James Marsh - Chief Executive Officer
James is a high-performing business leader with extensive experience across a wide range of industrial minerals and the materials sector spanning a 30-year period. This includes senior technical, marketing, and executive management roles with ASX-listed companies, and two global market leaders, including 15 years with Imerys Minerals Limited, a French multinational specialising in the production and processing of industrial minerals.
At Imerys, Mr Marsh was the technical representative on a global kaolin calcination team, overseeing metakaolin production. During this period, the use of metakaolin in building product applications and global intellectual property was developed. Further, he was heavily involved in the technical development and marketing of metakaolin from operations in the UK, France, and the USA.
James holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc. Hons) from The University of West England, UK.
Scott Burkhart - Chief Operating Officer
Scott joined Zeotech in 2021 and has been a key contributor to driving the Company’s growth and innovation. Scott has a strong background in corporate finance and business development, having worked for over a decade in corporate and institutional banking at Westpac and Commonwealth Bank, receiving the CEO’s Award for his outstanding performance and leadership.
Scott has a wealth of experience in business strategy, operations, project management, and corporate finance, as well as a deep understanding of industry analysis, and is passionate about sustainability and creating value for Zeotech’s stakeholders.
Scott holds a Bachelor of Business in Management and Economics from Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand.
Jenni Cox - Principal Process Engineer
Jenni is an experienced principal process engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the mining and metals industry.
From front end flow sheet development and detailed engineering through to site project improvements.
Prior to joining Zeotech, Jenni held several senior engineering roles at Queensland Pacific Metals, Nui Phao Mining Co. tungsten operations, and Ausenco.
Jenni holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Chemistry Honours) from The University of Sydney, Australia, and a Master of Science degree (Hydrometallurgy) from The University of British Columbia, Canada.
Dr. John Vogrin - Head of Projects, Research and Development
John leads the management of Zeotech’s in-house research and is the lead technical representative for its university research programs.
John was an Alumina Quality Workshop scholar and completed his PhD thesis on the hydrothermal synthesis of zeolites in industrial processes. He is focused on developing clean technologies to transform clay minerals and mining waste streams into value-added products. His materials characterisation expertise includes XRD, ICP, XRF, FE-SEM, TGA, PSD and Raman spectroscopy.
John holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E. Hons) in Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia.
Connie Zhao - Officer Manager & Operations
Connie has a particular interest in exploring the commercial potential in leveraging the properties of zeolites to deliver environmental solutions and enhance circularity. Her prior experience includes working at a state-owned food waste management and recycling facility, extracting valuable by-products from municipal solid waste.
Connie holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E. Hons) in Civil and Environmental Engineering , a graduate certificate in Data Science, and a Master of Business (M.Bus) in Marketing and Leadership from The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia.
Kieran Kelly - Laboratory Manager
Kieran is Zeotech’s in-house Laboratory Manager. Prior to joining Zeotech, Kieran worked as a Research Technician for the School of Chemical Engineering at The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. He was actively involved in Zeotech’s research and development activities at the university.
Kieran holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E) Chemical Engineering and a Bachelor of Biotechnology (B.BTech Hons) Process Technology from The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia.
Alexandra Rozhkovskaya - Junior Lab Technician
Alexandra is a published zeolite scientist and enthusiast. She is an experienced materials engineer and senior lab technician who has worked on a variety of research projects, in the fields of water treatment and industrial waste recycling, complemented by 7 years of experience in laboratory operations.
Alexandra completed her PhD thesis on the conversion of industrial wastes into low silica zeolites.
Alexandra holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from The Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia, and a Specialist Degree (MSc equivalent), Environmental Engineering Technology & Environmental Technology from Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology, Russia.
Alister Morrison - Chief Development Officer
Alister is a senior executive with 25-years of international experience, mainly across energy, natural resources and early-stage technology commercialisation, working with small, medium and large organisations including startups and listed companies. To 2023, he spent 5-years as Senior Director and Head of Physical Sciences at UniQuest, the main commercialisation company of The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia, where he managed a team of early-stage technology commercialisation professionals which secured investment for a number of new technology startups as well as a range of intellectual property (IP) licences with ongoing research commitments.
Alister commenced his career as a geophysicist before spending time with Wood Mackenzie, Arthur D. Little (ADL), Pioneer Natural Resources and Gulf Keystone, working predominantly from the UK, cross-functionally with technical and commercial teams, partners, clients, senior management, boards and governments, with a focus on large projects, investment and commercial transactions, including acquisitions and divestments. He has extensive global experience and has delivered value and impact for a broad range of stakeholders.
Alister holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc. Hons) degree in Geology and a Master of Science (MSc.) degree in Applied Geophysics, both from the University of Birmingham, UK. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and an accredited Australian Certified Economic Developer (ACEcD).
Board
Sylvia Tulloch - Non-Executive Chair
Sylvia is a materials scientist, with many years’ experience in establishment and management of high technology businesses, with a focus on commercialisation, mineral processing technologies and the cleantech sector. Sylvia is an investor in and Director of many start-up companies, has founded and taken 2 companies to ASX listing and held government advisory positions in the start-up, renewable energy, and manufacturing sectors.
Sylvia is currently the Chairman of the ACT government Renewable Energy Innovation Fund (REIF) Business Advisory Board, Chairman of GRIFFIN Accelerator a product of collaboration between several of Canberra’s innovation-led institutions, including ANU Connect Ventures, ATP Innovations, Australian National University, Australian Capital Ventures Limited and Capital Angels, CollabIT, CSIRO, eGov Cluster, Entry 29, Lighthouse, NICTA and University of Canberra, and has held several state and federal committee appointments.
Sylvia holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc.) and Masters in Materials Science (MSc.) from the University of New South Wales, Australia.
Peter Zardo - Managing Director
Peter joined Zeotech as Chief Operating Officer in April 2020 and was appointed Managing Director in July 2020, after spending more than 16 years in the corporate banking division of the Westpac Group. Prior to joining Zeotech, Peter was a Director of Industry banking, having completed Westpac’s Emerging Leader Program in 2019 and previous to this, spent several years in financial and equity markets.
Peter is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD) and possesses significant experience in business advisory, project management, corporate finance and agribusiness, having accumulated a vast network of relationships across a number of industries, bringing these connections and expertise to his role.
Peter has undertaken studies in Applied Science at Charles Sturt University (CSU), Australia.
Robert Downey - Non-Executive Director
Robert is a qualified solicitor who has practised mainly in the areas of international resource law, corporate law and initial public offerings, as well as mergers and acquisitions.
Robert has extensive experience as an advisor, founder and director of various ASX, TSX and AIM companies. Mr Downey is currently a partner at Dominion Legal, a boutique law firm in Perth.
Robert holds a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B Hons).
Co Sec
Neville Bassett - Company Secretary
Neville is a chartered accountant operating his own corporate consulting business, specialising in the area of corporate, financial and management advisory services. Neville has been involved with numerous public company listings and capital raisings. His involvement in the corporate arena has also taken in mergers and acquisitions, and includes significant knowledge and exposure to the Australian financial markets.
Neville has experience in matters pertaining to the Corporations Act, ASX listing requirements, corporate taxation and finance.
Neville holds a Bachelor of Business (B.Bus.) and is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants (FCA). He is also a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).