Our people
Dr Len Humphreys, CChem, FRSC
Executive Chairman and Co-Founder
Dr Len Humphreys is an entrepreneur, innovator and veteran of the science, technology, and clean energy industries. Len has pioneered low-carbon technology solutions and renewable energy in Australia and internationally for over 35 years. He is the Co-Founder of Licella Holdings, global leaders in Hydrothermal Liquefaction, and was instrumental in the conception and development of Licella’s pioneering Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor (Cat-HTR™) technology. Len is the inventor of several patents around the Cat-HTR™ process and has been the Company’s CEO since it was formed in 2007 up until August 2023. Len was elected Executive Chairman of the Licella Board, and continues to lead technology development and advancement.
In 2015, Len Co-Founded Gelion Technologies, battery technology innovators now listed on AIM in the UK.
Len holds a PhD in Chemistry from Durham University (UK), is a Chartered Chemist and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK. Previously Len was a Director and Managing Director of several renewable energy companies including Novera Energy, a renewable energy company that was listed on the AIM and also the ASX listed IBA Health (now I-Soft), a healthcare IT software provider.
In addition, Len held Managing Director and Regional President roles inside the European-based Invensys Group, which was one of the world’s largest industrial process automation conglomerates. In Europe, Len was also a senior executive in Mannesmann Group, the German multinational specialising in engineering, manufacturing and telecommunications, including as CEO of Hartmann and Braun in the UK.
Alan Nicholl
Chief Executive Officer
Alan was Managing Director of Licella Holdings Limited from February 2022 to August 2023, and has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective September 2023.
Alan joined Licella from Canfor, a global leader in the manufacturing of sustainable forest products, where he has held multiple senior executive positions across the Canfor group since 2008. Alan served as Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Canfor Inc and Canfor Pulp for much of that time, and for the last four years he was also the Executive Vice President, Canfor Pulp operations. More recently, Alan assumed the role of Executive Vice President Bio Based Solutions.
Alan was until August 2023 also President and CEO of Arbios Biotech, Licella’s Joint Venture with Canfor.
A strong advocate for a net zero carbon future, in the short to midterm Alan continues to lead Arbios towards its first commercial plant in Prince George, BC, Canada (currently scheduled to be commissioned in mid-2023) and building its pipeline of projects across North and South America, and Europe.
Alan is a highly relational leader and brings a wealth of strategic leadership and financial acumen gained from Canfor and various large global organizations over the last 30 years, which will be invaluable to Licella as the Company continues on its exciting growth journey.
In addition to his senior leadership roles in finance and operations, he has also led numerous strategic initiatives and business transformation projects.
Richard Pillinger
Chief Financial Officer
Richard is a highly experienced finance professional and has held CFO positions within Australian and US publicly listed companies over the past 15 years. His previous roles include within the ASX 200 Washington H Soul Pattinson group of companies and most recently Richard was CFO of building energy management company EP&T Global Limited. During his time with EP&T Global, Richard was responsible for managing the company’s IPO on the ASX in 2021 and, as a member of the executive team, oversaw the expansion of the company’s global footprint to over 25 countries. Richard has extensive experience within the global renewable energy and sustainability industries, having also previously served as non-executive Director for the Taralga Wind Farm development in Australia and he has been involved in the acquisition and subsequent integration of a number of businesses in Australia, USA and Europe.
Richard is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nottingham, UK.
Simon Mathewson
VP Commercialisation Asia and Australasia
Simon has over 20 years’ experience in the banking and financial services industry, including Asset Management; Superannuation; Wealth Management and Capital Markets. He has extensive leadership experience on strategic projects across Sales, Risk, Finance, Operations and Technology.
Prior to joining Licella Holdings in early 2019, Simon held various senior leadership positions across Westpac, Macquarie Bank and JP Morgan. In addition, Simon brings to Licella Holdings valuable expertise in transitioning entrepreneurial start-ups into their commercialisation phase through his work as a business consultant.
Andrea Polson
Marketing Director
Andrea joined Licella in 2015. Andrea is a Senior Marketing and Communications executive with over 15 years management experience across the low-carbon technology, renewable energy, and pharmaceutical industries. Prior to working at Licella, Andrea worked in senior product management roles with multinational pharmaceutical companies including MSD, Allergan and Aspen. Most recently, Andrea worked as a long-term Marketing and Communications Consultant for Gelion Technologies, an AIM-listed battery start-up, and for iQ Renew, an innovative Australian recycler.
