Leadership Team

B.Bus, MBA, GAICD, FCPA
Non Executive Chairman

Ken Kanofski is a director, independent advisor and former CEO.

He has a deep knowledge and experience of the waste and recycling industry having led WSN Environmental Solutions for almost 10 years prior to its sale to Suez. More broadly Ken has a wealth of infrastructure and utilities experience across transport, water, energy and telecommunications.

In addition to WSN Environmental Solutions, Ken has served as Chief Executive Officer of a further three large organisations, NSW Roads and Maritime Services, NSW Land and Housing Corporation and Government Property NSW. He has been a board member and chair on national policy bodies, statutory authorities, industry bodies and community organisations, he has contributed significantly to policy at a state, national and international level in transport, infrastructure, waste and energy. He is previous director of the Australian Landfill Owners Association and Environment Business Australia.

Managing Director and CEO
(Tellus Holdings Group)

Nate is a global leader with a consistent record of success in a broad range of industries – including logistics, warehousing and distribution, technology, financial services, mining, infrastructure and waste management. He has deep experience in driving B2B sales, managing a wide range of capital raisings and achieving complex government approvals, having closed deals in 60+ countries, with values up to US$16.6 billion. Nate has additionally led the launch of multiple start-ups and also served as a senior executive at, or advisor for, some of the largest companies in the world.

Prior to joining Tellus, Nate was Vice President and lawyer for UPS in Atlanta (USA), where he supported various areas of a multi-billion dollar business, including key B2B sales relationships, global M&A, UPS’s venture capital fund, procurement, compliance and UPS’s Emerging Markets business unit. He also helped launch Ware2Go, a technology and logistics venture backed by BCG Digital Ventures. Before UPS, Nate worked for the global law firms of Sullivan & Cromwell and Latham & Watkins (in Sydney, London and the U.S.), focusing on corporate matters, particularly capital markets, governance and securities. He also worked as a business strategy consultant for IBM.

Nate holds a Juris Doctor with High Honours from Emory Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs with Distinction from the University of Virginia. He is qualified to practise law in New South Wales, California and Washington D.C. and is a former adjunct professor on international legal transactions at Emory Law School.

GAICD,  AICCG, IDP-C, FAIA, CGM, CTA
Non Executive Director

Patricia has 40 years’ experience as a Non-Executive Director and former CEO, with a functional corporate & professional background as a CFO and EY Partner.

She was CEO of the largest Australian freight rail leasing & maintenance business, Rail First Asset Management, where she served for over 16 years, initially as CFO, driving business growth from early-stage development to a business managing assets of over $500M. Patricia’s background as CFO also includes local ASX listed and Hong Kong trading groups. She started her career at EY, initially advising companies served by the London, UK Oil & Gas Group, followed by EY Hong Kong, as Partner advising large multinational US, European & Australian clients expanding in the Asia Pacific region through a total 16+ year tenure.

Her industry experience includes a broad range of industrials (including heavy asset management, airlines, oil & gas, & manufacturing), wholesale trade, consumer retail, media, financial institutions & SaaS businesses. She brings a depth of experience across governance, audit & risk, finance, capital raising, strategy development, commercial operations, technology transformation, M&A, and has a deep understanding of the strategic importance of organisational culture.

Patricia’s other directorships currently include Chair of the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation with prior board roles held in all companies in the Rail First Asset Management Group, including joint ventures with Marubeni Corporation, and the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

BCom, GAICD
Non Executive Director

Joe is an experienced senior executive and director with 24 years of involvement in online digital and education businesses, telecommunications and sports technology. He brings a depth of experience in leading teams in purpose driven customer focused organisations that have delivered results for organisational stakeholders.

Joe is currently the Executive Chairman of The Ripple Group, a leading provider of online training and compliance solutions to Employment Service Providers and consumers. Prior to this he held the position of Chief Executive Officer of publicly listed global sports technology leader – Catapult Sports.

