Building better batteries for a cleaner, greener future.

Non-Executive Director & Chairman

Dr Benjamin (Ben) Robert Spincer 

MA, PhD, GAICD.

Appointed as a Non-Executive Independent Director on 18 March 2021.

Ben has extensive experience supporting and developing businesses and applied research. For six years he was the Executive Director of Deakin Research Innovations, responsible for Deakin’s commercial research partnerships, as well as the commercialisation and translation of the University’s research and oversight of the ManuFutures advanced manufacturing scale-up facility. He was a member of the Victorian Government Innovation Taskforce in 2020 and represented Deakin on a number of research centre and institutes Boards.

Prior to joining Deakin in 2015, Ben was Director of Technology Strategy and Innovation at Telstra, working with the Chief Technology Officer to oversee the long-term technology strategy of the company and to instil a culture of innovation in the company. From 2007 to 2013, Ben was the Director of Investor Relations for Telstra, managing relationships between the company and its shareholders after its full privatisation.

Previously, Ben was Vice President and financial analyst at Credit Suisse in London covering the European telecom industry.

Non-Executive Director

Ms Hedy Cray

LL.B. (Hons), LL.M.

Appointed as a Non-Executive Independent Director on 21 April 2021 and a member of the Audit Committee.

Hedy Cray graduated with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours in 1996 and a Master of Laws in 1999 from Queensland University of Technology. After more than 26 years years in private legal practice — including becoming partner at Clayton Utz in 2001 — Hedy is now the Executive Vice President of Global Affairs for Korea Zinc, one of the world’s largest smelting operators with interests in green and renewable energies.

She has extensive experience in commercial and corporate strategy, risk management, corporate governance, acquisitions and company restructuring as well as employment, human capital and safety and has worked with multinationals across energy, renewable resources, manufacturing, transport and logistics and the government sector.

Non-Executive Director

Mr Marc Fenton

B.SC. Computer Applications, Graduate Diploma in Business

Appointed as a Non-Executive Independent Director on 1 February 2024.

CEO of PPK Group — Li-S Energy’s largest shareholder — Marc was previously the Head of Technology with Australian Agricultural Company (ASX: AAC) and held various General Manager technology roles with Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) across technology strategy, organization design, technology governance, outsourcing and cost reduction. Prior to that Marc worked in Deloitte across a broad range of industries and projects, both locally and internationally.

Marc holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from Dublin City University, Ireland and a Graduate Diploma in Business from the AGSM, Sydney.

Chief Executive Officer

Dr Lee John Finniear

BSc (Hons), PhD, F.A.I.C.D.

Appointed Chief Executive Officer on 14 February 2021.

Lee has more than 25 years’ experience as a senior executive, including 10 years with Intergraph Corporation, (a US-based Fortune 1000 technology company) in roles including Vice President – Asia Pacific, plus 5 years as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of NASDAQ and ASX listed technology companies. Over the past six years, Lee has been the founder and director of a company delivering innovative Internet of Things (IoT) products to business and consumer markets. He was also the Vice President – Asia Pacific for a European telecommunications operator with a market focus on automotive manufacturers and enterprise IoT solutions.

Lee has a First Class BSc. (Hons) degree in Civil Engineering and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence and Geographic Information Systems.

Chief Financial Officer

Ms Sarah Price

CA, BCom

Appointed Chief Financial Officer on 23 May 2023 following time serving as Group Financial Controller.

Sarah has over 20 years’ experience as a financial controller, including key roles at Technology One, Cardno, Xstrata and PwC. Across these positions, Sarah has built extensive knowledge of group finance and taxation with a focus on global reporting, financial strategy and risk management. In her role as CFO, Sarah works across the PPK Group, Li-S Energy, White Graphene, BNNT Technology Ltd, Craig International Ballistics and Advanced Mobility Analytics Group.

Sarah holds a Bachelors of Business from Queensland University of Technology, is a Chartered Accountant and Affiliate of the Governance Institute of Australia.

Chief Technology Officer

Dr Stephen (Steve) Rowlands 

BSc. (Hons) PhD

Appointed Chief Technology Officer on 12 July 2021.

Steve has over 20 years’ experience in the energy storage sector, including the last eight years as Deputy CTO at OXIS Energy, a pioneer of lithium sulfur battery technology. At OXIS Energy, Steve managed the cathode, electrolyte, cell test engineering and production development teams. He has extensive knowledge of nanomaterials and their effect on the detailed mechanisms of lithium sulfur technology. Managing the OXIS Energy production development team, he gained detailed knowledge of the scale-up processes required in delivering a pilot production line for lithium-sulfurbattery manufacture.

Steve has a First-Class BSc. (Hons) degree in Applied Chemistry and a PhD in Electrochemical Supercapacitors for Energy Storage.

Facilities & Operations Manager

Mr Tim Hanley

DipPM

Appointed Facilities & Operations Manager in September 2022.

Tim has over 30 years’ experience in project management, estimating and construction in both the private and public sectors. Having worked across a broad range of projects — including ventures worth over $100m — he has built extensive knowledge in expert procurement processes and contractor management. Over the decades, Tim has delivered many key projects including the ManuFutures Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Geelong, the Australian Future Fibre Centre (incorporating Carbon Nexus), and the Carbon Fibre Manufacturing Line.

Throughout his career, Tim has project managed many State and Federally funded projects including Deakin University’s ManuFutures, Regional Development Victoria Grant and the Export Acceleration Grant, AusIndustry. Tim has also represented Deakin University’s Advanced Manufacturing capabilities as an Austrade delegate for missions to India.

Tim has a Dip. Project Management and Green Living Builders qualifications from the Master Builders Association of Victoria.

Chief Strategic Advisor

Mr Glenn Robert Molloy 

Engaged as Chief Strategic Advisor from 12 June 2021 following two years serving as Executive Chairman and then Director ahead of key appointments.

Glenn founded PPK Group Limited, then known as Plaspak Group Limited, in 1979 and has acted as a director of PPK Group Limited since that time. He has extensive experience on public company boards, and in advising publicly listed and private entities on commercial aspects of mergers, acquisitions and divestment activities. He is a director of a number of PPK Group Limited’s related companies including Executive Chairman of BNNTTL and White Graphene Limited and a Non-Executive Director of BNNT Precious Metals Limited, 3D Dental Technology Pty Ltd, Ballistic Glass Pty Ltd and Craig International Ballistics Pty Ltd.

Other listed public company directorships held in the last 3 years:

– Member of the PPK Group Limited Board since listing on 21 December 1994, currently Executive Director

– Chairman of the PPK Group Limited Audit Committee since 14 August 2017.