The Ardent Underground leadership team comprises of leading industry experts with extensive experience in their fields.
David Bentley
Chief Executive Officer
David has over 30 years’ experience in the energy sector in both generation and demand side industries. He has extensive competence in building and managing global businesses within the energy sector. David leads Ardent Underground’s objective to have a proven, economical, large-scale, hydrogen gas storage technology in advance of the predicted growth in the hydrogen market post-2025.
Mick Boyle
Executive Chairman
Mick provides strategic leadership and direction to the board and management team. He has a proven track record of establishing successful businesses and provides Ardent Underground with a wealth of experience underpinning its growth strategy. Mick is also Executive Chairman of Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure which he established in 1994. Abergeldie employs over 400 people and carries out complex engineering projects throughout Australia and New Zealand.
John Zeni
Technical Director
John has expertise in the design, development and operation of large diameter shaft drilling rigs and associated drilling tools for blind boring shafts up to 6.8 metres in diameter and 1,000 metres deep. John’s skills include assessing and managing all associated safety, technical, environmental and commercial risks associated with deep shaft construction and lining. John has led complex shaft and lining projects all over the world including the USA, Papua New Guinea, France and Australia.
Dr Keith Lovegrove
Technical Director
Hydrogen Storage
Hydrogen Storage
Keith co-founded the patented novel solution for underground hydrogen storage cooperatively with the University of California. He has pioneered work on the application of thermochemical energy storage using ammonia and advocated for the development of export industries for renewable hydrogen and ammonia. Keith is also Managing Director ITP Thermal, Australia’s alternative executive committee representative at the IEA SolarPACES program, a member of the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Energy Technology advisory board and serves on the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s advisory panel.
Ian Neal
Non Executive Director
Ian brings to his role broad experience and highly developed skills in business strategy, planning, corporate finance, leadership development, mergers and acquisitions. Ian helps our Board set clearly defined objectives for the management team, enabling the company to create value by ensuring business strategy has a sharp financial focus, balanced with the needs of all stakeholders.