Richard Mackie - BE. ME. MBA

Richard Mackie brings to Windlab extensive experience of wind projects development.  Richard has been involved in the wind energy industry in Australasia for over 13 years, and has been responsible for development of projects from initiation through to financial close.

Richard's role as General Manager, Africa and Asia,  combines his experience on project development with a sound understanding of the management principles required to successfully control and manage project developments and risks.  Richard is leading the wind farm development effort in Australia and through oversight of the international portfolio of projects, Richard is able to ensure both application of best practice, and consistency across regions, resulting in tightly managed and well controlled project development processes.

Gavin Lowe

Gavin brings an outstanding breadth of experience to Windlabs Development Canada Ltd, having been in the wind industry in Canada for the past 16 years.  Gavin was involved in the construction and commissioning of Canada's first Commercial wind plant in Pincher Creek, Alberta and went on to become the Operations and Maintenance manager of the project.

Gavin joins Windlab after a long tenure with Canadian Hydro Developers, where he was the Manager of its Wind Energy Division responsible for all aspects of wind energy development and operations.  Gavin brings a wealth of project experience to Windlab across the entire range of wind development activities, from site identification and securement, through feasibility, construction and into plant operation. 

Rich Polich

Rich has over 30 years experience in the utility industry, most recently with TradeWind Energy as a project manager. Prior to this Rich also worked as a consultant in project development and regulatory affairs for 3^rd Planet Wind Power, and Nobel Environmental. He has also managed a successful energy consulting business and lead Nordic Marketing to become Michigan's pioneer and lead alternative provider of electricity to businesses.

Rich was very active in the passage of Michigan's Renewable Portfolio Standard legislation and worked on the Michigan Public Service Commission's 21^st Century Energy Plan and is the author of two studies: A Study of Economic Impacts from the Implementation of a Renewable Portfolio Standard and an Energy Efficiency Program in Michigan prepared for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and Alternative and Renewable Energy Cluster Analysis prepared for West Michigan Strategic Alliance

Rich has degrees in nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering, and an MBA, all from the University of Michigan.  Rich is also a registered professional engineer. He is a member of the American Wind Energy Association, the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers, a board member of the Southeastern Michigan Sustainable Business Coalition and a board member of Energy Michigan. He is a private pilot and active in the Ann Arbor community, including a licensed soccer coach, licensed soccer referee, and a Boy Scout troop leader.

Francis Jackson

Francis Jackson complemented a Mechanical Engineering degree with distinction from the University of Toronto and Auckland University with studies in project management and Preventive Engineering and Social Development.

He has been involved in wind engineering since 2002 when he first joined New Zealand wind turbine manufacturer Windflow Technology in the process of refining their 500kW turbine, modelling rotor dynamics, fine-tuning control system performance and wind farm development roles. He also undertook design and project management of engineering processes with Freeplay Energy.

Francis takes an active interest in supporting the evolution of the South African market and legislative environment to favour wind development and lectures a module on wind energy at the University of Stellenbosch.  Born and raised in South Africa, Francis manages the engineering development of the portfolio with the motivation to see sustainable energy development realized in harmony with its local context.

Dan MacDonald

Daniel graduated from the University of Newcastle, where he completed a Bachelor of Civil Engineering with Honours.

After graduating from University, Daniel spent 4 years in Europe. His overseas endeavours included a research thesis in steel structure reinforcement using carbon reinforced polymers at the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, he worked as a project manager in Austria in a cross border project looking at technology transfer and innovation networks, and was responsible for the design and planning of district heating systems coupled to biomass fired co-generation plants in South-East Europe.

Daniel adds his broad range of experience to the Canberra office and is currently project managing our portfolio of sites and activities in NSW.

He believes strongly about sustainable and ethical development practice and is passionate about innovation and green living principles.