His career experience includes 10 years with SEEK Ltd where he was Managing Director of SEEK Education and Managing Director of SEEK Employment, and 11 years in telecommunications at Singtel- Optus in various management roles. Joseph also has significant board experience, previously with Online Education Services and IDP Education and is a current Director of the Richmond Football Club and Scanlon Foundation.

Joe was nominated by Hume Partners Investment Group to the Tellus board under the terms of Hume’s investment in Tellus.

GAICD, MAusIMM
Non Executive Director

Ms Shugg is a mining engineer with over 30 years’ experience involving senior operational roles with leading mining and consulting organisations including Normandy, Newcrest, and KPMG. Ms Shugg has extensive experience in senior roles with mining and consulting organisations including operations management experience at senior site level covering both underground and open pit environments. Ms Shugg’s work has a strong people focus, together with a solid project management background.

Ms Shugg recently completed a four year term as the Director of the Kalgoorlie Campus for Curtin University – WA School of Mines with a focus on industry engagement and taking mining education into a digital future. Concurrently she served a three year term as Chair of Goldfields Esperance Development Commission.

In her role as Founder and Chair of Women in Mining and Resources WA (WIMWA), Ms Shugg was awarded the inaugural Women in Resources Champion by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia for being an outstanding role model for the resources industry and broader community. In 2015, Ms Shugg was awarded a Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to the mining industry through executive roles in the resources sector and as a role model and mentor to women.

Sabina currently serves on Mining and Petroleum Advisory Committee (MAPAC) for DMIRS and on the Industry Expert Panel for the Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety in the Mining Industry Landmark Study. Sabina is a Non-Executive Director of Resolute Mining Limited and Tietto Minerals Limited.

Non Executive Director

Chris Berkefeld has 27 years’ experience in the industrial services and waste management sectors. He has held a range of senior executive positions across several industry-leading groups, including as CEO and Managing Director of Brambles Industrial Services and Cleanaway Australia, and CEO and Managing Director of BIS Cleanaway and BIS Industries.

During his executive career Mr Berkefeld was instrumental in driving shareholder value through successful sales, integration, and growth of businesses he led. As Chairman of WSN Environmental Solutions, a NSW Government waste business, he led its privatisation through the sale to SITA and also served as deputy executive general manager of HWE Mining P/L (Leighton Mining P/L) focused on BHP Billiton Iron Ore mining contracts in the Pilbara.

Mr Berkefeld is currently chair of Evoro, a waste treatment business on the Eastern Seaboard, a director of Jerrara Power, a QLD energy from waste developer, and on the advisory board of Goldstone private equity.

BCom, CPA, GradDip AppFin
Chief Financial Officer 

Nicholas is an experienced finance executive with more than 20 years of success across a broad range of industries and geographies. Following a decade with BHP in Europe, the US and South America largely focused on treasury and corporate finance helping launch US and Euro denominated bond issuances and both on and off market share buy backs, Nicholas moved into the oil and gas industry working with BG Group and Shell in broader finance and commercial roles as they embarked on multi-billion dollar investments with local JV Partners in the Brazilian offshore pre-salt oilfields. After returning to Australia Nicholas took up the role as Head of Finance for Pacific National’s mining division where he established a proven track record as a trusted business partner within the operational team in the country’s largest rail company, being part of the team that hit record results for the division in 2019.

Nicholas is degree qualified in Commerce (BCom) from Melbourne University, he also is a qualified CPA with a graduate diploma in Applied Finance and Investments.

Head of External Affairs

Ryan is an executive with more than 20 years’ experience providing legal and strategic public policy advice. He is a former Chief of Staff to reformist ministers at Federal and State Government level, across a range of portfolios including Treasury, Transport, Infrastructure and Communications, and held a similar role as a member of the Leadership Team of NSW Treasury. Prior to working in government, he held legal and government affairs roles in banking and financial services organisations through a period of significant regulatory change and reputational challenge. Ryan has qualifications in Arts (Industrial Relations) and Law from the University of Wollongong and an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management at University of NSW.