Andrea is on the ARV leadership team developing the first commercial-scale advanced recycling facility in Australia to utilise Licella’s pioneering Cat-HTR™ (Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor) platform.
Andrea has a proven track record of creating and implementing strategic business plans to increase market presence and share, developing impactful marketing materials, leading corporate communications, overseeing shareholder relations; and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure delivery of strategic business goals with powerful and consistent marketing. Andrea has a BA Hons from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Diploma in Business (Marketing) from Macquarie University.
Alan Del Paggio
Global Director of Business Development
Alan joins Licella with 35 years in industrial catalysis. Building upon experience in the production of fossil-crude-derived petrochemicals during his early years at Shell, Alan shifted his focus later to develop more sustainable solutions. He led activities to identify, validate, scale up and deliver sustainable commercial solutions including production of low carbon-intensity petrochemicals and base oils, renewable petrochemicals and hydrogen.
Most recently he has successfully led technical and commercial activities supporting circular economies in post-consumer waste plastics and production of renewable ‘drop in’ hydrocarbon fuels from biomass. He has implemented novel partner-based risk-mitigation strategies for the first deployment of new technologies.
Alan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University (1982) and a Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley (1986) which he attended as a National Science Foundation pre-doctoral fellow. Alan attended Executive Development courses at the University of Houston and University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business.
Emma Dyer
Director, People and Culture
Emma has over twenty five years, operational, commercial and human resources experience, including senior management, executive and HR Director appointments across a number of industries including FMCG, Healthcare and Retail in the UK, Europe and Australia.
Prior to joining Ignite Energy Resources in 2013, Emma provided HR consultancy services to entrepreneurial start-ups and small businesses.
She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (Chartered FCIPD) equivalent to a Fellow of AHRI (Australia Human Resources Institute).
Dr. William Rowlands
Chief Scientist
William is a highly experienced industrial scientist with expertise in the areas of high temperature reactions, colloid science and catalysis, and has been working in the field of renewable and alternative energy and materials since 2006. Prior to this he was Research and Development Manager for Colloidal Dynamics, an innovative company specializing in the design and manufacture of scientific instruments for colloid science applications and scientific consulting services. Dr Rowlands was a pioneering stakeholder in Colloidal Dynamics, which was acquired by Agilent in 2008.
Dr Rowlands has held a number of Postdoctoral positions at the University of Sydney, and was a Senior Technologist with Redland Technology (UK). He is a graduate of the University of Bristol, completing his B.Sc. in Chemistry in 1984 and his Ph.D. in 1989. In 2007 he completed an M.B.A. (Executive) degree at the Australian Graduate School of Management, a joint School of the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney. He is the author of fourteen peer-reviewed scientific papers and several patents.
Victoria Sherwood
Executive General Manager Asia and Australasia
Victoria joined Licella in June 2023 and brings a wealth of experience in senior leadership roles across engineering and manufacturing based companies essential for Licella as we commercialise our Cat-HTR platform for plastic and biomass across this key region. She has spent her career successfully optimising business performance and making large scale transformational change happen across a multitude of industries around the world including mining, construction materials, building products, energy, infrastructure, automotive, healthcare, technology and government. Victoria has held numerous executive positions, most recently at iQ Renew and Boral.
She holds a Bsc (Hons) European Business & Engineering and is a Chartered Management Accountant (C.I.M.A.). She is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD),
The Change Facilitation Network (CFAN), as well as Women On Boards (WOB).
Larry Ciccarelli
Non-Executive Director
Larry was the Executive Chairman and founder of GlobeStar Mining Corporation, previously a TSX-listed company, until its recent acquisition by Perilya Ltd (ASX: PEM). Globestar owned base and precious metal mining assets in the Dominican Republic. He founded Sarmin in 1997, which was a private natural resource corporation, prior to its acquisition by GlobeStar.
Larry currently holds the position of Director and Company Secretary at Karr Securities Inc., a private investment firm, where he has worked since co-founding the company in 1989. He is also currently the Chairman of Karmin Exploration, a TSX-listed mining and exploration company with an interest in one of the largest undeveloped zinc projects in Brazil.
