Michael Myer
Chairman and Director
Michael is a serial entrepreneur with venture capital experience in start-up ventures, venture capital and sustainable development. He has a passionate interest in bringing engineering and economic resources to projects to support our social and environmental challenges.
In recent years, Michael has been the leading practitioner of Conservation Sustainable Development in the country having developed “Sunrise at 1770” at Agnes Waters on the Great Barrier Reef. This development won the award for the Best Environmental Development in Queensland in 2007 (UDIA), the Best Environmental Development in Australia in 2008 (UDIA) and the Silver Medal for the Best Environmental Development in the world (FBICA) in 2009.
“In a world facing the existential threat of global warming, it is an honour to Chair a company and lead a team that can have such a profound impact on society’s race to deep decarbonization. Sunshine Hydro is such a company. Everyone in the company is consumed by a shared passion to make that difference real and lasting.” Michael Myer
Rick McElhinney
B.E(hon) / MIEAust
Chief Executive Officer and Director (CEO)
Rick is an experienced entrepreneur, angel investor, a recognised author and speaker. He is the founder of Founders Forum, Gold Coast Angels, Brisbane Angels and was awarded a Founding Fellow of the Australian Association of Angel Investors. His experience and interest in engineering and renewable energy provide background to his key skills in bringing start-ups to fruition through his business investment, financial management and mentoring. Rick was a shareholder and CFO in renewables energy company, Eco-kinetics, which grew from start-up to in excess of $100m in revenues prior to its sale to ASX listed, CBD Energy.
“If I have seen further,” Isaac Newton wrote in a 1675 letter to fellow scientist Robert Hooke, “it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Being part of Sunshine Hydro gives me the ability to see further into the delivery of green energy and green hydrogen than I ever could have imagined. The giants are the visionary founders of Sunshine Hydro and each member of the team who painstakingly deliver their vision. It is an honour to participate.” Rick McElhinney
Chris Baker
MIEAust / CPEng / RPEQ / APEC Engineer / Int PE (Aus)
Founder, Director and CTO
Chris is a civil and software engineer with a recent focus on electro-mobility and renewable energy integration. Past experience includes infrastructure projects such as construction planning of coal loader offshore works, detailed design of highway grade separated interchanges, design and systems analysis for highway design software used in 42 countries and design and construction of municipal facilities.
“The latest IPCC report is headlined as code red for humanity. For me, it’s been code red since 2016 when we started Sunshine Hydro. We need to reduce our carbon footprint, and at Sunshine Hydro we have found ways to solve the toughest problems we face as we bring in more renewable energy — we do that with good engineering and economics, and a dose of stubbornness and hard work. This seems to be catching and I am delighted that so many have joined with us in our shared vision. By working on this together we do have a chance of leaving a habitable world to our next generations.” Chris Baker
Matthew Lawson
B.Bus / CPA
Matthew is a highly skilled CFO. He has owned and run businesses for over 30 years. He is currently the proprietor of Lawson Financial.
Mathew’s career has been centred around working alongside leadership and management teams to provide the financial skills, structure and support to successfully start, improve or grow businesses. Supporting teams and impacting the growth of businesses, and raising the capital to bring dreams to life is his passion.
“I’m extremely excited to join the Sunshine Hydro organisation. The team, culture, and dedicated work over the last seven years is extremely impressive. The leadership team’s passion to make a difference, delivered via their focused strategy and clever IP will make a significant positive impact on the planet. Throughout this exciting journey, we will create a very special business and return for shareholders.” Matthew Lawson
Dan Raymond
Dip. Civil Eng / B.Env Sc (AES) / Cert. Journalism / Cert. Group Trainer and Facilitator
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Director of Project Development
Dan has over forty years experience in civil engineering, environmental engineering, sustainable infrastructure, environmental science, project management, team leadership, public consultation, negotiation, policy development, risk assessment and strategic planning in Australia and Internationally.
“As we struggle globally to move towards reduced emissions and to mitigate the future effects of a warming world, it can be difficult for individuals to know how to contribute. At Sunshine Hydro, we can actually do something meaningful and beneficial in a real way. Our projects can help change the world for everyone. This is my contribution.” Dan Raymond
Kevin Peakman
B.Eng (Chem) (Hons)
Projects Preliminary Design
Kevin is leading the development of hydrogen production via electrolysis as a mechanism for assisting electricity grid stability whilst producing green hydrogen for use domestically and for export. He runs Kandls Engineering, specialising in assisting clients with using hydrogen as an energy carrier and energy storage medium. Kevin has 35 years of experience with hydrogen including steam methane reformer plant design and operation, electrolyser operation, and hydrogen storage systems including liquid hydrogen, hydrogen distribution and fuel cell design. He is a member of several Standards Australia technical committees developing and maintaining standards in the clean energy space including hydrogen.
