Meet Our Team
Who makes us, us?
We are a small team making a big difference.
Mat Bowtell
Founder and CEO
Mat worked as a senior engineer at Toyota in Australia and Japan for ten years before the automotive industry shutdown. He is passionate about the global sharing of technology and ideas with the goal of making assistive technology freely available to those who need it most.
Yuka Bowtell
Operations Director
Yuka worked as a dietician in Japan before moving to Australia over 15 years ago. Her incredible memory keeps us on track and makes sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Caroline Wright
Operations Manager
Caroline takes care of many of the daily administration and operational aspects and supports Mat in his role as CEO.
Xavier Vella
Field Tester
Xavier is a mechatronics engineer and has been field testing our new ‘kinetic arm’ prototype. Having never felt the need for a prosthetic arm in the past due to the weight, he has been able to provide us with honest input to support us with our design.
Michael Coghlan
Bio-Medical Engineer
Michael recently graduated from university with a deep interest in understanding the intricate mechanisms of the human body and improving new assistive devices for people in need. He's already making valuable contributions towards our new designs and prototypes. He is also supporting us with the development of the new bionic arm. His courteous and respectful manner has helped him quickly integrate into our team.
Jack Thornborrow
Under Graduate Engineering Support
Jack is a university student that has been assisting us for 4 years. His knowledge and enthusiasm in what we do is a great benefit to our charity. Jack is currently working closely with Mat in developing the bionic arm and our new designs.
Ellie Holmes
Bio-Medical Engineer
Ellie has been with us for a few years, originally as a volunteer. She has since joined our team on a more permanent basis supporting us with researching into fabrics and soft 3D printed materials. She is a passionate and innovative biomedical engineer making remarkable strides in the field of assistive technology.
Andy Werner
Content Creator
Andy is supporting us with all thing’s imagery, marketing and media and currently documenting our journey with the world!
Danielle Thomas
Production Support & Customer Service
Danielle assists us with assembling hands, to factory tours and everything in between. She has experience with maternal and child health and loves dealing with people, so I’m sure you will come across her at some stage. Danielle always has a smile on her face and adds sunshine to our day!
Wil Vanderstaay
Engineering Support
Wil started here as an intern and has since completed his 4-year engineering degree. He brings lots of new skills and passion for what we do here at Free 3D Hands!
Lachie Thomas
Software Engineer
Lachie is writing the software which will power our low cost, multi-grip Bionic Arm. He started as a volunteer during his last year of university and shares a common vision for making assistive technology accessible.
Julian McGregor
Field Tester
Julian is an electrician by trade with a keen interest in mountain biking. He has been field testing our new ‘kinetic arm’ prototype. He has been providing us with invaluable feedback to help us improve our design before we share it with the world.
Our Board Members
Our board consists of individuals who share and understand our purpose and passion. People who have come to us and generously volunteer their skills, time and knowledge to help us grow.
Scott Leis - Director
General Manager Broking - Insurance House Group
Scott reached out in 2019 with the intention of offering his unconditional support. He not only provided his knowledge and time but threw the resources of his entire team behind us. Scott helps Free 3D Hands navigate corporate partnerships and is passionate about keeping our WHY at the forefront of how we operate. Scott’s positivity, kindness and friendship are as highly valued as his skills.
David Kelly - Director
Founder and Managing Director, KHQ Lawyers
David met Mat in 2021 when Mat was key-note speaker at an Entrepreneurs Organisation event. More recently, David’s law firm KHQ Lawyers has worked pro bono for Free 3D Hands on several legal and commercial issues. As a director of Free 3D Hands, and in addition to his legal expertise, David brings to Free 3D Hands his experience developing strategy and leading people in a growing organisation.
Peter Fuller - Director
Peter has come from an information and communications background, managing large corporations through growth, mergers, and acquisitions. He retired recently however remains active, contributing his expertise to various organizations. He brings our charity a wealth of business knowledge, as well as risk management and compliance. He's a family man, a cyclist, and a rugby player, with a distinguished military background as a former paratrooper!