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.

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 in 2016 when the company acquired Geoplex. Prior to his appointment as Managing Director of Nova Systems Australia and New Zealand, Adam ran the Digital Solutions portfolio of the Nova Groups brands. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.