Oleg Vornik | CEO & Managing Director

Oleg is an experienced senior executive with successful track record of rapid business scale up, including IPO and subsequent growth of the DroneShield teams in Australia, US and UK, and presence in over 100 countries. Through that time, he fostered organic deep technology development, through to mass deployment of the solutions around the world in the homeland security, intelligence community and military segments.

Prior to DroneShield, Oleg’s career spanned across Deutsche Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, Brookfield and ABN AMRO.

Oleg has a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) from Canterbury University and completed a Columbia University business program.

Matt McCrann | CEO, DroneShield (USA)

Matt is an experienced business development executive, having successfully built and led business units delivering innovative technology to government and enterprise end users worldwide. Matt joined DroneShield in 2019 and is responsible for the growth and scaling of its U.S. organization.

Prior to DroneShield, Matt held leadership positions at rapid growth scale-ups, successfully building business units serving the Defense and Intelligence markets. His career experience includes management level roles across engineering, operations, and sales functions at high growth businesses.

Matt is a veteran of the United States Navy and served as an Intelligence Operator and Analyst and a member of NSA/CSS’s Cryptologic Direct Support Element.

Angus Bean | Chief Technology Officer

Angus merges the various fields of mechanical hardware, electronics, software, digital interface and technology. He brings a wealth of knowledge in product development, team leadership and technical innovation strategy.

Angus joined DroneShield early in 2016, since then has been a driving force in DroneShield’s technology team, working to build the team and the technology to deliver on key projects and milestones.

Over his career, Angus has adopted both a collaborative and leadership role on a number of projects which have attracted multiple Australian and International Awards in Innovation, Consumer Electronics, Defence and Cyber Security.

Carl Norman | Vice President, Embedded Systems

Carl has over 25 years of experience in electronic product design, development, manufacturing, and project management.

He has a strong background in design and development of embedded RF products, covering ISM band RF, analog design, embedded system design, high-speed digital design, coupled with hands-on project management, delivering products to the Communication, Security, and Industrial sectors around the world.

Carl carries the experience required to meet the fast-paced timelines of delivering commercially viable products to market. Carl has studied Electronics Engineering at TAFE NSW.

Lawrence Marychurch | Vice President, Design

Lawrence is an experienced Industrial Designer and has been with DroneShield since early 2018. With a deep involvement in product development, manufacturing, and QA, Lawrence is involved at every stage of the product lifecycle. He works closely with RF, electrical, and software engineers to deliver innovative counterdrone products.

Lawrence manages a large portfolio of suppliers in Australia and abroad, regularly visiting their facilities. He also runs DroneShield’s manufacturing facility in Sydney.

Lawrence holds a BDesign in Integrated Product Design from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Sasha Biskup | Vice President, Security + Platforms

Sasha has been at the forefront of cybersecurity and engineering for over 25 years, working in Big Tech, the Internet of Things (IoT), Telecommunications, and Financial Services.

Prior to joining DroneShield, he held numerous leadership and engineering roles in England and the U.S. He has been pivotal in maturing cybersecurity at product startups and large-scale Internet companies throughout his career. His prolific work with global-scale IoT initiatives has given him the invaluable hands-on practical experience he needs to scale systems and processes effectively.

Sasha contributes significantly to DroneShield’s innovation and required engineering velocity. He is constantly raising the security bar to protect assets, products, and customers.

Alex Cohen | Embedded Software Manager

Alex is an accomplished engineer and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in defence, telecommunications, and space industries. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and an Executive MBA from UNSW.

In his career across Israel and Australia, Alex has led teams and strategic initiatives, including his work on the Iron Dome project and the design of bespoke Software Defined Radio (SDR) platforms at Elbit Systems. His time as a C4I officer in reserve in the IDF provided valuable operational insights.

Alex has held technical and leadership roles at Israeli Aerospace Industries, Commtact (Rafael), and Advanced Navigation. Currently with DroneShield, he drives innovative projects and fosters growth.

Adam Panarello | Embedded Hardware Manager

Adam is a seasoned engineer with over 20 years of experience managing large technical and multi-disciplinary teams. He is a senior member of IEEE and holds a Master’s in Engineering Management from the University of Technology Sydney, and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Western Sydney University. Adam has also been decorated with numerous design awards for products he has produced and managed.

Prior to DroneShield, Adam held key leadership positions at Cochlear, GME, and ResMed, following years of work with numerous startups in the medical devices industry. During his career, he has managed teams in Electronics, RF, Software, and Systems Engineering, with a proven track record in delivering highly successful and innovative products to market.

