The Team
Tim Williams
Managing Director
Tim
has a background in molecular biology, branched out into IT and was based in Japan for 17 years. Whilst there, Tim and his business partner were the first foreigners to IPO two companies on the Japan Stock Exchange. He returned to NZ in 2010 with the aim of investing in Kiwi technologies aimed at global good.
Michael Maunsell
Chief
Operating Officer
Mike
has over 30 years in executive leadership positions spanning the health, telecommunications, civil infrastructure and technology sectors. He was recently Programme Director, City Rail Link Auckland Transport.
Prof. Matthew Watson
Advisor
Research & IP
Matt
is an academic leader at the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Canterbury. He is the author of patents and publications in the field of material science, and has successfully managed large scale, national R&D capital programme in Australasia, USA and Canada.
Neville Jones
General Manager
Business Development
Neville
has over 20 years experience working to assist innovative NZ companies with their global strategy to market. Neville has an extensive business network in many countries around the world.
Alan McArdle
Director
Manufacturing Solutions
Alan
has over 30 years of commercial experience as Head of Global Manufacturing for Fisher & Paykel Appliances (now Haier Appliances), establishing and automating production plants globally.
Simon Oakley
Chief
Technology Officer
Simon
has had a 30 year career in chemical engineering roles including process and product development, and project and engineering management. His recent focus has been on developing resource recovery technologies with start-up companies.
Dr Tim Stirrup
IP Manager
Tim
is a registered patent attorney practicing in both venture organisations and patent law firms. He brings a wealth of experience in patent strategy, intellectual property protection and technology development strategy.
Aditya Rudrakar
Technical Lead
Mechanical Engineering
Adi
has worked at NILO since 2019 after graduating from The Auckland University with an MEngSt (Hons)-Mechanical. At NILO he is part of the Mechanical Engineering workstream contributing to the Engineering requirements around the facility. He also is highly involved with the R&D activity, product and process development while managing Health & Safety needs.
Mike van Wyk
Mechanical Engineer
Mike
brings a rich background in engineering from the medical device and energy sectors to NILO, where he contributes to Research & Development, design, and project engineering. His experience in innovative design and product development plays a critical role in NILO's mission to repurpose plastic waste into valuable products and resources.
Aaron Dixon
Business and Systems
Improvement Lead
Aaron
has over eight years of experience in system and process development at New Zealand's largest e-commerce warehouse, he brings a wealth of practical knowledge to the table. Since September 2023, he has been a key member of the NILO team, contributing significantly to defining and refining business processes. His expertise in streamlining operations and implementing efficient systems plays a crucial role at NILO.
Dr Minni Gorthy
Senior Research and Development Scientist
Minni
is a part of the waste plastic characterization team at NILO. Her focus is on using advanced analytical tools and methods to investigate the polymer-based binders being designed at NILO. With a PhD in materials science from the University of Canterbury and a Masters degree from the University of Cincinnati she has over 5 years of experience in materials characterization and design. She is passionate about applying the investigative techniques of forensic science to materials design and is also interested in patent analysis and intellectual property protection.
Dr Ibrar Hussain
Senior Research and Development Scientist
Ibrar
holds a PhD degree in chemistry from Germany and a business diploma from New Zealand. He has 14 years of experience in different chemistry roles including synthesis & characterization of bio-based polymers & polyurethane foams and bioactive compounds, analytical chemistry of oil and gas industry, and ISO certifications & audits. Currently, Ibrar works in the NILO R&D team to advance the chemical characterization of the waste plastic polymers for NILO’s binder technology.
Adam Berry
Senior Research and Development Scientist
Adam
has worked 20 years in the chemical industry in both account management and product development roles across Australasia and Europe. He is particularly interested in polymer structure/property relationships.
Jane Yang
Research and Development Scientist
Jane
holds a postgraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Auckland and a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics. Jane has expertise in analytical techniques, chemical synthesis, and a strong foundation in mathematics.
Joseph Hong
Research and Development Scientist
Joseph
has worked at NILO since finishing his degree in Chemical and Materials Engineering (Hons) from the University of Auckland in May 2022. His passions lie in exploring new ideas and contributing to innovative solutions. At NILO, he is part of the chemical R&D workstream contributing to the ongoing development of the NILO WFB binder.
Dr Susanne Van Breugel
Research and Development Scientist
Susanne
is a recent chemistry PhD graduate from the University of Auckland with an extensive background in analytical chemistry. Her expertise lies in employing advanced analytical techniques to tackle complex scientific challenges. With a genuine passion for research and high attention to detail, Susanne works in the NILO R&D team to advance the Nilo binder technology.
Flynn Parrish
Research and Development Scientist
Flynn
holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Medicinal Chemistry and a Master of Science in Chemistry, both conferred by the University of Auckland. Motivated by his research pursuits in the realms of green and synthetic chemistry, Flynn embarked on his professional journey with NILO in October 2023. He is dedicated to enhancing the efficiency of wood binders through the incorporation of innovative green chemical techniques throughout the entirety of the production process.
Daniel Strong
Research and Development Scientist
Daniel
has worked at NILO since October 2023 after completing his degree in Chemical and Materials Engineering (Hons) at the University of Auckland. He enjoys exploring the pathway of creating ideas into practical applications. Daniel is a member of the NILO R&D team working on developing and enhancing the chemical formulations for producing the NILO wood-fibre board binder.
Niko Forlong
Research and Development Scientist
Niko
has worked at Nilo since April 2023 after finishing his Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the University of Auckland, where his research focused around organic/inorganic synthesis. Niko is a member of the NILO R&D team working as a polymer chemist to develop and improve binders for the wood-fibre board product.
Ryan Tan
Research and Development Scientist
Ryan
began his journey at NILO after earning his Honours degree in Chemical and Materials Engineering from the University of Auckland in 2023. Deeply committed to sustainability, Ryan's interest lies in the utilisation of waste streams to produce valuable materials. At NILO, he is part of the chemical R&D workstream, where he contributes to the ongoing development of the NILO WFB binder and process.
