EPEQUIP.COM - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- GENERAL MANAGER, NEW ZEALAND
Andy joined EPE in August 2016. Previous to joining EPE Andy spent 10 years with the New Zealand Defence Force, managing a team with responsibility for managing procurement, introduction into service and through-life management of the New Zealand Defence Force CBRNE, Combat Engineer, Ground Support and Deployable Infrastructure equipment.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR INNOVATION & COMMERCIALISATION
Ben joins EPE following 17 years of service within the Australian Army, including a decade of specialisation within the Defence complex procurement environment.
Since 2013, after specialising in Defence complex procurement, Ben was employed in Project Management and Test & Evaluation Management positions within three of the Australian Army's largest projects, culminating as the Director Test & Evaluation of the Special Operations Programme. Ben has a vast knowledge of the ADFs capability acquisition structure, policies and processes. He holds a Masters of Capability Management and a Masters of Systems Engineering.
Ben Sorensen joined EPE in August 2022 and brings over 26 years of commercial experience to EPE. Ben leads EPE Innovation and is focused on delivering game-changing capabilities and competitive advantage for Australia.
Ben has led commercial R&D activities for CSIRO's Data61, with responsibility for enterprise, defence and national security collaborations. He has worked extensively with defence research and development, including with the ADF, DSTG, DARPA, US Army and defence and aerospace Primes to develop and commercialise capabilities in robotics, autonomous systems, cyber security, data, AI and analytics. Most recently Ben was an executive and board director of the $100 million Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre.
Ben is an author and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Job Titles:
- LEAD CAPABILITY MANAGER, EOD & TACTICAL SYSTEM
Chris Panteli joined EPE after 18 years of service as a Royal Australian Engineer (EOD Tech). Chris joins the team with extensive knowledge in training and a substantial amount of operational experiences including three tours to Afghanistan. Two of these were with Special Operations Command, as an EOD Technician/Manager and as the Squadron Sergeant Major.
Job Titles:
- CAPTURE MANAGER, LAND DOMAIN
Craig joined EPE in February 2021 as Capture Manager for the Land Domain. He is a motivated and well-respected military executive with over 35 years of proven experience in complex operational environments. He is renowned for developing innovative solutions to counter emerging threats; developing strategic and operational counter-threat capability and training; and the execution of training in support of operations.
Job Titles:
- CAPABILITY TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Dale O'Connor brings to EPE a wealth of operational, training, and technical validation / certification experience in the EOD, CIED and C-CBRN fields. Prior to joining the EPE team Dale spent 23 years in the Australian Army as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician and more recently spent time in the UAE as Specialist CBRNE specialist trainer and advisor.
David Byrne comes to EPE with over 14 years of operational service with the Queensland Police Service, most of this time as a Bomb Technician with the Explosive Ordnance Response Team. David has joined the EPE Team with a wealth of experience in both training and operational environments.
David joined the EPE team in October 2020 as a dedicated Specialist Trainer. Over 13yrs David has had extensive experience within the Royal Australian Engineer Corps as a High-Risk Search Team Commander and an Explosive Ordnance Technician. He has experience over all aspects of Search and EOD including Conventional Munition Disposal, Counter IED Operations, CBRN and Manual Access Render Safe. David's experience includes deploying on Military Operations Overseas and at home in a Domestic role.
David Rye joined EPE in April 2015. A highly motivated and well respected military executive, David has extensive experience in strategic level leadership and management positions. This expertise has been developed through 33 years of dedicated service in the Australian Army and through operational experience with international Defence Forces and the United Nations.
Job Titles:
- CAPABILITY MANAGER, SEARCH
- EOD Technician
Geoff Burchell joins EPE following 14 years of dedicated service in the Australian Army where he specialised in EOD/IEDD, Engineer High Risk Search and CBRND.
As an EOD technician, Geoff has experience across the spectrum of EOD operations including Conventional Munition Disposal, IED, Manual Access Render Safe and CBRN with operational experience across several theatres.
Geoff has a strong background in High Risk Search and threat assessment, skills which underpinned his later career as an EOD Tech. He gained this early experience over two deployments to Afghanistan as an Engineer High Risk Search Team Commander.
Iain came to EPE in 2011 after 28 years in the military, 24 years in the British Army followed by 4 years in the New Zealand Defence Force. During his military service he was trained and employed as an Ammunition Technician, commissioned in 2003 as an Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO).
Job Titles:
- CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
- COMPANY SECRETARY
Ian has over 25 years Finance experience gained in companies engaged in Project related activities. Ian is a CPA and holds a Bachelor of Business in Accounting. Ian manages all Finance and Compliance related activities of EPE.
Jeremy Martin joined EPE in July 2021 with over 17 years' experience in high-growth Aerospace and Defence technology companies.
Job Titles:
- PROJECT MANAGER
- Member of the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators
Keith joined EPE following careers in both the UK and Australian Army, specialising in EOD and Counter IED. Keith was commissioned into the British Army in 1983, and was trained as an Ammunition Technical Officer specialising in EOD. He served in numerous operational, training and command appointments within the UK's EOD and IEDD community.
Keith is a member of the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators (IABTI), and a Member of the Institute of Explosives Engineers.
Rob joined EPE in April 2021. He brings a mix of military and corporate experience, having spent twenty years with the Royal Marines and the Australian Defence Force and three as a transformation project manager within the financial sector. He has a Master's degree in project management and has worked on a variety of projects to deliver business improvement and implementation of new capabilities. He brings a collaborative approach that is focused on integrating and aligning ideas across functional areas.
Robbie Wild joined EPE in 2017 after completing a Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering and graduating with honours. He has provided a high level of mechanical and electrical engineering expertise to the team along with developing project management skills utilised in multiple Innovation projects to date. Robbie conducted his undergraduate thesis on using Ultra Wide Band (UWB) radar to see through mediums such as grass and walls, for object detection and map augmentation. This created in him the desire to pursue new technologies and focus on innovation which has led to Robbie becoming EPE's Innovation Engineer.
Job Titles:
- through LIFE SUPPORT MANAGER
Russ Smith joined the EPE team in September 2021 as the Through Life Support Manager. Russ Smith is a Project Management and Integrated Logistics Support professional with over 13 years experience within the Corps of Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
Job Titles:
- UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEER, MECHATRONICS
Studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), majoring in Mechatronics, Sam's work at EPE focuses on innovation projects and integration of different payloads such as search equipment and CBRNe sensors onto our robotic platforms that are in-service with ADF and Police.
Job Titles:
- CAPABILITY MANAGER, TRAINING & EXPLOITATION
Seamus O'Brien joined EPE in November 2010. Seamus brings with him a wealth of operational and training experience in the Counter IED arena. Prior to joining EPE Seamus was the Director of Training at Hazard Management Solutions (HMS) for six years where he designed, developed and often delivered Counter IED related training to military and police forces around the world.
Warwick Penrose is the Managing Director of EPE, a group of companies providing C-IED, C-CBRN, C-Narcotic, C-Drone, ECM and Deployable Infrastructure capability to our clients in Australia, New Zealand, the US and the wider APAC region. Warwick has been in this role since 2010.