Our Executive Committee
Jim McDowell
Chief Executive Officer
Jim has over 30 years' experience in both the private and public sectors. Most recently, he was South Australia's top public servant as Chief Executive for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, where he was responsible for supporting the Premier and Ministers to deliver the government's vision for South Australia.
Prior to that, he was the CEO of BAE Systems Australia and oversaw the purchase of Tenix Defence. Jim brings with him a genuine passion for growing local industrial capability and developing valuable IP for Australia.
Gareth Dyer
Managing Director, Nova Systems International
Gareth Dyer is a graduate of Australian Defence Force Academy where he was awarded a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, and subsequently was commissioned as an Engineering Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. He served with the Directorate General of Technical Airworthiness, in Aircraft Structural Integrity and Airworthiness Regulation.
Gareth joined Nova Systems in 2004, delivering on a portfolio of rotary wing projects, primarily across S-70A-9 Blackhawk, Tiger, NH-90, and CH-47 Chinook aircraft. Gareth moved to the UK in 2012 to lead our aerospace design organisation.
Adam Smith
Managing Director, Nova Systems Australia and New Zealand
Adam has held senior leadership roles in geospatial software and professional services businesses. He co-founded geospatial solutions business Geoplex in 2010 and built a successful organisation of consultants and software engineers to deliver geospatial software and data solutions to support planning and operational decision making.
Adam joined Nova Systems in 2016 when the company acquired Geoplex. He is a graduate of the Australian National University and has worked for global brands including BAE Systems and Esri. He is a board member on the ACT Defence Industry Advisory Board.
Peter Arambatzis
Chief Financial Officer
Peter is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) who has held multiple executive roles over his career. Responsible for Nova Systems Business Operations, his tutelage oversees our financial, commercial, legal, business services and security and technology functions.
Peter’s career spans over 25 years’ experience across multiple industries including pharmaceutical, government, consulting, healthcare, construction and legal. Prior to joining Nova Systems, Peter has worked over three different continents in chief finance and operations roles at Law in Order Pty Ltd, Australia Science and Technology Organisation, GE and AstraZeneca.
Shelley Willsmore
Chief People Officer
Shelley Willsmore has held senior leadership positions throughout defence industry and the public sector across her career.
Shelley is a natural collaborator and has worked closely with industry and Government counterparts to ensure they can collectively generate significant workforce growth. She has a wealth of national and international experience, having worked in the UK, US and Australia. Her career has spanned multiple functions including HR, legislative affairs, communications, media and marketing.
Shelley is passionate about connecting people to strategy and improving organisational performance by unlocking the potential of its people. She has proven success in organisation transformation, strategic workforce planning, leadership effectiveness, organisation design and cultural evolution.
Our Board
Kenneth Williams
Chair
Kenneth has more than 30 years’ experience in corporate finance and has held senior executive, director and Chair positions with leading ASX companies. He was the Independent Chair of Statewide Super until April 2022, is a Non-Executive Director at Archer Materials (ASX:AXE), and Deputy Chancellor of the University of Adelaide.
Prior roles include Chair of AWE Limited, Chair of Havilah Resources Limited, Director of Queensland Cotton Limited, and Senior Finance Executive roles with Newmont Corporation, Normandy Mining, and Qantas.
Jim Whalley
Deputy Chair and Director
Jim Whalley is Deputy Chair and co-founder of Nova Systems. A former RAAF fighter pilot and test pilot, he is a graduate of the Royal Air Force, Empire Test Pilots' School, holds an MBA from the University of Adelaide, and a Science Degree (Physics) from UNSW.
Peter Nikoloff
Director
Peter Nikoloff is an Executive Director, co-founder of Nova Systems and a Senior Weapons System Engineer. He is a chartered professional engineer and member of the Institution of Engineers, Society of Flight Test Engineers, Flight Test Society of Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Holger Lindner
Non-Executive Director
Holger has been a Non-Executive Director of Nova Systems since August 2017 and is based in Singapore. He has worked for more than 20 years in different international leadership roles in Executive Management, Finance, Sales & Marketing, and Business Development.
Mark Gill
Non-Executive Director
Mark is an executive with a blend of expertise in company operations, equity investment, merger and acquisitions and board roles primarily involved in both public and private technology companies with an international focus.
He has a very strong operational background, and an active network in the technology and investment communities, particularly in Australia and the US, and deep expertise in telecommunications, space, networking, storage and security domains.
He’s currently a venture capital partner investing in technology businesses, which has involved board roles on a number of fast growing international technology companies.
Martin Broadhurst
Non-Executive Director
Martin is a highly networked and formally qualified director and chair used to working in complex and highly regulated organisations both public and private sector.
He is based in the United Kingdom and has experience at the executive level including at ministerial level of government. He has a deep understanding in the Aerospace (Civil / Defence) and Defence sectors, both domestically and internationally.