Robert Dane
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director
Robert Dane is the founder and CEO of Ocius Technology Ltd. A passionate sailor and environmentalist, Robert invented and patented the solarsail in 1996 and designed and built the first solarsailor prototype, which won the Advanced Technology Boat Race in Canberra in 1997.
In 1999, he established a company that developed several award-winning hybrid solar ferries. By 2013, the company pivoted to building uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) for dual-use applications initially based at the University of NSW Sydney.
Since 2022, Ocius has been contracted by key partners including the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Border Force, Royal New Zealand Navy, and U.S. Prime Defence Contractor Thayer Mahan. In 2025, the company moved to new premises in Alexandria, and Robert was honoured with the Australian Naval Institute McNeil Award, recognizing his outstanding contribution to the capabilities of the Royal Australian Navy.
Today, Ocius employs over 140 staff dedicated to the production and operation of its flagship Bluebottle Uncrewed Surface Vessels.
Andrew Aitken
Chairman and Ocius Corporate Lawyer
Andrew practices principally in the areas of commercial law, succession and estate planning. Andrew provides advice on the sale and purchase of businesses and companies, corporate governance, risk management and a wide range of issues facing SME owners, including intellectual property, shareholder agreements and commercial contracts.
Catherine Lloyd
Non-Executive Director and Finance
Catherine has a Bachelor of Business from UTS, is a Chartered Accountant and a Member of the Governance Institute of Australia.
Catherine has over 25 years experience in finance and governance in both the listed and not-for-profit environments. She has held roles including, CFO, Company Secretary, Non-executive Director, Committee Chair and Treasurer across public companies, private companies and not-for-profit organisations.
David Fox
Non-Executive Director
David Fox is a US-based investor, board advisor and technology entrepreneur with more than four decades of experience building and scaling innovative businesses in Australia and abroad. He began his career by establishing a successful technology distribution company before relocating from Sydney to the United States at the dawn of the commercial internet to launch a digital commerce venture, which he later sold to a US public company where he served as Vice President. Over the past three decades, David has been an angel investor in emerging companies, with a focus on transformative innovation, strategic partnerships and the creation of globally competitive ventures.
David has been closely associated with Ocius for over two decades, first as an investor in 2002 and previously as a board member from 2003 to 2006. He was reappointed as a Non-Executive Director in 2025, bringing a strong North American perspective and deep expertise in growth strategy, governance and capital formation at a pivotal stage in the company’s development. He continues to work closely with founders, boards and investors, supporting companies in scaling internationally and unlocking long-term value.