Larry holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of Western Ontario. He received an Ontario Business Achievement Award (OBAA) and the Ontario Global Traders Award (OGTA) from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce in 2009. In 2010, Larry was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (“EOY”) finalist, for his role as founder of GlobeStar Mining Corporation.
Jim Overton
Non-Executive Director
Jim is the co-founder and manager of Amplify Energy, a private North American oil and gas exploration company. Jim is also a private investor and partner across a wide range of industries.
Jim has worked as Vice President of Gastar, a gas exploration company, Director of Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL overseeing all business administration and revenue generating aspects of the team and as a Board Member of the Moffitt Cancer Center.
Paul Axon
Non-Executive Director
Paul has vast experience of M&A, corporate finance and general management in Europe and Australia. Previously Paul was a partner in corporate finance in BDO in the UK, had his own M&A practice and was the CEO of Sykes Pumps, until the sale of the business to National Hire in 2010.
Currently Paul is the CEO and equity holder of Coco Group. Coco Group invests in and manages a vast array of businesses in Australia and the Middle East. Business sectors include equipment rental, mining services, retail, biotechnology and resources.
Stuart Grimshaw
Non-Executive Director
Stuart joined Licella in 2022. Most recently, Stuart was the Chief Executive Officer of EzCorp Inc, a Nasdaq listed Financial Services company.
Prior to this role Stuart was the Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Queensland.
Prior to joining the BoQ Stuart was the Chief Executive Officer of Caledonia Investments Pty Ltd and also spent eight years at Commonwealth Bank of Australia where he served in multiple roles including as Chief Financial Officer.
Sandeep Dalvi
Technical Project Director
Sandeep is the Technical Project Director of Arbios Biotech and is responsible for overseeing the successful planning, implementation and reporting of all projects.
Sandeep has extensive experience in downstream hydrocarbon processing (oil refining, upgrading, LNG), technology development & commercialisation and project execution. Prior to joining Arbios, Sandeep worked and managed business development and projects for engineering companies in Australia, Brazil, Canada and India. He is a registered professional engineer in the province of Alberta and Queensland.
Sandeep has extensive experience in leadership roles delivering complex capital and operational engineering projects in in Australia and North America.
Don DeFosset
Non-Executive Director
Don is Chairman of the Executive Board of ATL Partners, a private equity company in NYC. Don is also on the Board of Directors & Chairman of the Compensation and Human Resources Committee at Terex (TEX), Board of Directors & Chairman of Nominating & Governance Committee at ITT. He previously served for over a decade on the National Retail Properties (NNN) and Regions Financial (RF) Boards. He also served as Board Member & Non-Executive Chairman of James Hardie (JHX) & Board member of Enpro Industries previously.
KKR selected Don to become Chairman and Ceo of publicly traded Walter Industries until he retired. Previously he worked in senior executive positions with Rockwell International, COO of Mack Trucks, Automotive President Safety Restraints AlliedSignal, President of Truck Group Navistar, and COO Dura Automotive.
Don received his Bachelors in Engineering from Purdue and MBA from Harvard.
Prof. Thomas Maschmeyer
Principal Technology Consultant and Co-Founder
Thomas is an inventor of the Cat-HTRTM technology, and Co-Founder of Licella Holdings. He is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Sydney and served as Founding Director of the $150m Australian Institute of Nanoscale Science and Technology. In 2011 he was elected youngest Foreign Member of the Academia Europea as well as Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) and, in 2014, of the Royal Society of NSW.
He is Founding Chairman of Gelion Technologies. He serves on the editorial/advisory boards of ten international journals and has received many awards, including the Le Févre Prize of the Australian Academy of Sciences (2007), the RACI Applied Research Award (2011), the RACI Weickhardt Medal for Economic Contributions (2012), the RACI R. K. Murphy Medal for Industrial Chemistry (2018) the Eureka Prize for Leadership in Innovation and Science (2018), the Federation of Asian Chemical Societies’ Contribution to Economic Development Award (2019), the Australian Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation (2020), the Australian Academy of Science’s David Craig Medal (2021) and the Australian Financial Review Sustainability Prize (2021).