Meet the team

Leadership team

We're a highly experienced, multidisciplinary team based in Melbourne, Australia with a passion for next-gen hydrogen technology and innovation. We work with industry to create a green future.

CEO, Founder

Dr. Ani Kulkarni

Ani is a Senior Technologist with 20 years of direct experience. Ani obtained his Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from New Mexico Tech, USA. He has authored 50+ science and technology publications...

Ani is a Senior Technologist with 20 years of direct experience in developing fuel cells, electrolysers and hydrogen storage systems. Ani was employed for 12+ years with CSIRO’s Energy Business Unit, managing several key projects in electrolysis, hydrogen and Ammonia energy systems. 

Ani obtained his Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from New Mexico Tech, USA. 

He has authored 50+ science and technology publications, including original research papers, invited reviews, patents and book chapters. 

Ani has also worked as Principal for Hydrogen at Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), Cabot Corporation in USA and Atlas Copco Ltd. He also hold advisory positions for two start-up companies and New York based venture capital fund. 

Financial Advisor, Co-Founder

Harshad Kale

A finance professional with 20 years of experience. Harshad is a globally qualified Certified Accountant (CA) and Director and Member of AICD and ASIC Australia.

Harshad Kale is a finance professional with 20 years of experience in corporate finance and operations, accounting and reporting, audit, tax and business strategy, governance.

Harshad is qualified as Chartered Accountant in Australia and India (CA ICAI and ICAA) and member of CPA–Australia and CA-Australia NZ. 

He is also member of AICD (Australia India Company Directors) and an approved Director and Responsible Manager under FCA UK and ASIC Australia.

Director of Engineering

Daniel Fini

A highly experienced and published materials engineer with over 17 years of experience. Daniel holds a Master of Engineering Science from Monash University, Australia

Daniel Fini is a highly experienced and published materials engineer with over 17 years of experience in hydrogen, emerging energy technologies and energy systems at the CSIRO.

Daniel has developed IP and applied for patents and excels in his understanding of hydrogen devices and technologies, documented by 14 journal papers.

Non-Executive Director - Board Member

Prof. Scott Barnett

Professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Northwestern University - top 3 in the USA.

Scott A. Barnett is a professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Northwestern University in USA. Materials Science program of  Northwestern is consistently ranked in top 3 programs in United States.  

Prof. Barnett is an outstanding researcher, as evidenced by his more than 250 refereed publications (including the prestigious Nature and Science journals) and an h-index of over 90.  

He has carried out innovative, ground-breaking research in a number of different areas during his distinguished career, which led to the commercialisation of new technologies.  

Non-Executive Director - Board Member

Dr. Uday Turaga

20 years of industry experience gained at ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Booz, and ADI, Turaga brings deep commercial and technical expertise in oil and gas, coal, renewables, and chemicals.

20 years of industry experience gained at ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Booz, and ADI, Turaga brings deep commercial and technical expertise in oil and gas, coal, renewables, and chemicals. He specializes in corporate strategy, market research, economic analysis, competitive intelligence, and technology assessments with rich domain expertise spanning oil and gas exploration, production, and refining, coal and power, and chemicals.

Turaga holds a PhD in fuel science from Penn State and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to authoring over 100 papers and patents, he has been recognized by the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the American Chemical Society, and the Penn State Alumni Association.

Finally, Turaga has been featured in various news and media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, and Bloomberg, and is a frequent speaker on energy issues at conferences and events globally.

Chief Strategic Advisor

Steven Hadjifotis

Steven is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors ("AICD") and holds significant background in directing private enterprise since 2004.

Steven is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (“AICD”) and holds significant background in directing private enterprise since 2004.
Director

Mandar R Bidawe

More than 20 years of experience, Mandar holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Metallurgy and Material Science

Mandar brings more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing and mass-scale production in India with the Kalyani Group and globally with others.  Mandar has expertise in Metal Injection Molding, Forging, 3D Printing, Metal Injection Molding, commercial heat treatment, vacuum heat treatment, brazing, plasma & gas nitrocarburizing. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Metallurgy and Material Science, from COEP Pune, India. 
Advisor - Engineering Services

Timothy J Hopper

Managing Director of CHS Group, which has been operating for 60 years.

Timothy J Hopper is Managing Director of CHS Group, which has been operating for 60 years.

Tim leads a team of 140 people and has managed large projects in water, solar, wind and agro-industrials.

Tim has expertise in electrical and mechanical contractors, engineering project management, product design and commissioning

Research and Development / Operational Group

Research Engineer

Nachiket Bhide

Bachelor's degree in Science (Chemistry) from Monash University, Australia

Nachiket has completed Bachelor’s degree in Science from Monash University, Melbourne majoring in Chemistry.  He has gained experience in Lab operations at university and involved in a variety of chemistry-related projects. 

 

Chemical Engineer

Yi Xie

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Science from Monash University.

Yi has completed Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Science from Monash University.  Her training includes Chemical process design, process control, product development, and industrial formulation. 

 

Senior Electrochemist

Dr. Gaius Debi Eyu

Ph.D in Materials Engineering and a Master's in Mechanical Materials Engineering.

Gaius holds a Ph.D in Materials Engineering and a Master’s in Mechanical Materials Engineering.  He has 10 years of experience in materials Science related research using various electrochemistry measurement techniques and materials characterisations.  His experience includes university research at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, and Flinders University, Adelaide.  

 

Materials Scientist

Dr. Abhishek Arya

Ph.D from Monash University and IIT Mumbai, Master’s in Energy Engineering

Abhishek has completed a Ph.D from Monash University and IIT Mumbai, and completed his Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and Master’s in Energy Engineering. His experience includes, working with laboratory and analytical techniques like Raman spectroscopy, XPS, SPEM, SEM and TEM, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and PDP, wet synthesis and chemical vapour deposition techniques used in the research and development of industry-relevant products and innovation. 
Senior Electrochemist

Dr. Samantha Ratnayake

Ph.D and M.SC in Chemistry from RMIT University, Australia.

Samantha holds a Ph.D and M.SC in Chemistry from RMIT University, Australia. He has over 10 years + of experience in research in both academic and industrial environments. His expertise is in the field of solution-based deposition of photoactive materials and their electrochemical characterisation.  His Ph.D. thesis is ‘Atomically engineered photo-active semiconductor nanostructures for photoelectrochemical water splitting. 

Learn more about our innovative, low-cost hydrogen energy systems