MEET THE TEAM
We’ve assembled a strong senior management team with a solid track record of global, cleantech and high-growth experience. We believe that we’ve demonstrated the ability to work in a fast-paced start-up environment — including the flexibility to adapt to different phases of growth and substantial changes.
Jim Liaskos
Chief Operating Officer
B.Eng, MBA
Jim Liaskos has had a long and illustrious career including as General Manager at Pacific Dunlop recycling division, COO and subsequently Chair of Melba Industries and Managing Director of the Charles Parsons Group of Companies. More recently Jim has focused his attention to early stage and start-up businesses including inaugural Chair of Paintback, PRR (providing investment and advice to business, with a focus on commercialisation of novel technologies), and Chair of Sherpa (NORA’s Carrier of the Year 2019).
Rowan Doyle
General Manager, R&D Projects
B.Eng (Hons), MBA
Rowan joined the team in April 2018 to help lead our projects and accelerate the growth of Capricorn Power. Rowan loves working with revolutionary start-ups to commercialise their new energy technologies. As Director of the Victorian Energy Incubator, Rowan connects clean energy innovators with collaborators, laboratories, workshops and funding opportunities. Rowan also inspires Master of Engineering students through his lectures on innovative engineering at The University of Melbourne.
Sophie Bainbridge
Senior Mechatronics Engineer
BSc, MEng (Mechatronics)
Sophie has a Masters of Mechatronic Engineering from the University of Melbourne, and has previously worked on the control systems for a range of different projects, including medical diagnostic devices and in the defence industry. She joined the Capricorn Power team in November 2019 after learning about the Barton Engine and its potential to provide sustainable baseload power. She is passionate about renewable energy and protecting the environment.
Our Board of Directors
Geoff Andrews
Board Chair
B.Eng (Mech), CPEng, FAIE, GAICD
Geoff has been passionate about the environment since primary school so it’s no surprise that he has become a leader in using technology to combat climate change and conserve resources. Geoff enjoys the mental challenge of finding better ways to do things and thrives on the challenges of implementing new technologies. In 1991, Geoff established Genesis Now, a company that partners with Australian businesses to reduce energy consumption and costs. Geoff is an Advisory Panel member for the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and a Director of Airlift Hovercraft.
Rob Jolly
Deputy Chair
BEco (Hons), MEco, DipEd
Rob has been involved in environmental economics for 30 years. He was Treasurer of Victoria under the Cain government and before that was an ACTU research officer and industrial advocate. Rob has been on a number of boards, including recently Chair of Utilities Trust of Australia (UTA), and has strong experience in ESG. Rob developed a model of the renewable electricity market when it was established in 2000. As an adviser to Visy recycling, one area of review was waste management. In 2018 and 2019 Rob was a member of the United Nations commission in the financial sector looking at modern slavery and human trafficking.
Frank Walker
Director, & CFO
BBus, FCPA, MA
Frank has a background in finance, technology and logistics, working in various roles in manufacturing (industrial, FMCG), financial, technology and retail business, including organisations such as Repco, Pacific Dunlop, UBF, Westpac, Elders Finance, Deloitte Consulting / Outsourcing and Unisys. He has a passion for startups and enjoys supporting companies through periods of great change, especially during scale-ups.
Advisors
Noel Barton
Technical Founder
and Technology Advisor
and Technology Advisor
BSc, PhD, DUniv (h.c.), FRSN, AM
Noel Barton was educated at the University of Western Australia, finishing with a PhD in Applied Mathematics in 1973. Prior to work with Capricorn Power (2016 - ), his employment experience included academia (University of NSW, 1975-81), Government scientist and research manager (CSIRO, 1973-74, 1981-2003) and independent inventor (Sunoba Pty Ltd, 2004-16). For the past two decades, his passion has been to develop new engines to turn heat into power, culminating in Capricorn Power’s present engine, for which he is the inventor of the key patent. He retired from full-time work for Capricorn Power in late 2020, but continues to collaborate on technical and patent matters. He remains active in research, particularly into new concepts for gas compression and expansion.
Peter Young
Capricorn Power Co-founder, Biomass Conversion, Pyrolysis & Regional Energy Advisor
B. Arch
Peter has a background in major projects in the Australian property sector and is an advocate for sustainable environmental practices. He has extensive experience at non-executive and executive level and as a strategic advisor.
Peter has developed skills in new venture formation, has delivered community engagement in climate solutions and assisted capital raising in the clean technology sector, over the past 25 years.
An introduction to Dr. Noel Barton over 15 years ago led to investigating exciting opportunities emerging in the Heat to Power sector, starting with Concentrated Solar Power and the Capricorn Power Barton engine. This has led to assessing the opportunities for value adding to pyrolysis and biomass conversion technologies and systems.
Ross George
Engineering Advisor
B. Eng (Hons)
Ross established Austeng over 30 years ago, a boutique engineering firm that specialises in the design, development and building of customised electro-mechanical systems. Over three decades, Ross has partnered with clients to introduce their cutting edge technology to increasingly competitive global markets. Ross’s flair for innovation coupled with a brilliant business mind, has cemented his place as a leader in the engineering design industry. In 2010, Ross was inducted as a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering Australia in recognition of his sustained contribution to major engineering projects.
Vicki Tutungi
Intellectual Property
and Legal Advisor
and Legal Advisor
MBA
Vicki is the former Director of the Nanotechnology Flagship program at CSIRO and previously held the role of CEO at ASX-listed Optiscan. More recently, Vicki was the Managing Director of ProLearn Corporation and she was an Executive at Foldable By Design, a specialist developer of niche next-generation medical micro-devices
Andrew Elliott
Special Advisor
Andrew Elliott is a highly respected investment professional with degrees in law and commerce. He brings a wealth of experience in investment management and is adept at navigating through periods of significant change and disruption.
With a strong background in non-executive and senior executive roles, he has demonstrated expertise in managing complex restructurings, addressing conflicting stakeholder interests, and fostering consensus. Andrew is a forward-thinking strategist who prioritises collaboration and support for boards and executive management teams working on ambitious projects.
His most recent executive role was as Deputy Chief Investment Officer at the Victorian Funds Management Corporation (VFMC). He is currently Chairman of the ISPT property group.