The Solar Sailor Board: David Franks, Hon Bob Hawke AC, Dr Robert Dane, Ian Robertson

Hon Bob Hawke AC
Chairman

Bob Hawke was Prime Minister of Australia from 1983 - 1991. He has extensive industry, finance and government high-level relations in Australia, China, USA, and Europe. He holds various honorary and political positions including Chairman of Sydney City Mission Fundraising Task Force. SSHL is the only commercial corporation of which he is a director.
 
Dr Robert Dane MBBS, DRACOG
CEO

Robert Dane is CEO and Founder of Solar Sailor Holdings Limited. Solar Sailor is an Australian technology company commercialising hybrid marine power and ‘solar sail’ technology globally. The company was founded in 1999 after Robert conceived and patented the “solar sail”, a device that harnesses both sun and wind power and with a team constructed a successful prototype solar and wind powered ‘solar sailor’ which won the 1997 Advanced Technology Boat Race in Canberra.

In 2000 the Company launched a commercial tourism solar sailor ferry on Sydney harbour, which went on to win the 2001 Engineering Design Award of the Year. It is operated commercially as a charter boat by Captain Cook Cruises successfully to the present day.

In 2001, Robert was appointed the NSW ‘Green Ambassador’ for his contribution to developing green technologies. Robert is also a director of Solar Coast Cats on the Gold Coast.

David Franks BEc, CA, ASIA, FPA (Aff) JP
Chief Financial Officer/Company Secretary

David Franks joined Solar Sailor in December 1998. David has a Bachelor of Economics, is a Chartered Accountant, an Associate of the Securities Institute of Australia, a Certified Financial Planner and a Justice of the Peace. He provides Solar Sailor with substantial finance and administrative expertise. David, has significant experience with over 8 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Corporate Advisory Services and Corporate Finance Divisions prior to commencing Franks & Associates Pty Ltd in 1999, a
chartered accountancy company specialising in the outsourcing of the finance function of medium size organisations.

Dr Anita Ho Baillie
Chief Technical Officer

Prior to joining SS, Anita was the Deputy Director of ARC Photovoltaics Research Centre of Excellence at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and was head of the Centre’s high efficiency solar cell research effort. Anita is pleased to be part of the team that implements Solar Sailors' exciting renewable energy technologies to marine transport for various projects around the world.

Ian Robertson
Director

Ian Robertson is a partner in Holding Redlich, practising in media, entertainment, intellectual property, trade practices and corporate law. He has served on a number of private and public boards, including for seven years until August 2004 as a board member of the Australian broadcasting and on-line regulator, the Australian Broadcasting Authority.

Dan Frybort
Marketing Manager

Dan has 10 years experience in the areas of marketing, design & communications. He has been responsible over the years for the creation of brand identities and marketing campaigns for numerous large & small clients. Dan is also principal of Soul Necta, a creative consultancy based in Sydney, Australia.

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