Dr Robert Sauer - Chairman
Rob is qualified in law and accountancy, and was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1974, and as a CPA in 1980. He has a BA (majoring in French language) and an LLB from University of Sydney, a Master of Commerce from UNSW (majoring in accounting and financial management) and a Doctor of Business Administration from Charles Sturt University with a thesis on the subject of venture capital and angel investment in small technology-based companies. He was a consultant to the law firm DibbsBarker of which he was a partner between 1978 and 2008, apart from two years living and working in Tokyo with the law firm Anderson Mori.
In 1986 Rob was appointed by the Federal Minister for Industry Technology and Commerce as the first Chairman of the Tax Concession Committee to administer the 150% R&D tax concession scheme, and a member of the federal Industry Research and Development Board. In 1989, Rob was one of the founding shareholders and directors of ResMed, now listed on the New York Stock Exchange and ASX, the 25th largest listed company in Australia by market capitalization.
Rob was involved in the establishment of marine farming of salmon in Tasmania as the first chairman of Tassal Limited (1984-1990), and a director of Salmon Enterprises of Tasmania (1984-1988). He was a member of the Tasmanian Innovations Advisory Board (2004-2008).
Rob’s passions include a lifetime of attempting to master the game of golf, travel, food and wine. He has two children and three grandchildren, and lives about three months a year in Paris and the remainder at home in Sydney.
John Dyson - Director
John Dyson is a Co-Founder and Investment Principal of Starfish Ventures, a leading Australian venture capital firm based in Melbourne. In addition to Echoview Software, John currently serves on the boards of a number of technology companies, including Audinate Group Ltd. John has been an active participant in the venture capital and technology industries for over twenty-five years and is a former Chairman of AVCAL, the peak industry body.
John holds a Bachelor of Science from Monash University, a Graduate Diploma in Finance and Investment from Securities Institute of Australia, a Master of Business Administration from RMIT University, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute. John attended the Stanford University Executive Program in 2010. John is also a board member of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and an advisor to the Dyson Bequest.
Brett Merritt - CEO
Brett Merritt has over thirty years’ experience in earth-science, including twenty-five years delivering products and services to clients across the world. With a strong geospatial background, he has worked in the sciences of geology, potential-field geophysics, environmental management and fisheries assessment.
Earlier in his career, Brett worked as a carpenter, a geologist and as a manager in a geophysical services business. He moved into scientific software business in 2001 as Manager, GIS Applications at Encom Technology. In 2008, Brett was appointed Managing Director of Natural Resources Software at Pitney Bowes. He joined Echoview Software in 2013.
Brett holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from RMIT and a Master of Business Administration from the University of New England. In his spare time, Brett enjoys bushwalking, camping, his vegetable patch and family holidays.
Chris Free - Company Secretary
Chris joined Echoview Software in 2017 and is the company’s CFO/COO. He has over twenty years’ experience within corporate service teams, working for a diverse range of companies both in Australia and in Europe. These include News Corporation, The Walt Disney Company, TMF Group and Hobart International Airport.
Chris is a Certified Practicing Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business and Human Resource Management from the University of Tasmania.
When not at work Chris’ interests include playing, coaching and watching sports, and holidaying with family.
