Our Executive
Leadership Team
Dean Rosenfield
Chief Executive Officer
Dean is a highly experienced business leader with over 20 years of experience in the Defence industry.
Prior to joining Nova, Dean was a Senior Vice President of Saab AB responsible for leading the global business development and sales function; and Group Managing Director Saab UK responsible for leading the UK business operating in the Defence, Public Safety and Underwater Robotics sectors.
Dean has led businesses in Sweden, Singapore, the UK, Australia and New Zealand and was previously Managing Director of the Saab Australia and New Zealand businesses.
He spent 15 years with the Australian Army, holds a Masters in Management from the University of NSW and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Steven Robinson
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Steven Robinson is a proven leader and executive with over 25 years’ experience within the Australian Defence Industry. During that time, he has delivered strategic improvement change initiatives to optimise client’s experiences, grow enduring sovereign capabilities and enable the organisation’s strategic vision.
He was appointed Chief Executive Officer (Acting) during 2023-24 before being appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer.
Prior to this, Steve spent 10 years with Raytheon and was an Engineering Officer in the Australian Army, holding a bachelor’s degree in engineering (Aeronautical), a master’s in business administration (Technology Management) and is a graduate of the INSEAD Advanced Management Programme. He is a current member and past chair of the AmCham Defence and National Security Committee.
Shelley Willsmore
Chief People Officer
Shelley 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.
Ben Gulliver
Chief Financial Officer
Ben is a fellow of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and CPA Australia.
Before joining Nova Systems, he served as the Chief Operating Officer at Saab Australia, where he oversaw three operating businesses, major strategic projects, and mergers and acquisitions. Ben's career spans diverse industries, including manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and accounting services, with both local and international experience.
Currently, Ben holds board positions with Workskil Australia and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation. He also the Chair of the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre.
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.
Andrew Mannix
Managing Director, Nova Systems Australia and New Zealand
Andrew is an experienced Senior Executive who has held numerous appointments throughout his career in the Defence Industry and Mining Sectors. Notable roles include General Manager of Procurement and Supply Chain (Naval Group), Vice President of Defence Mission Systems (Leidos), GM Surveillance and Protection Systems and GM Defence Logistics (BAE Systems).
Through spending a significant part of his career in the Defence Industry, Andrew has worked closely with serving members of our Australian Defence Force, and demonstrates strong advocacy for veterans and reserve service. He is also a Board Director of The Hospital Research Foundation.
Our Board
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.
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.
Julie Cooper
Non-Executive Director
Julie Cooper is a highly skilled business professional who holds a wealth of experience in Business Management and Executive Board Membership. She has held multiple Board and Director positions including with BAE, ASC, the 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.
Christine Zeitz
Non-Executive Director
Christine is an experienced Executive having worked across a diverse range of industries. Holding multiple CEO roles across her career, with Australian and International experience, Christine has extensive skills in strategy, revenue and profitability growth, M&A’s, e- commerce and marketing.
Prior roles include CEO and General Manager, Asia-Pacific at Northrop Grumman, CEO at Leidos, VP and MD at Lockheed Martin Australia and over 25 years as a senior leader at BAE Systems Australia.
Holger Lindner
Non-Executive Director
Holger has been a Non-Executive Director of Nova 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.
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.
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.