Tom Branstetter | Director of Business Development (USA)

Tom is a U.S. Navy veteran and former Navy SEAL. Upon separation from active duty in 2010, he began work as a high-threat protective officer for the U.S. government.

Tom now serves as the Director of Business Development for DroneShield’s U.S. operations focusing on overall growth across DoD and other federal agencies. Tom’s responsibilities include identifying and developing new business opportunities as well as expanding brand presence. Additional areas of focus include leading cross-functional teams and managing existing partnerships.

Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Entrepreneurship. He and his family reside in Northern Virginia.

Tom Adams | Director of Public Safety (USA)

Tom, a retired FBI agent with 20 years of service, dedicated his career to counterterrorism and public safety. As a Special Agent Bomb Technician and later a Supervisory Special Agent in the FBI's Counter-UAS program, he developed key policies and led high-stakes missions across major U.S. events like the Super Bowl and World Series.

Post-retirement, Tom launched a Counter-UAS resource website and co-chaired the FAA's UAS Detection and Mitigation Aviation Rulemaking Committee. He now serves as Director of Public Safety at DroneShield, driving innovative counter-UxS solutions.

Red McClintock | Director

Red is a Business Development Manager with a military technical background. He served 23 years as an officer the Royal Australian Navy including operational deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and served in 7 different classes of warships. During his time with the Navy, Red evaluated, acquired, and operated numerous capabilities including Command and Control, Electronic Warfare and Hard-Kill options. He has a broad military experience spanning operational, technical, acquisition and sustainment roles – from this he recognises that the needs of frontline operators should be fundamental to all systems (although lamentably this is not always the case).

Prior to joining DroneShield, Red worked for five years with BAE Systems as a Business Development and Account Manager. Over this period, he was a key individual in the successful “Hunter Class” future frigate bid ($35b), following this with roles in the Electronic Warfare and Geospatial Intelligence domains. He is a staunch believer in Australian Industry and seeks to grow SMEs wherever he sees a good opportunity.

Louis Gamarra | Sales Director

Louis brings almost two decades of sales expertise to DroneShield. He has been an active firefighter with the Rural Fire Service in New South Wales since 2020.

As a tenured sales leader, Louis has specialised in sales training and business process management in both start-up and enterprise environments.

Prior to DroneShield, Louis worked for Baraja, an advanced LiDAR manufacturer, where he was instrumental in delivering autonomous vehicle capability to large Mining and Defence customers, both in Australia and internationally.

Terry van Haren DSM | Vice President, Strategy

Terry joins the DroneShield team after 35 years of service in the Royal Australian Air Force as a Commander, fighter pilot, and weapons officer. Terry is a veteran with four operational tours in the Middle East with recognised distinguished service. Terry’s last posting was as the Air and Space Attaché to the US (18-20), during which time he developed his interests in next generation disruptive commercial air and space technologies.

Terry is a future-focused strategic thinker and pragmatic business leader. He believes that cooperation between Government, Defence and commercial industry is the key to national resilience and business success.

Kym Osley, AM, CSC | Strategic Advisor

Kym is a widely-respected defence executive with extensive connections across the defence ecosystem in Australia and overseas with Military, Government, and Industry. He has 45+ years experience working within the Defence Force and subsequently in the commercial sector.

He has had many senior roles across defence and aerospace, including with an international consulting firm, and as the senior Air Force representative in the UK, and senior defence representative in the US. He was the Head of the $17B Australian F-35 program, and was awarded a Minister for Defence Industry Support Commendation for his work in capability development with defence.

Kym is a Member of the Order of Australia, a graduate of the Harvard Advanced Management Program, and a Fellow of the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies.

Fergus (Gus) McLachlan, AO | Strategic Advisor

Gus McLachlan is a retired Major General in the Australian Army, serving for 37 years. His career included operational service in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Afghanistan, as well as a pivotal exchange with the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. For his exceptional service in Afghanistan, he was awarded the U.S. Legion of Merit by then Secretary of Defense, James Mattis.

Gus led the recapitalisation of the Australian Army’s air defence and ground combat systems. His tenure as Commander, Land Forces Command, oversaw the operational readiness of 35,000 personnel.

An Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), Gus holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Canberra and is an alumnus of the Harvard Advanced Management Program. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales.

Hans Høyer | Sales Director

Hans Høyer has extensive experience in top-level government management, notably at the Danish Ministry of Defence. His expertize focuses on counterdrone capabilities and insights, making him a leading figure in the evolving landscape of defense technology.

Hans is in charge of developing DroneShield’s engagement in the European market. He is uniquely positioned to drive growth and innovation within this dynamic sector.

