Team

Mr de Jong is a seasoned international executive with a diverse background spanning finance, general management, and consultancy across a wide range of industries, including international institutions, energy, aviation, med-tech, and biotech. With extensive experience in both start-up and scale-up environments, as well as mature public and private companies, Mr de Jong brings a unique blend of strategic vision and hands-on expertise.

Mr de Jong has demonstrated a passion for driving innovation and growth, leveraging his financial acumen and management skills to propel companies forward. He is known for his ability to analyse complex challenges, develop tailored solutions, and implement strategies that drive sustainable value. His collaborative approach and strong interpersonal skills enable him to build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, fostering environments of trust, transparency, and accountability.

Mr de Jong holds a Master of Arts (MA), International Political Economy from the University of Warwick, an executive Master of Business (MBS), Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Health from Utrecht University and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mr de Jong was appointed CEO of the PPK Nanomaterials businesses on 1 December 2023, and continues to act as Commercial Director of PPK Group Ltd.

Sarah has over 20 years’ experience as a financial controller, including key roles at Technology One, Cardno, Xstrata and PwC. Across these positions, Sarah has built extensive knowledge of group finance and taxation with a focus on global reporting, financial strategy and risk management. In her role as CFO, Sarah works across the PPK Group, Li-S Energy, White Graphene, BNNT Technology Ltd, Craig International Ballistics and Advanced Mobility Analytics Group.

Sarah holds a Bachelors of Business from Queensland University of Technology, is a Chartered Accountant and Affiliate of the Governance Institute of Australia.

Sarah was appointed Chief Financial Officer on 23 May 2023 following time serving as Group Financial Controller.

Michael brings over a decade of experience in construction projects spanning commercial and residential sectors. This enabled Michael to build up the skillsets to successfully manage projects and deliver milestones to stakeholders. Working side by side with industry professionals, Michael has gained a holistic knowledge of project fulfillment.

Transitioning from construction to engineering, Michael discovered a passion for problem-solving in mechanical and process design. With expertise in design calculations, fabrication, assembly, and implementation, he excels in delivering innovative product solutions and streamlined designs to meet project scopes effectively.

Before joining BNNT Technology Limited, Michael was a research engineer conducting experiments on rapid hydrogen aging within hydrogen/polymer networks and helped commission a facility at the Institute of Frontier Materials for long-term network aging under high purity hydrogen. Michael also contributed to a project on 3D printed carbon fibre patches at Deakin University, applying FEA practices.

Michael holds a Bachelors of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) from Deakin University.

Michael was appointed Operations & Engineering Manager on 1 December 2023.

Dr Zhifeng Yi is a research scientist and the project manager of BNNT Technology Limited, working to scale up manufacturing of boron nitride nanomaterials.

Dr Zhifeng holds a PhD from the Institute of Frontier Materials at Deakin University. His background is on chemical engineering and materials science, with extensive experience on nanomaterial synthesis, characterization, and application.

Dr Zhifeng uses the first principles approach to break down complex problems into fundamental elements to build from. He is keen to learn new things and loves to dive into new technologies, especially in how BN materials can be applied across different industries.

Dr Chunfang Feng is a research scientist for BNNT Technology Limited, working to scale up manufacturing of boron nitride nanomaterials.

Dr Chunfang holds a PhD from Deakin University. Her background was on graphene-based composite materials in a variety of fields, such as flexible conductors, strain sensor, and oil absorption.

Dr Chunfang is a well-published researcher having authored numerous publications including a book chapter and dozens of journal papers. Since 2019, her works have received over a thousand citations, including a notable collection of papers that have garnered at least ten citations each.