Mark Dowling
Strategy :: Business DevelopmentManagement :: Governance
Mark Dowling is an accomplished senior executive and non-executive director. He has served for-profit and non-profit organisations in Australia and overseas, in sectors ranging from heavy engineering to academic research. This solid in-field experience is grounded by engineering (BEng (Hons), MEng), business (MBA) and governance (GAICD) qualifications.
Mark’s career began in his teens, “on the tools” in a nonferrous foundry. After graduation Mark served as a professional engineer before moving up to sales and sales team management, then executive management and ultimately, to the Boardroom.
At his core, Mark is part technologist, part salesman, part manager. This manifests as a passion for business development, particularly in industries that impact the wellbeing of regional workers and communities. Decades spent serving global sugar - a mature industry - ingrained a discipline of lean management and cost control on the one hand, and appreciation for the upside of new markets, coproducts and byproducts on the other.
Business development has been Mark’s life over the last two decades. Most recently, he filled a regional role with Uttam Group, a large and successful engineer/ procure/ construct (EPC) multinational. Immediately prior, Mark served Australia’s Sugar Research Institute as its Chief Executive after initially connecting with the organisation in a business development role.
Currently, Mark serves on the Board of a medical technology organisation bringing a unique DNA-based diagnostics solution to market.
What Mark brings to the table:
BIOCIFER
BioCifer is a medical technology startup, formed to develop and commercialise a series of novel diagnostic toolsets using genetic markers. The underlying technology was developed and piloted at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
UTTAM GROUP
Uttam is an India based multinational organisation focused on major projects in sugar and ethanol production, biofuels and cogeneration. In this role he was headquartered in Singapore and spent most of his time in Indonesia.
HRL TECHNOLOGY
HRL is an engineering company specialising in steam generation, offering professional services ranging from boiler optimisation through to metallurgy. In this short term business development role, Mark was responsible for initiating the organisation’s move into non-traditional markets, such as food-related sectors. The strategies included opportunistic sales, key account targeting and management, and other traditional business development strategies.
SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Formal delegation of authority from the SRI Board (includes P&L, management, strategic responsibilities).
SUGAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE
SRI is a 70 year old non-profit organisation, with membership drawn from the Australian sugar industry and operated for their benefit. SRL operates globally and has offices in Brisbane.
NATURAL SOLUTIONS ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
Natural Solutions was an environmental consultancy providing advice to individuals, developers, councils and corporate clients. Specialities included stormwater catchment and control, swale and wetland design, sediment management, and flora/ fauna mapping. Natural Solutions operated in Queensland.
Through a series of acquisitions, mergers and divestments, Natural Solutions now resides partly with Premise Pty Ltd (Australia) and partly with RPS Group PLC (UK).
STRATIFY
Focus on Internet search, search engine optimisation, analytics, web technologies. Stratify was formed to serve Inktomi's Australian and New Zealand client base under arrangement with its new owners.
Stratify continues to operate as a vehicle for Mark's income-producing and investment activities, including ad-hoc search engine consulting and research.
INKTOMI, INC
Inktomi was a US-based provider of web search services, search software, and Internet infrastructure products. This role involved all aspects of running a local subsidiary of a US-based business, with a focus on account management and sales. Inktomi closed all non-US offices in May 2002 and was acquired by Yahoo! shortly thereafter.
ENTELLECT SOLUTIONS
Entellect was an Australian software developer with an emphasis on the telecommunications industry. Mark was engaged to prepare the company for investment funding by fixing a number of management and operational issues. Funding was successful and implemented in late 2000.
DA CONSULTING GROUP
DACG was a USA-based provider of change management and change communication services to large organisations. Mark's role focused on business development, sales and account management.
CROSSWORLDS SOFTWARE, INC
CrossWorlds was a US-based company that developed and supported enterprise integration applications. Mark's role was to set up the local company from scratch, and involved all aspects of operating the local subsidiary of a US-based technology company.
ANDERSEN CONSULTING
Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) was a large, global management and technology consulting partnership. Mark was one of two Alliance Managers based in Australia, and his role was to foster the business relationships between Andersen Consulting and its major technology partners.
SIEMENS
Siemens was global diversified technology company active in many engineering sectors. Mark's role was to manage all industrial automation activities in NSW, Qld, ACT, NT and New Zealand.
LANSING
Lansing was a UK-based manufacturer of materials handling equipment and automated handling systems. Initially Mark's role was to provide technical support for the Systems sales group, and this grew to become a direct sales role.
CSR
CSR was a diversified company active in sugar milling and refining, coal, copper, natural gas and building products. Mark commenced as a Cadet Engineer whilst studying for his first degree and worked at a number of sugar factories. When he left CSR, he was Capital Works Engineer at an ethanol distillery.
CSR's sugar and ethanol business was acquired by Wilmar International (Singapore) in 2010.
Various short courses and updates:
Mark is a current AICD member.
Company Directors Course - Update
Qualification retained - GAICD
Various training programmes:
Company Directors Course
Qualification earned - GAICD
Masters degree in business administration
Qualification earned - MBA
Postgraduate degree in engineering (major in control systems)
Qualification earned - MEng
Undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering
Postnominal earned - BEng (Hons)
Phone: +61 478 600 661
Post: PO Box 1417
Noosaville DC, 4566 Queensland
Australia
Email: mwdowling@gmail.com
