About Us

Learn more about the Control Bionics Team!

COMPANY MILESTONES

2002

•Research and development begins with the help of many partners, including Professor Stephen Hawking.

2006

•The NeuroEDUCATOR 4 is launched, providing a pocket-sized EMG monitoring system for assistive technology and rehabilitation. •Control Bionics is incorporated in the state of Delaware and the first international patents are filed.

2007

•USA Department of Veterans Affairs approves full funding of the NeuroSwitch, and the first funded VA client receives their communication system.

2010

•Control Bionics is granted USA FDA clearance for the NeuroSwitch.

2013

•The NeuroSwitch is introduced, adding wireless, portable EMG monitoring to the AAC market.

2014

•James Schorey joined forces with Peter Ford and brings the intellectual property of Therapeutic Alliances (TAI). •Control Bionics moves USA headquarters to Milford, Ohio, and significantly expands production and product development space and capabilities.

2015

•Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) approves full funding for NeuroSwitch.

2016

•The small, wearable NeuroNode EMG monitoring system is introduced as the successor to the NeuroSwitch.

2018

•The NeuroNode Trilogy is introduced, becoming the first funded 3-in-1 solution for communication. •Say-It-NOW Communication Application is released on the Apple App Store. •Control Bionics is awarded Medicare accreditation.

2019

•Control Bionics releases Spatial Control. •Control Bionics is granted the CE mark for the NeuroNode. •Control Bionics establishes a second Australian headquarters office in Melbourne, VIC. •Control Bionics gains market entry and funding into Ontario, Canada. •Control Bionics offers Medicaid coverage in over 50% of US States.

2020

•Control Bionics releases Cause + Effect, introducing new gaming and robotic control potential. •Control Bionics expands funding options through private insurance across the United States.

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CONTROL BIONICS BOARD

Peter Ford

Founder and Director of Innovation

For some people, Peter’s face may be familiar from his time as a CNN news anchor. But Peter’s real passion has always been bionics and robotics. In particular, he was inspired by the potential to help free one of the world’s great minds, Stephen Hawking.

In 1989, Peter identified that the patients’ damaged muscles still emitted small electrical signals that could be used to reliably control basic computer functions. And with that, Control Bionics was born.

Roger Hawke

Chairman

Roger has over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications and technology space, having recently retired after 8 years as CEO & Managing Director of Crown Castle Australia/Axicom, and brings a high level of experience particularly in Technology, Operations, Sales and Management.

Roger holds BEng (SAIT), MES (Sydney) and MBA (Macquarie) degrees and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Roger joined the Board of Control Bionics in October 2018.

Rob Wong

CEO

Rob Wong is the Chief Executive Officer for Control Bionics. He holds a Bachelor of Business and an MBA from Melbourne University. Rob has over 25 years of experience with multinational businesses in senior management, marketing, and operational roles. He is also an entrepreneur and angel investor having been involved with several successful tech start-up businesses. He formerly held the position of CEO at AIMIA Digital Industry Association of Australia.

Rob joined Control Bionics in early 2017 and he has led the way in developing their latest product, the NeuroNode Trilogy. Rob has spent much of his time with Control Bionics presenting to industry leaders, forming research and development relations, and working hands-on with clients across the world.

Lindsay Philips

Board Member

As a highly-experienced private equity fund Managing Director and Chairman, Lindsay is a key member of the Control Bionics’ leadership team. Lindsay first invested in Control Bionics in 2005.

Lindsay was Managing Director of Lazard Australia Private Equity from 2007 to 2012. Since 2012 Lindsay has been Chairman of Phoenix Development Fund and Nightingale Partners. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia.

Damien Lismore

Board Member

Damian has held a number of Directorships and has extensive commercial, international and listed company experience (both ASX and NASDAQ), covering many industries including healthcare and technology. In his executive career, he held CEO, CFO and Company Secretarial roles and continues to act as an advisor to CEOs, boards and business owners. Damian joined the Control Bionics board in September 2020 and is a Graduate Member of Australian Institute of Company Directors, Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Fellow of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and holds a BA (Honours) Accountancy. Damian is currently CFO of Scout Bio Inc, a Frazier Healthcare Partners backed company, and a Non-Executive Director of ASX listed LBT Innovations Limited (ASX:LBT).

Brett Crowley

Company Secretary

Brett is a practicing solicitor and a former Partner of Ernst & Young in Hong Kong and Australia, and of KPMG in Hong Kong. He is a former Senior Legal Member of the NSW Guardianship Tribunal and the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Brett has extensive ASX-listed company experience. He is currently chairman of Jatcorp Limited (ASX:JAT) and company secretary of three other ASX-listed companies.

CONTROL BIONICS OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

Rob Wong

CEO

Neale Java

Chief Financial Officer

Neale Java is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Control Bionics and leads our operations in Australia and USA.

Neale brings extensive experience in driving the growth and profitability agendas of businesses and spearheading corporate development. This experience has been shaped over the past 15 years in fast-paced, high growth environments at established firms and disruptive ventures.

Neale holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (BE) from University of Wollongong, Master of Applied Finance (MAppFin) from Macquarie University and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from INSEAD.

Neale has also completed the Executive Program for Growing Companies (EPGC) at Stanford and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).

James Schorey

Chief Technology Officer

James began his career at Therapeutic Technologies Inc. (TTI) as a software engineer. In ten years at TTI he rose through the ranks to become Director of Engineering, managing three FDA-registered Class II medical devices. He then went on to become the President of Therapeutic Alliances, a leader in the field of rehabilitation for paralyzed individuals.

In 2014 James joined the Control Bionics team and now serves as the Chief Technology Officer. He is the driving force behind the design and development of the NeuroNode and all of the Control Bionics product lines.

Emily Boland

NeuroNode Product Director

Emily joined the Control Bionics team in 2013 and now serves as the NeuroNode Product Director. She is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning (DAAP). Over the years her interests have ranged from design and marketing research to resourcing and product development.

Emily has helped shape the current Control Bionics product line and support model. She is proud to lead a cross-functional, client-facing team.

Meagan Koeneman

Sales Director

Meagan Koeneman is director of Sales for Control Bionics. She directs all sales strategies, partners with organizations to grow product awareness, and leads field sales activities. After spending nearly a decade supporting people and families with disabilities, Meagan believes that the key to strong sales partnerships lies in the human connection. Being genuinely curious, empathetic, and customer-centric drives our conversations and creates the value at the heart of this team.

Meagan holds a BA in Speech & Hearing Sciences from Indiana University. She currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband and 3 children.

Belinda Ilijevski

Sales Manager

Belinda has over 20 years experience in sales with a focus on the medical device industry. Her goal is to build awareness of NeuroNode and to partner with organizations and associations who support assistive technology, giving patients and their families the freedom to communicate and a better quality of life.

Belinda believes people are our most valuable asset, this mindset has been integral to her growth into management roles building successful teams both in Australia and Internationally.

Tony Mackzum

Finance and Operations Director

Tony Mackzum is the Company Accountant for Control Bionics. With over a decade of accounting and finance experience this allows him to play a critical role in the continued financial growth of the company. Over the years his business interests have ranged from expense and cash management to forecasting and budgeting. While Tony is naturally a numbers guy, he takes great pride in being referred to as an accountant with a personality which allows him to not only report the numbers but drive business profitability among the various teams and departments within the company.

Tony holds a BS in Accounting from Miami University of Ohio. He currently resides in Milford, Ohio with his wife and two boys who keep him busy and active outside of the office.