Hans holds both a Master of Science and a Master of Public Administration, underpinning his strategic mindset and analytical capabilities. As a former army officer, he brings operational understanding and a results-oriented perspective to his work, consistently delivering value and fostering collaborative relationships.

Carlos Gutierrez | Sales Director - Latin America & Caribbean

Carlos has over 15 years in sales and business development experience across Latin America and the Caribbean in the IT, satellite and space industry. His regional knowledge gives him the tools to accelerate DroneShield’s regional expansion and support, ensuring their customer’s needs are always met.

Prior to joining DroneShield, Carlos led Starlink’s B2B and channel sales in Latin America, a SpaceX company specialized in internet connectivity for governments and enterprises, where he was instrumental in achieving Starlink’s exponential growth.

Carlos holds an Industrial Designer diploma, specialized in Sales and Product Development from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, in Bogota, Colombia.

Nathan Vardanega | Chief Operating Officer

Nathan has joined the company in March 2024 and has successfully led several of its projects and teams, including the execution of the Company’s Electronic Warfare work with the Australian Defence Force, and building up its Field Service Engineering, Data Acquisition and Test & Evaluation teams, conducting testing of DroneShield’s new technologies as well as performance demonstrations and system deployments for the business. Nathan has become the COO in January 2025.

Nathan brings over 12 years of service in the Australian Defence Force, where he honed his skills in operational planning, leadership, and critical decision-making. Following his military career, Nathan worked with a veteran charity organisation, supporting and advocating for fellow veterans, further demonstrating his dedication to the Defence community.

Raffael Blattner | Operations Manager

Raffael has over 15 years of experience in Manufacturing and Operations Management backed by a strong educational foundation in Engineering and Project Management.

Prior to joining DroneShield in 2023, Raffael held management positions in deep-tech start-ups, as well as corporate organisations delivering products and projects into the automotive, telecommunications, and industrial markets. He has a wealth of experience developing and improving operational processes in a fast-paced scale-up environment.

Raffael holds an Engineering qualification in Mechatronics and Project Management from a Swiss Advanced Business School for Engineers.

Paul Cenoz | General Counsel & Joint Company Secretary

Paul is admitted to practice law in California and New South Wales. He brings his experience working on multi-jurisdictional matters with technology businesses.

Prior to DroneShield, Paul was COO and General Counsel of OSINT Combine in Sydney. Before moving to Australia, Paul co-founded and was COO and General Counsel of Morning Consult in Washington, DC.

Paul’s prior legal experience includes MurdockCheng Legal Practice, a Sydney based boutique law firm, and Cox Wootton Lerner, a maritime litigation firm in Los Angeles, California.

Paul has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and Juris Doctor degrees from Monash University and American University Washington College of Law.

Carla Balanco | CFO & Joint Company Secretary

Carla is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CA ANZ). She holds an Honours in Accounting from the University of Johannesburg and an Honours in Accounting Science from the University of South Africa. Carla started her career working for Chartered firms Crowe Horwath and HLB Mann Judd in the audit division.

Today, as CFO and Company Secretary, Carla oversees statutory reporting, management reporting, payroll, treasury, administration, and compliance for the global DroneShield Group of companies.

Carla was selected as a finalist in the 2021 ADM’s Women in Defence Awards and 2020 Australian Defence Industry Awards.

Kacey Lam-Evans | Government Affairs and Media Director

Kacey is a government affairs specialist who brings a robust background in public policy and strategic government engagement to DroneShield. She has directly advised Australian Government Ministers and was Senior Advisor to the 54th Australian Minister for Defence, where she was instrumental in driving the Australian Defence Export Strategy and enhancing export confidence across the Australian defence industry.

Prior to DroneShield, Kacey held a senior leadership role at a government affairs firm, where she provided strategic corporate advice and government relations support to clients across the defence, space, construction, international affairs, and health sectors.

Kacey was selected as a finalist for Space Connect’s Rising Star of the Year in 2023 and was on the judging panel for the Australian Defence Magazine (ADM) Women in Defence Awards (2022-2024) and 30under30 (2023).

Patricia Vanni | Joint Company Secretary

Patricia Vanni of Automic Group serves as Joint Company Secretary. Patricia is a qualified lawyer with more than 20 years’ professional experience including corporate governance, company secretarial services for ASX listed companies as well as mergers & acquisitions, project finance, contracts and compliance.

Patricia holds a Bachelor of Laws and is admitted to practice in both Victoria, Australia and Brazil. She is also an Affiliate of the Governance Institute of Australia.