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Our Team
Evan Thornley
CEO, Better Place Australia
Evan Thornley is responsible for all aspects of the company’s direction, strategy, financing and operations, including development of the Better Place electric vehicle network in Australia. He leads a local team in support of the Better Place mission to reduce oil dependence by delivering personal transportation as a sustainable service. Before joining Better Place, Evan served in the Victorian Parliament. He was elected from the Southern Metropolitan Region to the Legislative Council and served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier. Prior to that, Evan was a successful technology entrepreneur. He founded and served as chairman and CEO of LookSmart Ltd. (NASD: LOOK), an Internet search advertising company that remains one of the few Australian companies to be taken public on the NASDAQ Stock Market. Evan also has served in various roles with McKinsey & Company, a leading global management-consulting firm, in Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur and New York. Evan chairs the Board of Per Capita, a public policy think tank and is the National Secretary of the Australian Fabian Society. He serves on the board of the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, a leading faith-based welfare agency in Melbourne, and was a Founding Director of GetUp! an online activist network with over 300,000 members. Evan holds degrees in Law and Commerce from The University of Melbourne, where he served as student body President.
Antony Cohen
Chief Finance Officer
Antony Cohen joined Better Place from KPMG on 1 July 2009, where he was a Partner, Board Member and Head of Energy and Natural Resources. Cohen is a globally recognised leader in electricity markets and electricity market reform. In his time with KPMG, Cohen was a lead advisor to governments on energy reforms and the creation of commercial structures for those industries in many jurisdictions, including Australia, Israel, the U.K. and South Korea. Cohen brings more than 20 years’ experience and leadership in the corporate finance sector. He has advised both public and private energy companies and financiers on mergers and acquisitions, divestments and strategies in the competitive energy sector. In his role with Better Place Australia, Cohen will direct the company’s capital-raising engagement with investors and industry partners to help achieve the company’s goal of rolling out an electric vehicle recharging network in Australia starting in 2012. Cohen has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Metallurgy) from the University of Melbourne, a Graduate Diploma in Accounting, Victoria College Australia and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Australia. He is the long-serving Treasurer of the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce and serves as Treasurer of Bialik College in Melbourne.
Ben Keneally
Head of Marketing and Strategy
Ben Keneally is responsible for all aspects of marketing in Better Place Australia, including branding, research, marketing communications and marketing strategy. As head of strategy he leads the company’s internal strategic planning processes and provides strategic advice and analytical support on partnership and growth opportunities. Ben joined Better Place after several years working in senior policy, strategy and finance roles in the NSW Public Service, including leadership of the Premier’s Delivery Unit and serving as Deputy Chief of Staff to the NSW Premier. Prior to joining the public service, Ben was a Principal with The Boston Consulting Group where he worked extensively with consumer oriented product and service businesses in both Australia and North America. Ben has a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours, both from Sydney University.
Talal Yassine
Chief Commercial Officer
Talal Yassine OAM is responsible for all aspects of Better Place Australia’s business development and strategic partnerships. Talal began career as a lawyer with the national law firm, Dunhill Madden Butler later joining PricewaterhouseCoopers as a Director and strategist. After 10 years at PwC, having advised some of Australia’s top corporations, Talal joined investment firm, Babcock & Brown as a Director in the Corporate Finance Group and later in the Technical Real Estate Division. Talal chairs national hearing services chain, Platinum Sound Pty Limited and has served as a Councillor on the Macquarie University Council. Talal holds a Master of Laws, a Master of Business Administration and is completing his Doctor of Business Administration degree with a focus on international business strategy. On Australia Day 2010 Talal was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to business and to the community through a range of education, health and multicultural organisations.
Geoff Zippel
Head of Deployment
Geoff commenced his career in the automotive industry with manufacturers Repco and Bendix Mintex, before joining the oil industry. In a career spanning more than twenty years in downstream operations with Mobil and ExxonMobil, he has undertaken roles across Australia, and covering most of the world. This has included Global and Regional roles responsible for network construction and facilities management, asset optimisation, procurement and outsourcing, sales, marketing, manufacturing and supply chain.
Prior to leaving ExxonMobil, Geoff was head of Assets and Engineering for Asia Pacific, with responsibility for retail and distribution networks including more than 11,000 service stations, as well as being a member of global and regional leadership teams responsible for implementation of the Exxon/Mobil merger.
Since returning to Australia, Geoff ran the Chemicals Division for major pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, and was CEO of Metric Group, a national Facilities Management company specialising in construction and maintenance in the service station and major retail sectors.
Alison Terry
Head of Corporate Affairs
Alison Terry’s responsibilities at Better Place Australia include external relations, public policy and government affairs. At an operational level, Alison also manages the office of the CEO. Alison is an experienced global automotive industry executive with close to 20 years at GM Holden, where she was a member of the company’s Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors. After commencing her career at the Australian Industry Group and in private legal practise, Alison joined GM Holden’s legal department and held the position of General Counsel for a number of years. She subsequently held a number of senior roles in the finance, marketing and corporate affairs functions and prior to leaving GM Holden was Executive Director, Corporate Affairs for Australia and New Zealand. Alison has a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from Australian National University. She serves on the boards of Australian Super, NBN Tasmania and the Centre for Adult Education and is a member of the Australian National University Finance Committee.
Dr Alan Finkel
Chief Technology Officer
Dr Alan Finkel is responsible for driving technology implementation and localisation for the Australian market, and leading engagement with local manufacturers and utilities on engineering and technology issues. He will also focus on standards setting and compliance with safety regulations for electric vehicle charging and battery switch technology in Australia. Alan completed his PhD in electrical engineering at Monash University before working for two years as a research fellow at The Australian National University. For 21 years he was founder and CEO of Axon Instruments, a California-based company supplying electronic and robotic instruments and software for use in drug discovery. After Axon was acquired, Alan co-founded COSMOS and G magazines to promote science awareness and sustainability; he led the establishment of the Australian Course in Advanced Neuroscience; fostered initiatives to reinvigorate secondary school science education and was appointed Chancellor of Monash University. Alan is a Fellow and former Director of the Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering.
Guy Pross
Director, Business Development and Commercial Partnerships
Reporting directly to the Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Pross is responsible for a range of major projects within the Information Management and Development of Corporate/Government Partnerships. In his previous role, Mr. Pross headed up the Trade Division of the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce with a focus on developing the bi-lateral relations between Australia and Israel. He has worked extensively in a range of public policy, business development and marketing roles including roles at Accor Asia Pacific group focused on their deployment across Australia and Asia and a position held at the office of former Israeli Minister and head of the Israeli Security Services, Ret. Admiral Ami Aylaon.
Global Leadership Team