COMPANY MILESTONES
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1989
Peter Ford identifies damaged muscles still emit electrical signals.
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1998–2000
First clinical trials on patients using EMG signals, Houston Hospital, Texas
Peter Ford meets James Schorey and begins work on Neuroswitch EMG concept and hardware.
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2001–2003
Stephen Hawking uses Neuroswitch technology for the first time to control his wheelchair.
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2003–2004
Shane Coburn successfully uses Neuroswitch after bus accident in New Zealand leaves him a quadriplegic.
Control Bionics is incorporated. First international patents lodged and first sale.
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2005
French Physicist, Roger Caravon, suffering from ALS, starts using Neuroswitch.
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2006
New pocket-sized Neuroswitch educator and improved G3 software launched.
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2007
USA Veterans’ Association approves full funding of Neuroswitch. Professor Nick Rowe, world authority on MND and Parkinson’s Disease, endorses CB technology and assists with R&D.
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2007
Gary Griffin USAF (Ret) is first funded VA recipient of Neuroswitch. Dallas PD SWAT Team Commander, Lt Carlton Marshall, uses Neuroswitch in first months of recovery from a gunshot wound.
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2008
ALS patient, Nick McLoughlin, controls his wheelchair for the first time.
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2009
Cerebral palsy patient, Michael Phillips, uses Neuroswitch to play video games.
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2010
Control Bionics gains USA FDA approval for Neuroswitch.
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2011
US Marine, Carlo Russo, says Neuroswitch saved his life after a heart attack because he could still write love letters to his wife.
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2013
Launch of Bluetooth Neuroswitch with new chip and latest Gen 8 monitoring software.
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2014
Glen Sargood, communicates with his wife for the first time in four years after contracting MND.
Control Bionics acquires James Schorey’s business, TAI, and its hardware intellectual property. James becomes COO of Control Bionics. Peter Ford nominated for Senior Australian of the Year.
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2015
Janet Abraham, confined by ALS, uses Neuroswitch Bluetooth® to communicate.
Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) approves full funding for Neuroswitch. Peter Ford presents at World Medical Innovation Conference in Boston.
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2016
Control Bionics launches revolutionary NeuroNode wireless communications technology.
CONTROL BIONICS BOARD
Peter Ford
Founder and Chairman
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.
Rob Wong
CEO
Rob is founder and CEO of marketing strategy consultancy Innovat8.com. For Control Bionics, Rob is responsible for our international marketing strategy and operations, working closely with CEO Peter Ford. He has over 25 years experience in multinational advertising and digital marketing agencies. He has also been a successful tech start-up entrepreneur having developed and exited a retail digital media business. He was also CEO of AIMIA Digital Industry Association of Australia. B.Bus Monash University. MBA Mt Eliza Business School.
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.
Bill McMurray
Board Member
Bill has over 30 years of experience in the software & technology industry and is currently the CEO for Qualtrics Asia Pacific & Japan (APJ). He has held executive management roles across Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and the United States. His career highlights include; MD (ANZ) at CA Technologies; SVP & GM (APJ) at IDS Scheer; VP Sales & Marketing (Worldwide) at IONA Technologies; as well as senior roles at PTC, Seer Technologies and IBM.
Bill brings to Control Bionics a strong global sales and marketing perspective on growing and adapting businesses quickly across borders and cultures.
Daniel Barrins
Company Secretary
Daniel is an Investment Director at Nightingale Private Equity. He is an experienced investment professional with a strong track record in assisting growth businesses and start-ups. He brings strong management and governance support to Control Bionics.
Daniel holds a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University, an M.B.A. from the University of Melbourne and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
CONTROL BIONICS OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
Rob Wong
CEO
Rob is founder and CEO of marketing strategy consultancy Innovat8.com. For Control Bionics, Rob is responsible for our international marketing strategy and operations, working closely with CEO Peter Ford. He has over 25 years experience in multinational advertising and digital marketing agencies. He has also been a successful tech start-up entrepreneur having developed and exited a retail digital media business. He was also CEO of AIMIA Digital Industry Association of Australia. B.Bus Monash University. MBA Mt Eliza Business School.
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
Marketing & Customer
Relationship Manager
Emily joined the Control Bionics team in 2013 and now serves as the Marketing and Customer Relationship Manager. 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 product package design to social media marketing and marketing research. After being introduced to the struggle of ALS on a personal level, she joined the Control Bionics team with a focus on customer care and support.
Emily has helped shape the Control Bionics support model and is proud to lead a team dedicated to excellent customer service and support.
Mark Fletcher
Regional Director – Australia
Mark brings to Control Bionics over two decades experience in researching user needs, bringing those insights into product drive and service innovation. In his extensive consulting background working for international corporations and in his own business, Mark has also proven his ability to establish and maintain highly effective working relationships with all manners of organizations, associations, and government bodies.
Through personal connections, Mark has a deep understanding of cerebral and degenerative neurological condition along with the support these individuals may require. Mark further extends Control Bionics’ customer-centric philosophy and commitment to excellence and customer service.