollouts. She regularly assists utilities, offtakers, power project developers and large energy users. Jo is passionate about the new energy transition and all the technology that must be brought to bear to decarbonise. Jo holds a double degree in law and economics and is qualified in New Zealand and Australia.