The team
People are the key to IZON's success. IZON's programmes are under pinned by a highly experienced R&D team with a proven track record in partnership with a network of world-class R&D partners.
Hans van der Voorn, Executive Chairman and Investor
Hans van der Voorn trained as an engineer in New Zealand and worked in civil engineering and construction for 15 years. In 1994 he started the operation of Nova Gas Ltd in New Zealand, originally based on landfill methane extraction, processing and sale. Hans was a founder shareholder and Chief Executive of Nova Gas until 2001, continuing as a non-executive director and minor shareholder until 2006. Nova Gas developed its own pipelines to bypass incumbent monopolies, became an integrated gas supply company and is now wholly owned by Todd Energy with a turnover in excess of NZ$250m.
In 2005 he became the sole financial investor in nanotechnology company, Australo Ltd (renamed IZON this year), based in Dunedin, New Zealand. Originally a 50:50 joint venture with the founder scientists, it is now predominantly owned by van der Voorn interests. In early 2007 Hans took over executive management of IZON, with the founder scientists continuing to work on research and development. The company has an advanced technology platform based on dynamically adjustable nanopores. In 2008 IZON commenced an international rollout of its platform and has entered into a number of research partnerships with universities and research institutes in different parts of the world. Instrumentation utilising IZON’s nanopore platform is currently available in beta version and is due for full commercial release in June 2009.
Hans van der Voorn is an experienced investor and entrepreneur with a number of public and private investments.
Paul Atkins, Director External Relations
Paul has 30 years experience in international relations and in the promotion of science and technology internationally.
He holds an MSc from Reading University in the UK, and is a member of the Institute of Physics (UK), the Royal Society of New Zealand, and the Chartered Institute of Management (UK). He was appointed as a science adviser in the British Council in 1987. Since that time he has held a number of senior management roles internationally in the British Council, most latterly as Director New Zealand from 1999 to 2004.
In 2004, Paul joined the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, initially as Director of International Investments, and then as Group Manager, International and Communications. He established FRST’s international group and initiatives including joint-funding relationships with Korea and Japan, and collaborations in the USA and Europe.
Paul joined IZON in February 2008 as Director, External Relations. The company has an advanced technology platform based on dynamically adjustable nanopores. It is just commencing an international rollout of its platform and entering into a number of research partnerships with universities and research institutes in different parts of the world.
Dr Murray Broom, Chief Science Officer
Dr Murray Broom is one of the founder scientists of IZON’s SIOS technology. His specific focus at IZON is in the development of applications around the SIOS platform, within IZON's in-house research program as well as in collaborative ventures with external parties. His background training is in Biochemistry with experience in biochemistry and protein chemistry and expertise in molecular biology.
During the 90's he was responsible for the development of Yeast Artificial Chromosome cloning technology in New Zealand and for the US Department of Agriculture. He has experience in gene mapping technology, including chromosome mapping, chromosome walking, linkage mapping and in situ techniques. He previously led a research program at Otago University targeting the identification of the genetic mutation for neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, a degenerative neurological disease.
Murray has also developed innovative outdoor product with awards for excellence in design, from the USA SGMA, Time Magazine, Fortune Magazine and the DuPont ISPO award.
