The People
SunSureWater Pty was formed to develop, manufacture and market the solar water purifier panel. The team is an experienced mix of business, science and engineering people.
Derek Chapman
After amassing years of experience in engineering and management around the globe, Derek started Transformed Plastix in 1999, a specialist vacuum forming manufacturer. Employing the latest technology machinery, Transformed is now regarded as one of Australia's leading plastic companies.
Derek has seen many many products in his manufacturing lifetime, but when he was approached for advice by Thamesford on the solar water purifying panel, he was truly excited. Derek’s skills were soon tested, as the panel has to work in a harsh UV rich environment with often extreme temperature changes.
Derek was hooked, and since has spent a great amount of time developing the manufacture and materials of the panel and invested in SunSureWater to become Managing Director.
Pauline Rooney
With over 30 years in business, Pauline has become a South Australian business institution! Proudly holding an MBA in strategic marketing, her business skills were recognised when she was awarded the Telstra SA Business Woman of the Year in 1996. Pauline is currently the Chairman of Waterfind, Australia's premier on-line water trading company and a Board Member of the Waterfind Environmental Fund.
Pauline has lived and worked in the Riverland of South Australia where everyone relies on either the River Murray or a rain water tank for drinking water. From this background she understands the necessity of having a reliable supply of pure drinking water for a family as essential for good health. Pauline immediately recognized that the Waterward is one of those rare, life-changing inventions which must be made globally available as soon as possible.
Alan Yildiz
Alan is the Chief Executive of the Gillon Group. He is a qualified chartered accountant, registered company auditor and a registered tax agent. Despite his demanding role and busy family life, Alan was immediately taken with the purifier's humanitarian potential.
Alan is very passionate about the real changes it can bring to enhance family life around the world wherever it is needed.
David Land
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Alister Willcox
Alister is currently completing his Master of Business Administration at Charles Sturt University and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He completed his Bachelor of Economics at Adelaide University and is currently the General Manager of Pharmserve Pty Ltd, responsible for overall management of 25 pharmacies with a combined turnover of $70m and employing 300 staff across 4 states and territories.
Having been involved with the purifier for several years, Alister is dedicated to seeing the product reach its potential. With his current duties and the fact that he has recently become a father means that relaxation is just a word in the dictionary!
Research & Development
John Ward
Physicist John Ward is the inventor of the SWP technology. John studied maths and physics at London University. John worked at the Defence Department based in Adelaide for 25 years and was primarily responsible for a variety of innovations in the optics and thin optics fields, which are in commercialisation today.
He has been a member of the Australian Institute of Physics for about 30 years and was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 1984.
Since retiring John has dedicated himself to the development of the solar water purifier and manufactures bespoke Sundials.
DR Margaret Folkard
Margaret obtained her BSc Honours majoring in Physics, which culminated in her being awarded the University medal in 1967. Margaret completed her Doctorate in Physics in 1971 and spent her career in the Defence Department handling sensitive materials and semi conductors. Margaret has been a member of the Australian Institute of Physics for almost 40 years.
When relaxing you can find Marg deep in scientific debate with John, making sundials or continuing her love affair with the Himalayas.
Dr Margaret Folkard, John Ward and the Thamesford team have been researching and developing the SWP technology for the past 12 years. They take primary responsibility for ongoing product enhancement and Research and Development.
Bryan Johnson
An experienced engineer, it's Bryan's role to make two scientists' designs, a reality…. it’s a tough job! Bryan has worked on all the different aspects of the array from the panel prototypes to the array frames and the plumbing. The whole purifying system is constantly evolving and being improved and it’s usually Bryan's challenge to make it happen and then make it perfect.
He has worked with John and Marg as a team for many years and spends his spare time wondering what he did wrong in a previous life.
