GROUP DIRECTOR, COMPANY SECRETARY & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Franco is a finance professional with a chartered accounting background in taxation and extensive hands-on corporate experience across a wide range of industry sectors focussed specifically on the implementation of aggressive growth strategies.

Franco also heads up a specialist corporate advisory firm targeting larger SMEs and small-cap ASX-listed companies with mid-market M&A needs, along with providing investment banking services under AFSL.

Franco’s key roles within our business call for a very close watch to be maintained on the Group’s ever-expanding local and international businesses.

CHIEF SCIENTIST

Akshat Talwalkar has a highly accomplished and uniquely diverse techno-commercial profile that includes a PhD in microbiology, 10 publications in reputed scientific journals, six commercially successful patents in grain enzyme production along with extensive on-field commercial experience of new business and market development, technical sales, process development, strategic planning and key account management across Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

Akshat's industrial experience includes substantial hands-on involvement with technology start-ups and large manufacturers where he led the conceptualization and development of new technologies, set up enzyme application labs and pilot plants, worked closely with both production managers and operators to successfully scale up scientifically intricate technologies from lab to production levels and worked closely with key stakeholders of large global clients to effectively transfer the developed technologies, offering continual on-site support until they were successfully integrated and established in customers production processes.

SENIOR SCIENTIST & TEAM LEADER

Aswin Rajkumar has extensive experience in applied research and technology development, specializing in the valorization of various animal- and plant-based by-product streams to produce high-value food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical ingredients.

Holding a Master’s Degree in research and microbiology from University of Queensland, Aswin has played a key role in the development and scale-up of OTH’s multiple technologies, taking them from laboratory concept to pilot and commercial-scale implementation.

His industrial hands-on experience extends to the commissioning of production plants, where he has worked closely with engineering and operations teams to optimize process parameters, troubleshoot technical challenges, and ensure successful operation of the commercial production plant. In addition to his contributions in the sustainability space, Aswin has also worked on the development of novel diagnostic tools for the early detection of cancer in the Biomedical field.

Driven by a strong belief in the power of science to solve real-world problems, Aswin continues to bridge the gap between research and industry through innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence.

SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR

Simon is a sales, marketing and brand professional with extensive experience across the APAC region specialising in brand development, cross border commerce and ingredient commodities trading.

Having run a handful of brand and marketing agencies focussed in emerging markets, Simon has worked with several of the world’s top companies including LVMH, Volkswagen Group, IOC, Bacardi and Adidas. An early pioneer of cross border e-commerce, Simon has also developed several food & beverage and health & wellness brands in Asia and Australia.

Simon is an innovator and strategic thinker with a global network encompassing a diverse range of industry sectors.