LLB, BCom, BCL (Oxon)
General Counsel & Company Secretary

Kavita Paw is a senior corporate and commercial lawyer with experience in equity capital markets, debt capital markets, and M&A. For over ten years, she has advised Australian and offshore clients on initial public offerings, capital raisings, note programs, private placements, acquisitions, divestments, credit facilities and general commercial matters. Kavita’s previous private practice roles were in the United States and Australia, at top-tier law firms Davis Polk & Wardwell, Sullivan & Cromwell and Jones Day. Previously, she was a senior lawyer at Chevron Corporation.

BEng (Hons), BSc (Hons), ACSM, MAusIMM
Chief Operating Officer

Stephen is an experienced executive with a passion for creating value by delivering innovative infrastructure solutions to global problems. Over the last 20 years, he has held leadership positions on a broad range of developments across the mining, property, transport, and waste sectors – in Europe, Asia and Australia.

He seeks to build collaborative, high-performing teams with the requisite skills and experience to drive results for clients, whether they be internal or external to the business. At Tellus, Stephen led the feasibility and construction phases of the Sandy Ridge project which was delivered during the Covid-19 outbreak. Despite the additional challenges that the pandemic presented, Australia’s first commercial scale geological repository was commissioned under budget, to schedule and with no lost time injuries.

Stephen has previously worked for BHP, Newcrest and Atlas, as well as multinational consulting companies Golder Associates (now WSP) and Halcrow Group (now Jacobs). He is a mining engineering graduate of Camborne School of Mines and a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Head of Sales

Tim brings with him over 20 years’ experience working in the waste industry & sales specifically in the area of hazardous waste. He has a diverse industry background working in finance and manufacturing providing waste solutions to industries including automotive, stewardship, waste, chemical, power generation and general manufacturing.

Tim has a Master of Marketing (Monash University) and a Graduate Certificate Business (Accounting), and has completed advanced courses in Kepner Tregoe problem solving and Scotworks negotiating.

Previous roles have included Business Development and Sales Management in national roles with ASX top 100 corporations. Tim’s technical experience includes Waste to Energy, Chemical Immobilisation & stabilisation and development of customer orientated total waste solutions.

General Manager Radiological Sales

Robert has 23+ years’ experience working in the radiation protection industry across a broad range of sectors. He has extensive experience in radiation consultancy, training, emergency response and management of commercial radiation services.

Robert’s expertise covers in depth knowledge in the management and handling of NORM and high activity sources, plus radiation transport and emergency response, both within Australia and overseas.

General Manager Sales and Business Development

Slade brings with him over sixteen years of experience in the Oil & Gas industry specializing in the treatment, management and disposal of drilling waste and associated services. Previous appointments have included positions as Sales Manager, Operations Manager and Business Unit Manager for multiple international Oil & Gas service companies. Slade’s technical experience revolves around project management, contract and operational management for waste, resources and energy infrastructure in Australia Pacific Region.

General Manager Business Development

Jade is a Gooreng Gooreng woman and joins us from her recent experience with the Australian Government as Director of Economic Development and Major Projects based in Darwin.

Jade brings over 20 years knowledge and experience with respect to stakeholder, trade and investment relationship building; and developing and implementing programs and initiatives that have led to enhancing Aboriginal engagement and leadership capabilities within both the public sector and in her connections with remote communities in both Arnhem Land and Central Australia.

Jade has qualifications in Business and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Project Management and Adaptive Leadership.

A member of the CSIRO Indigenous Innovation Alliance Steering Committee, Jade advocates for innovative solutions that put culture, land and sea management and social benefit in the forefront of all decision making whilst demonstrating commercial viability. She is also on the North Australia Marine Parks Advisory Committee, working with Parks Australia staff to shape the management of Australian Marine Parks, providing advice matters including tourism, fishing, sea country, marine transport, science, conservation, governance, communications and engagement.

Manager Sales and Business Development

Bronte brings with her over 20 years’ experience in sales and business development, with a history working in advertising, finance, health, travel and more recently in the environmental services and waste management industries.

With a strong focus on meeting the needs and nurturing relationships with her customers, Bronte is highly skilled in business relationship, portfolio and account management; business development; marketing and corporate sales.