News
March 2024 Update
07 April, 2024
* RADM Lee Goddard CSC joins Ocius Board as Non-Executive Director
* Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin AC joins Ocius as Defence and National Security Advisor
* Ocius goes to the USA
* BB BELLONA continues missions for Royal New Zealand Navy
* BB BATHY joins BB BLUEY for MMA Offshore contract ex Dampier
* Suspension of Internal Liquidity Event (ILE)
In this update I am honoured to announce two outstanding recent appointments.
RADM Lee Goddard CSC joins Ocius Board as Non-Executive Director
In April 2022 Lee was appointed as the inaugural Executive Director and CEO of the Australian Missile Corporation. He is also a Non-Executive Director of AUSTAL, the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, Pymble Ladies College and the Leeuwin Ocean Adventures Foundation. He is an Advisor to the Minderoo Foundation and SALUS and the Chairman (Race Director) of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Prior to assuming his current industry roles, he was dual appointed as Commander, Maritime Border Command and Operation Sovereign Borders, responsible for the law enforcement and operational oversight of Australia’s maritime economic and security zones. This was preceded by a two-year secondment into the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet. On promotion to Commodore in late 2014 he assumed the role of Commander Surface Fleet, commanding 18 major warships and he has commanded warships and joint agency Taskforces at every senior Navy rank from Commander to Rear Admiral. He continues to serve as an active RAN Reserve officer following 34 years full time service up until January 2021 and is currently leading the CDF Inclusive Leadership Review.
We met Lee when he was Commander of Maritime Border Command and Bluebottles were deploying to the North of Australia as part of our Defence Innovation Hub contract. For the last 18 months Lee has been a Defence Advisor to our Board and it is with great pleasure we announce Lee is joining our focused Board as a Non-Executive Director.
Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin AC joins Ocius as Defence & National Security Advisor
Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin (Ret’d) was Chief of the Defence Force of Australia from 2014-2018, Vice Chief of the Defence Force (2011-2014) and Chief of Air Force (2008-2011). In 2020, he was Chair of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.
He is currently Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Pacific Security College Advisory Board, Deputy Chair of the Sir Richard Williams Foundation, on the Board of the Western Parkland City Authority, a member of the Governing Committee of the Temora Aviation Museum and is a Non-Executive Director at BAE Systems Australia and Nihon Cyber Defence.
As Chief of Defence, Air Chief Marshal Binskin (Ret’d) successfully led the Australian Defence Force, comprising 80,000 permanent and reserve personnel, to significantly improve capabilities and responses to major global events and championed organisational change across areas of national security, culture, diversity and leadership performance.
We met Mark in 2017 when he was CDF and patron of the Spitfire Association. As CDF he came to Jervis Bay to witness the demonstration of Bluebottle BRUCE in 2017 and has followed our progress with interest since. Mark has been a great friend to Ocius and we are honoured to welcome Mark to our Company as our Defence and National Security Advisor.
Ocius goes to the USA.
We are for the first time approaching the USA market. The Bluebottle’s superior performance and capability compared to competitors has been unequivocally proven in Australian Naval exercises and we plan to repeat that in USA.
For the first time, Ian Milliner Defence BD, Peter Wlodarczyk Chief Technology Officer, Nick Rozenauers Non-Defence BD and I will be attending the Sea-Air-Space Expo in Washington DC this week 8-10 April as part of ‘Team Australia’ on the Austrade stand with a scale model of a Bluebottle.
At Sea Air and Space we will be announcing a collaboration with a USA Defence Prime to demonstrate the capability of a USA array on a Bluebottle at exercises from 22 to 25 April at Xponential Expo 2024 in San Diego.
Meanwhile five (5) Ocius staff, James Hodgson, Ned Orchard, Brandt Underwood, Tim Dunn and Josh Grosser will be in San Diego preparing and conducting the exercises with Bluebottles BETH and BONNIE which are now in the United States.
BB BELLONA continues work with Royal New Zealand Navy
Bluebottle BELLONA is currently on an extended mission off New Zealand under the control of RNZN personnel. BELLONA will continue to demonstrate to both the RNZN and other government agencies persistent ISR over her lease period, both in the Hauraki gulf and around New Zealand.
BB BELLONA in the Haraki Gulf NZ
BB BATHY joins BB BLUEY for MMA Offshore contract ex Dampier
Ocius’ contract with MMA Offshore https://www.mmaoffshore.com/mma-news/mma-awarded-department-of-defence-contract has now moved to its next phase out of Dampier. Bluebottle BLUEY has been joined by diesel hybrid bathymetry Bluebottle BATHY and they are undertaking four (4) further 21-day voyages with MMA to deliver the first maritime remote and autonomous systems upskilling voyages for Royal Australian Navy personnel.
Dante demonstrating the ropes during the launch of BBs BLUEY & BATHY Dampier boat ramp
BB BATHY self-deploying out of Dampier Harbour
Suspension of Internal Liquidity Event (ILE)
At Ocius’ 25 March Board meeting, Directors considered the ILE which has been in place since 22 December 2023. A total of 111,024 Ocius shares changed hands up to 25 March. Nine predominantly small shareholders reduced their shareholdings with four shareholders selling all their shares.
The Board is pleased that the ILE gave the opportunity for some patient and long-standing shareholders to realise the value of their Ocius shares.
The Board formed the view that current activities, some of which are outlined above, made it increasingly difficult to maintain an informed market for trading Ocius shares. The Board accordingly resolved to suspend the ILE and advise shareholders immediately.
My thanks to all our staff who are doing an amazing job, our great Board for sage advice and all shareholders for your support, emails and well wishes. In my next Update, I look forward to letting you know of the outcome of our busy schedule in USA.
Kind regards,
Robert Dane CEO
07 April 2024