Key Personnel
David MacLennan
B.Sc. UNSW (Chemistry, Biochemistry); M.Sc. UNSW (Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering); Ph.D. London (Microbiology); MRACI, C.Chem., MAIFST, AMASVO
Chairman and Research Director
David has worked in the areas of biotechnology, fermentation and
agriproduct/food processing chemistry and engineering for over 30 years. After
establishing and managing the Biotechnology Research Department at ICI
Agricultural Division,
In 1985 David co-founded Agritechnology Pty Ltd with Mary MacLennan, and was
Chairman and Managing Director until 2006, when he stepped down as Managing
Director. The Company or its principals have founded several new
R&D/technology-based companies in which David has been Chairman/CEO in
their formative years.
For over 15 years David had a broadacre farm in Central
David has been a Director of the Australian Co-operative Research Centre for
Aquaculture, a consultant in biotechnology and waste treatment to the United
Nations and multinational corporations on various occasions, a member of the
NSW CSIRO Advisory Committee, and a member of the Selection Committee for the
Australian Special Rural Research Council. He has some 25 publications and
patents, and is a Chartered Chemist (Royal Australian Chemical Institute).
Donald MacLennan
Master of Science & Technology Commercialisation (
Managing Director
Director, Orange R&D Centre
In addition to the general management of the company's operations Don is
responsible for the larger scale technical development and proving of projects,
including construction, commissioning and operation of pilot plant, and preparation
of commercialization plans for promising projects, including assessment of
market demand, technical feasibility, and compliance with local authorities,
industry and food legislation.
He draws on a broad range of experience acquired from management roles in a
wide variety of activities including broadacre farming and intensive animal
husbandry, vineyard establishment and operation, winery design and
construction, winemaking, and project management in several R&D projects
including an intensive oyster hatchery research programme, and design
construction and management of a feed production facility for novel aquaculture
feeds. He has various certificates and been actively involved in providing TAFE
training programmes in agriculture and the wine industry.
He owns and operates a small vineyard and winery.
Donald was appointed Managing Director of Agritechnology Pty Ltd in 2006.
Robin Fieldhouse
B.A. (Hons) Chemistry (
D.Phil. Chemistry (
MAIFST
Research Manager
Robin is an organic chemist with specialist skills and experience in
agrichemical and pharmaceutical process development, as well as over 10 years'
experience of industrial R&D management with ICI/Zeneca legacy companies
(Syngenta, Avecia, NPIL Pharma) in the UK. In addition to technical expertise
in chemistry and process development, Robin has broad experience in
fermentation technology, including development of post-fermentation productst,
techno-commercial evaluation of projects, patent analysis (both own and
competitors') and progression, process innovation and management of
collaborative R&D programmes.
Mary MacLennan
B.Sc. (Hons),
Director
Mary has had over 30 years experience as an R&D microbiologist and manager
including appointments with Bayer in the
She was a co-founder and R&D Director of Techno-Proteins Pty Ltd, an
R&D-based company which developed and patented worldwide a novel solid
state food fermentation product simulating minced beef. Subsequently she was
R&D Manager of Biotechnology Australia Pty Ltd, responsible for a
multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers developing both yeast and
solid state fermentation technology. Mary is responsible for techno-economic
and commercial feasibility studies, patenting of new projects, and also
actively participates in the Company's technical R&D programmes.
Jason Hopcraft
BSc (Hons)
Process design
engineer
Jason has a sound background industrial design with skills in structural
engineering, basic aero and fluid dynamics, electronics/electrical/computer
hardware. Jason’s current role is to design and commission and operate
scaled up aerobic and anaerobic process reactors for micro-organisms (including
fungi, bacteria, algae and zooplankton) and recovery of valuable derived
products. Jason draws on his comprehensive understanding and experience
in Chemistry, Animal & Plant biology, Horticulture, Hydroponics/Aquaponics,
Viticulture and winemaking.
Jason most recent projects include Biofermentation methane and
methanol production, Biodiesel production, Methane, Methanol, Hydrogen IC
engines and fuel cells, Solar, wind and recirculating microhydro power
generation and storage solutions, Photovoltaic tracker variable incidence angle
mechanical pivot, Low voltage, lightweight electric commuter bicycle, NiMh and
Li polymer battery systems, and Robotics.
Idris Mohammed
B.Sc. Hons (Molecular Science Microbiology)
Ph.D. (Molecular Science Microbiology)
Senior Microbiologist
Idris has had 3 years fermentation research experience in manipulation of yeast
metabolism to optimize ethanol production, as well as some years of
undergraduate teaching experience.Idris is responsible for the execution of all
microbiology R&D at Agritechnology, including strain selection and
evaluation, and laboratory continuous fermentation activities.
Jiang (John) Wu
M.Sc. (Fermentation Technology) Southern
Ph.D. (
Biotechnology Scientist
Jiang has over 20 years experience in academic and industrial research in
fermentation, food science and microbiology, in
Sanket Prabhu
B.Sc.(Food Microbiology and Chemistry)
M.Life Sciences,
Food Scientist
Sanket has wide experience in modern instrumental analytical techniques
for agricultural feedstock and food ingredients, and in feedstock and food
processing operations.He is responsible for progressing the Food Science
research programme within Agritechnology on both laboratory process development
and pilot plant implementation.
