The Board
Prof. William (Bill) Bloking - Executive Chairman and President
Bill recently retired as President of Australia-Asia Gas for BHP Billiton Petroleum, where he also served as CEO of BHP Billiton Petroleum (North West Shelf) and was fully responsible for the BHPB’s interest in the North West Shelf, Browse LNG and Pilbara LNG projects. BHP Billiton is the world’s largest diversified resource company and is noted as the second largest producer and marketer of export thermal coal. Prior to his work at BHP Billiton, Prof. Bloking also served as a General Manager for Esso Indonesia, Inc. American-born Mr. Bloking holds dual American / Australian citizenship and is the Vice Chairman of the Australia China Business Council. He is currently Chairman of Norwest Energy NL, Cool Energy Ltd, and Cullen Wines (Australia), and is a director of the John Holland Group, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and the Lions Eye Institute. He is also a Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia, a member of the Advisory Board of the University of Western Australia’s Confucius Centre, and is an Adjunct Professor at Murdoch University.
Antonio Varano della Vergiliana - Independent Non-Executive Director
Antonio brings over twenty-five years establishing successful business in various industries including farming, retailing, music, entertainment, media, the arts, cosmetics, building and importing. Many of these businesses have achieved a dominant position in the markets in which they operate. As an entrepreneur his experience encompasses the various aspects of a start up from corporate and finance to operational issues and exit strategies. He is Chairman of Cosmetics Developments Limited and Director of SBA Music, New Hampton Technologies and Artedomus, Antonio Studied for a bachelor of business at the Western Australian Institute of Technology and obtained an MBA from the University of Western Australia. Antonio is a founding partner of Empress Ventures, a boutique venture capital firm with offices in California, New York, London and Australia.
Andrew Caminschi - Executive Director
Over the past 15 years Andrew has held leadership positions in start-up and corporate enterprises, including over five years at HP/Agilent in the San Francisco Bay Area. Andrew has worked in Europe, Australia, Asia and the US and has a consistent track record of driving rapid, profitable growth in emerging businesses. Andrew is a founding partner of Empress Ventures, a boutique venture capital firm with offices in California, New York, London and Australia. Andrew holds an MBA in International Finance and a Bachelor's degree in Computer & Mathematical Sciences from the University of Western Australia.