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.
Jill Noble
Chief Financial Officer
Jill is responsible for making sure that Nova Systems has the financial resources to execute its strategic priorities, and delivers value to its shareholders. She oversees finance and payroll processes, regulatory compliance, financial reporting and performance, commercial and legal, ICT, cyber security and business services.
Jill has a diverse background, with 25 years’ experience in the defence and technology industries.
Bec Humble
Chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs
Bec Humble is a global leader who has held senior executive roles in the Defence and national security sectors in Australia, the UK, US and Europe. She returned to Australia in 2018 and is Chief of Strategy and Corporate Affairs for Nova Systems.
Bec has been VP Global Strategy for the world’s largest military vehicles business (US$14bn) based in Washington D.C.; Program Director for the systems component of the Tornado Military Aircraft sustainment program in the UK; and Head of Global Strategy for the GBP4.5bn sustainment business of BAE Systems in the UK, Australia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Sweden.
Bec has a track record in driving growth strategies for global businesses and has been involved in multi-billion dollar trans-national M&As. Bec is currently a board member of the University of Adelaide’s Defence, Cyber and Space industry Advisory Board, Deputy-Chair of the Seymour College Board and is on the Defence Teaming Centre Board. She has also served as a board member of the international section for the Red Cross in Luxembourg.
Blazenka Skender
Chief People Officer
Blazenka is a Senior Executive with global experience across financial and insurance services, professional services, and government for leading human resource functions. Her significant leadership experience has centred on developing pragmatic, innovative and people centric solutions across Australia and throughout Asia, Europe, and South Africa.
Blazenka has extensive expertise in aligning the employee experience with organisational culture to empower leaders and teams to deliver high performance across the organisation.
Blazenka is responsible for leading our People and Performance Team to continue to build on our foundation of a strong, aligned and resilient culture, and is focused on retaining, developing and attracting the best available talent in the market.
Our Board
Julie Cooper
Chair
Julie joined Nova Systems as a Non-Executive Director in July 2017 and became the Chair in October 2021. During her career as a Management Consultant for the global consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, she supported clients in Australia, the UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Julie is also on the Board of Credit Union South Australia, the Adelaide Crows’ Foundation, Sarah Constructions, a Council Member for the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Presiding Member of the Board of The South Australian Film Corporation.
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.