Meet The Team

• Founder of MultiConnexions Group
• Founder of Clean Drinking Water Solutions Pty Ltd
• Former National Chair of Australia India Business Council
• Reference Group Member of India Economic Strategy 2035 (Australian Government)
• Former board member of DFAT - Australia India Council
• Cricket Australia Multicultural Ambassador
• Board Member - LBW Trust
• Board Member - Industry and Government Boards

• Founder of Clean Drinking Water Solutions Pty Ltd
• Former Director & Developer of Respiratory Therapy Device (improve the quality of life of Asthmatics)
• Own Locker Service Business within Airport & Theme Parks.
• Agricultural Property
• Own & Project Managed Rural/Residential Subdivision & Retail development projects.
• Advisor - Cattle herd fertility improvement management

• Laureate Professor Vinu, in his 20+ years career, has made tremendous contributions in the field of nano porous materials and their application in sensing, energy storage, fuel cells, adsorption and separation, and catalysis.
• Prior to joining GICAN, Laureate Professor Vinu was a Full Professor of nanomaterials at
  the Futures Industry Institute, University of South Australia, Australia.
• He has also worked as a Full Professor and ARC Future Fellow at the University of Queensland, Australia.
  Prior to moving to Australia, Laureate Professor Vinu worked as a senior researcher at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) Tsukuba, Japan.
• Laureate Professor Vinu is the lead Nano Innovation and R&D partner supervising the GICAN team working on this project.
• His contribution in the field of nanoporous materials is also clearly reflected by his international ranking by Science Watch as one of the top 15 researchers in the field
• Laureate Professor Vinu has received several international awards during his career which includes the Asian paints Padma Vibhusan Dr R A Mashelkar Medal 2023, Dr Ghanshyam Srivastava Memorial Award 2021, Chemical Research Society of India Medal 2018, the CRS Gold Medal 2023, the SPARC award 2019, CNR Rao Lectureship award 2019 and several others.

Co-Founder of GreenH2 India & Clean Energy Fund | Expert in finance, M&A and commercialising technologies

Jay is a seasoned investment banking and strategy consulting professional with 25 years of experience across cross-border M&A, capital raising, joint ventures, and strategy implementation. He has led high-impact deals across sectors like healthcare, energy, tech, manufacturing, and infrastructure, with sound expertise in business planning, financial modelling, transaction structuring, capital formation, transaction closing & post M&A strategy implementation.

He has held leadership roles with US Investment Banking Companies heading their Asian and Indian Markets and played a key role in bringing international businesses to India & Asia through Collaboration and M&A. He has been a visiting faculty to numerous management institutes in India and has been involved in facilitating the development of Innovation Centre in Indian Universities.

A policy advisor, educator, & innovation ecosystem advocate, currently developing Healthcare,Manufacturing, Water, Mobility, Green Hydrogen & Innovation ecosystem based on principles of disruptive innovation in association with Globally Reputed Brands and Financial Institutions in respective sector.

• Anthony Rule is a distinguished finance professional with over 20 years of extensive experience in the financial services sector.

• He has adeptly held the position of Chief Financial Officer in both ASX-listed and private companies, demonstrating a robust command of corporate financial management.

• Anthony's career encompasses pivotal roles in startups and established entities, where he has successfully executed growth strategies that propelled global expansion across the US, Asia, and Europe.

• As CFO, Anthony has demonstrated expertise in navigating complex financial landscapes within varied company structures and skilled in overseeing financial operations, Anthony has managed comprehensive aspects of corporate finance and taxation, ensuring compliance and efficiency in both ASX-listed and private contexts.

• Former Federal Trade, Investment & Tourism Minister with the unique distinction of doing the FTAs with Japan, China & South Korea.

• Andrew Robb was instrumental in commencing the FTA/CECA discussions with India.

• Negotiated the 12 Country Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Singapore.

• Conducted 85 investment roundtables with 28 countries.

• Led Australia's largest-ever business mission to India from 9–16 January 2015 (Vibrant Gujarat), building on the growing economic momentum between our two countries.

• Hon. Andrew Robb’s Trade and Business Experience will play a key role in launching the solar product in order to change the lives of millions of disadvantaged mothers and infants across the world.

• Member of the India Foreign Service from 1979–2017 and has served as the Indian Ambassador to Italy, Thailand, Oman, and Poland.

• As Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs of India, he oversaw relations with South East Asia, Gulf, and West Asia, Pacific and Australia.

• Served as the Indian Ambassador and permanent representative to FAO, IFAD, WFP, UNESCAP among others.

• Author of the Australia Economic Strategy and led a Confederation of Indian Industries task force.

• As Secretary East MEA India, he accompanied Prime Minister Modi in his first trip to Australia in 2014 which was a landmark trip as it commenced the CECA dialogue.

• He is part of several corporate and industry boards and plays a strong role in facilitating the bilateral relationship between Australia and India.

Petula is a senior leader in Australia-India trade, investment, and strategic partnerships, with over two decades of experience helping organisations navigate and grow across both countries.

As the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce's first female Director and inaugural CEO (2018-2024), she expanded the Chamber's footprint across five regions of India and strengthened bilateral industry and government engagement at the highest levels. She led high-level trade and investment missions to Australia and supported
senior business delegations to India, engaging with C-suite leaders across a wide range of sectors. In 2025, she founded her strategic and management consultancy.

Her earlier career spans roles with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and the British Government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), giving her deep experience in diplomacy, policy navigation, stakeholder mapping, export development, and partnership structuring. She has worked extensively with central and state governments in India, Australian federal and state agencies, and leading corporates in both countries.

Petula is currently an Adjunct Fellow of Southern Cross University, Australia, and serves as Project Lead for their strategic partnering work in India - reflecting her active role in shaping institutional and commercial relationships between the two countries. She has served on the Advisory Board of the India Australia Business and Community Alliance (IABCA), supporting its 2023 India launch, contributed as a jury member for Womennovator, and served on the International Linkages Committee of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

She has been honoured with multiple performance awards from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and has received commendations from Australian Premiers, High Commissioners, and industry leaders. She holds an MBA in Strategy and Leadership (with Distinction) from Liverpool John Moores University, UK, alongside
a Master of Science and postgraduate qualifications in client management.

Global Innovative Centre of Advanced Nanomaterials

Manufacturing will be undertaken in Australia, India, and South Africa in collaboration with Romar Australia.

For over 50 years Romar has built a formidable reputation for manufacturing expertise as an industry leader in Australian advanced manufacturing and innovation.

We solve complex problems for clients across a wide variety of industries. The medical sector, industrial, space, aviation, defence, rail and mining based on our years of collaborative expertise. 

• Bonnie Hancock is an Australian endurance athlete. She was a professional ironwoman by age 17.
• In 2022, she completed 12,700km circumnavigation of mainland Australia on a surf ski setting the Guiness World Record for the fastest paddle around Australia.
• She also holds records for the longest distance paddle in open water by a woman in 24 hours – a staggering 235km.
• Her memoir, ‘The Girl Who Touched The Stars’ recounts her incredible story facing sharks, crocodiles and more.
• A documentary about her journey ‘Diamond of the Sea’ premiered at a Gold Coast Festival and is available to stream on Foxtel and Kayo.
• Bonnie’s interest in the Clean Drinking Water is deep rooted. When she spent time in the deep sea and the famous poetry line came to her mind, ‘water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink’.
• The solar activated Clean Drinking Water bag would have been a huge boon during such trips. Bonnie is passionate about reaching out and assisting disadvantaged communities and underprivileged children who will be the primary beneficiaries of the solar activated clean drinking water bag.