Chris studied accounting and computing at QUT, majoring in statistics (Operations Research). Working for many international companies including IBM, HP, Digital, and BEA Systems, he has developed specialisation in software development and integration.

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Within his professional career, Chris has participated in the global upgrade of SAP across all sites of Nestlé, working to integrate IBM Systems and a range of UNIX environments. He has also sold and managed technological transformation projects for BEA Systems, alongside managing the transaction processing of Suncorp Bank's first deployment of internet banking. 

Don has over 25 years of experience in operations and asset management in the power generation industry.

 

He founded Synengco in 2001, a Brisbane-based engineering, software development and consulting company. Since its development, Synengco has successfully optimised asset operations through software integration for clients including Enable Advisory, Asset Institute, Queensland Children’s Hospital, CS Energy, and Newcastle CSIRO Energy Centre.

 

His development of SentientSystem® for asset optimisation has seen both environmental and financial benefits for asset management.

Rick is an experienced entrepreneur, angel investor, and a recognised author and speaker. He is the founder of Founders Forum, Gold Coast Angels, and Brisbane Angels and was awarded a Fellow of the Australian Association of Angel Investors. His experience and interest in engineering and renewable energy provides background to his key skills in bringing start-ups to fruition through his business investment, financial management and mentoring.

 

Rick has worked as a Civil Engineer working with Sinclair Knight & Partners in Australia and Sandwell Engineering (Ausenco) in Canada on major infrastructure projects. He founded a US based engineering software company, taken public in 1987, that is well known for providing computer solutions to engineering companies throughout the Midwest region. 

 

Rick has held board positions in manufacturing and technology companies within the US, Canada and Australia. He was a shareholder and CFO in renewable energy company, Eco-kinetics, from 2008 to 2012 which grew from start-up to in excess of $100m in revenues. The company was sold to ASX listed, CBD Energy, in 2010.

                                                           

Rick authored “Using AutoCAD” published by Que Publishing Corporation, a division of McMillan Publishing, and co-authored “Commercialising Innovation” with Rodney Overton in 2008. He has written articles for CAE Magazine, Desktop Engineering and Computer Reseller News. He has also been a speaker at technology conferences in the US (California & NY), Society of Manufacturing Engineers (Midwestern US), company technology days, University programs (US and Australia) and Apple Developer conferences (Ann Arbor, MI).