Loading

Mark Dowling

Engineer :: Salesman :: Manager
Chief Executive :: Non-executive Director

Overview

About

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 his passion for business development, in particular in industries that impact the wellbeing of regional workers and communities. Decades serving global sugar - a mature industry - ingrained in him the discipline of lean management on the one hand, and appreciation for the potential of 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 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:

  • Skills, knowledge and experience. Mark’s work emphasises business-to-business operations alongside divisional and P&L responsibilities at senior and executive levels.
  • Business strategy and business development. Mark has started and operated his own business. He’s established regional operations in Australia and New Zealand for Silicon Valley companies. He’s reinvigorated ailing organisations and restructured others to thrive in the dynamic business environment that’s the 21st century. Mark’s strategic and business development successes are up there with the best.
  • Stakeholder relationships. A common element of Mark’s recent roles is achieving balance in the often conflicting expectations of stakeholders in the business. He recognises the value of formal and informal links with community groups, Government, suppliers, service providers, customers, and the market generally. All this against a backdrop of always moving towards the organisation’s vision and mission.
  • Analyse and assess. As a crucial component of his senior executive responsibilities, Mark has developed an excellent understanding of the subtleties of financial statements. He gauges business performance against agreed objectives and recognises when governance practices, legislative compliance or risk management may need attention.

Mark's experience

Resume

2019-present

BIOCIFER

Non-executive director

BioCifer is a medical technology startup, formed for the purpose of commercialising a novel diagnostic toolset using DNA amplication. The undelying technology was developed and piloted at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

2017-2019

UTTAM GROUP

Regional vice president

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.

  • Predominantly business development and relationship management.
  • Responsible for markets within South East Asia and Oceania - Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia and Fiji. Also informal oversight of Central and South American operations.

2012-2016

SUGAR RESEARCH LTD

Chief executive

Formal delegation of authority from the SRL Board (includes P&L, management, strategic responsibilities).

  • Primary strategy of appropriate growth alongside cost containment.
  • Hybrid business model, drawing on technical resources from universities and global industry experts.
  • Restructure the business to match commercial and legislative changes.
  • International marketing revitalisation.
  • Achieved 230% revenue growth during my tenure (23% annualised).

2009-2012

SUGAR RESEARCH LTD

Marketing manager

SRL is a 70 year old company, owned by the Australian sugar industry and operated for their benefit. SRL operates globally and has offices in Brisbane.

  • Demand-side responsibility for all domestic business and parts of SRL’s international business.
  • Liaison with SRL’s members, resellers and suppliers.
  • Research project coordination.
  • Business process updates.

2002-2009

STRATIFY PTY LTD

Sole director

Focus on Internet search, search engine optimisation, analytics, web technologies.

  • Business-to-business consulting and product sales.
  • Fast-changing environment (Google, GFC, impact of social networks).

2000-2002

INKTOMI, INC

Regional director

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.

2000

ENTELLECT SOLUTIONS

Interim managing director

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.

1999-2000

DA CONSULTING GROUP

Business development manager

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.

1997-1999

CROSSWORLDS SOFTWARE, INC

Regional director

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.

1993-1997

ANDERSEN CONSULTING

Alliance manager

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.

1990-1993

SIEMENS

Northern region manager

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.

1985-1990

LANSING

Systems engineer

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.

1975-1985

CSR

Various engineering roles and locations

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.

Qualifications

Tertiary, Higher degree, vocational, personal development

2012-2019

Australian Institute of Company Directors

Various short courses and updates:

  • Preparing effective reports to the Board
  • Risk analysis, investigation and oversight
  • The Board and the CEO
  • Developing your Director career
  • Annual and ad-hoc Director Update events

2016

Australian Institute of Company Directors

Company Directors Course - Update

Qualification retained - GAICD

2015

Tony Robbins

Various training programmes:

  • Business Mastery
  • Unleash the Power Within

2012

Australian Institute of Company Directors

Company Directors Course

Qualification earned - GAICD

1991-1993

Macquarie Graduate School of Management

Masters degree in business administration

Qualification earned - MBA

1982-1984

University of Technology Sydney

Postgraduate degree in engineering (major in control systems)

Qualification earned - MEng

1975-1981

University of Technology Sydney

Undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering

Postnominal earned - BEng (Hons)

Get in touch

Contact

Phone: +61 478 600 661

Post: PO Box 1417
Noosaville DC, 4566 Queensland
Australia

Email: mwdowling@gmail.com

 

 

Noosa Heads