“I believe the AESOP AI software developed by Sunshine Hydro will provide a great source of firm green energy that many industries and manufacturers are calling for with added benefit of green hydrogen production.” Kevin Peakman
Queenie Lacanau
B.Eng (Civil)
Engineer Associate
David Wolfenden
Dip Tech (Civil Eng) / B.Eng, Dip Mgt / FIE Aust / LGE / FIMEA
Director Site Identification and Analysis
“What I like about Sunshine Hydro is that our technology and systems are focused upon producing commercial quantities of green electricity, green hydrogen and green oxygen.
I am enthusiastic for this opportunity to make a real difference to sustainable energy pathways.
Tim Cummings
B.Sc (Maths) / B.E (Chem) / GCBA
Principal Software Engineer
Tim is a software engineer, mathematician and chemical engineer. He consults on energy optimisation and has 25 years experience developing software for engineering applications including pinch analysis of energy flows in refineries. Recently, he successfully combined his skills in software development, accounting, business, logistics and maths for an energy trading and risk management project at Caltex Australia.
“Harnessing the wind and the sun has, for decades, driven my recreational sports of sailing, windsurfing and hang-gliding. Now I can capture that same energy in my work at Sunshine Hydro.” D Tim Cummings
Sasith Koralagoda
M.Sc B.Sc (Hons Software Engineering)
Software Engineer
I’m a software engineer who has skills and experience in both software and hardware programming and I am passionate about developing innovative technical solutions for real world problems. I am devoted to constantly improving tools and infrastructure to maximize productivity, minimize system downtime and quickly respond to the changing needs of the real time businesses.
On a personal level, I spend time researching emerging technologies that aim to develop innovative technical solutions.
“I enjoy the opportunity Sunshine Hydro gives me to learn and advance my skill set whilst working with a great team of people. I get to work with leading edge technology such as AESOP and contribute to taking this next generation technology into the world. Most importantly, I am grateful to be a proud member of the Sunshine Hydro team because the company is doing an exceptional job of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and saving the world for the future.” Sasith Koralagoda
Sorin Lupulescu
Advisor
Sorin is a professional engineer, specialist in hydropower operations and maintenance, with over 30 years of asset management experience in the Australian power generation industry.
Sorin was the manager of Wivenhoe Power Station for over 10 years. Wivenhoe’s twin hydro machines (pump-turbine-generator sets) remain the largest and most powerful hydro machines in South East Asia and part of Queensland’s only pumped hydro plant.
Sorin has also worked with Tarong Energy and CS Energy, the successive owners of Wivenhoe Pumped Storage Hydro, as well as Hydro Tasmania, as the power schemes engineering manager, Fluor Global as operations engineer, and in his earlier career, as a maintenance engineer with Macquarie Generations at Bayswater Power Station.
David Netherton
LLB / B.ASc / Solicitor of the Supreme Court in Queensland / Australian Institute of Company Directors
Advisor / Head of Habitat Enhance
David Netherton is a highly experienced property lawyer, originally with national firm Minter Ellison. He is a founder and director of specialist property development law firm, Pacific Law, that has offices in Qld, Vic & NSW and services large property developers, listed companies and high net worth individuals across Australia. His expertise covers commercial and residential property developments, strata scheme/staging advice and acquisitions/disposals of major residential, commercial and industrial sites.
Swati Johnri
Advisor
Swati has extensive experience in providing legal, commercial and strategic advice on program design, procurement and transaction execution to major infrastructure projects (including PPPs) and renewable energy projects.
Donovan Burton
Advisor
Donovan is a climate change adaptation specialist with a diverse portfolio of experience, having completed more than 150 climate change risk and adaptation projects. He is focused on influencing change adaptation governance through disruptive technology, big data and the internet of things. Donovan recently founded the Informed City platform for climate change adaptation governance assessments. In the past 12 months, the platform has been used to understand the adaptation governance of 230 organisations across numerous jurisdictions.
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