About us

EcoHoist

Our mission is to help decarbonise underground mines by providing a commercially compelling alternative to diesel haul trucks.

The EcoHoist concept was invented by our mechanical engineers Matthew Forrest and David Coupe. Our mining engineer, Michael Short, with his experience in underground mine production helped shape the product and the value proposition for underground mines.

Meet the team

Richard Thomson

  • Richard has wide ranging experience in manufacturing, technical development and business management in the sugar industry, petrochemicals, oil and gas industry and solar thermal systems. He has taken products from the patent stage through to market in two different industry sectors. Has successfully run a number of his own private businesses, two of which having been on sold to major international operators. He is also experienced at board level in government business enterprises, listed companies and tertiary research organisations. Richard is keen to share experiences with others and assist in developing business opportunities into great business outcomes. Richard has a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree (First Class Honours) from the University of Adelaide and a Master of Science (Operations Research and Business Management) degree from Imperial College, London, and is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

CHAIRMAN

Matthew Forrest

  • Matthew is the founder and the inventor of EcoHoist and performed the initial design, prototyping, testing and engineering of the product. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronic) with First Class Honours, and a Bachelor of Mathematical and Computer Science from the University of Adelaide. He has led technical teams to successful outcomes in several projects. During his undergraduate studies, Matthew served as the Engineering Manager for the Adelaide University Motorsport team, where he oversaw all technical aspects of the vehicle and personally designed the chassis, suspension and driveline architecture for the 2016 vehicle. For his engineering honours project, he led the team that designed and built a table tennis playing robot, which received two awards: Best Project in Automated Control Systems and Best Project in the Sports Engineering Discipline. Upon graduating, Matthew worked as a Research Engineer at the University of Adelaide, leading the development of robotic equipment for testing semi-autonomous features in new vehicles. In 2022, Matthew was awarded the Young Achiever Award at the South Australian Premier’s Awards in Energy and Mining. Matthew has always enjoyed leading and building technical solutions, and feels the obligation to ensure that his skills and efforts are applied to our most difficult challenge; the global challenge of climate change and decarbonisation.

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Michael Short

  • Michael Short, an early mining professional with a passion for innovation and sustainability, has key interests stemming from his early agricultural background. Specialising in production mining, Michael brings multiple years of experience from a diverse range of Australian minesites with various mining methods. Developing an appreciation for the intricate coordination required for successful operation in a production-constrained environment, he can identify and understand logistical issues to ensure smooth operation. As the co-founder of EcoHoist, he introduces a new hoisting alternative, a solution that will unlock production across the industry. Michael is in active discussion with a range of mining operations that could potentially benefit from installing an EcoHoist into their operation. Michael has a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) (First Class Honours) from the University of Adelaide and is an active member of the AusIMM.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER

David Coupe

  • David has completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical and Sport) at the University of Adelaide with first class honours. David has a background in the building services industry and has experience in mechanical design processes with particular interest in manufacturing and maintenance design. Cementing his leadership and project management skills, he led the Adelaide University Water Ski Club as president from 2014 to 2016. David has a desire to see the world transition to a net zero economy as soon as practically possible, which is why he is so eager to see the EcoHoist decarbonise underground mining. David is working on mechanical hardware design and testing for the EcoHoist.

HEAD MECHANICAL ENGINEER

Andrew De Garis

  • A seasoned executive with a background in energy, currently on the board at Economical Energy in Adelaide. With roots in oil and gas and a degree from The Australian Institute of Company Directors, Andrew blends business smarts with a knack for energy transition. His skill in managing diverse teams and engaging stakeholders shows his strong communication and collaboration chops. Andrew's commitment to values shines through in his dedication to both company strategy and volunteering gigs, showing he's more than just about the boardroom. A forward-thinker, Andrew keeps pushing renewable energy innovation while staying true to integrity and sustainability.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Jo Garland

  • Jo is a partner at an international law firm, specialising in energy transition projects and commercialisation. She has over 20 years' experience in the power, decarbonisation and climate change fields. Jo has guided clients through the State's biggest industrial scale renewable energy micro-grid, (what was) the world's largest hybrid power system for a remote mine site, Australia's first co-located wind and solar farm, a $65 million ARENA funded virtual power plant solution, vanadium flow battery commercialisation and electric vehicle infrastructure rollouts. She regularly assists utilities, offtakers, power project developers and large energy users. Jo is passionate about the new energy transition and all the technology that must be brought to bear to decarbonise. Jo holds a double degree in law and economics and is qualified in New Zealand and Australia.

BOARD ADVISOR

Jonathan Whalley

  • With over 35 years’ of experience Jonathan Whalley is a successful entrepreneur, project manager and engineer. He has two engineering degrees (BSC Hons, and MSc) and an MBA. Prior to his Australian start-up career Jonathan was a signal processing research engineer at a leading UK research centre and held technical leadership roles on the development of ground segment components of the European Space Agency’s first remote sensing satellite (ERS-1). Jonathan has worked as an entrepreneur and engineer in Australia for almost 30 years. He founded DSpace Pty Ltd in 1995 where he led the growth of the Company through organic expansion and completed a multi-million-dollar venture capital funding round. DSpace further developed its globally supplied, proprietary mobile satellite terminal technology before being sold to a NASDAQ listed company in 2007. Over the past 15 years Jonathan has been an active angel investor, and Director and C-level Executive in multiple technology start-ups. In addition to founding Spatial Hub Analytics Pty Ltd (www.spatialhub4d.com), he was founding CEO of energy storage company 1414 Degrees Ltd (www.1414degrees.com.au) (ASX.14D), where he led the development of the Company’s first demonstration system. Subsequently as Head of Contracts he was a member of the due diligence committee for 1414’s successful ASX listing.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Andrew McCulloch

  • Andrew held the position of Exploration Futurist at OZ Minerals, bringing with him 20 years of experience in Strategy, sustainability, data and information management, business analysis, and information technology across a range of industry sectors. His role involved leveraging his extensive expertise to enable the identification of new opportunities and the implementation of cutting-edge approaches to exploration, significantly contributing to the advancement of geological exploration practices.  Andrew holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) in Applied Geology. Throughout his mineral resources career, Andrew has witnessed the challenges of turning a mineral discovery into a successful mine. EcoHoist provides a new haulage method that can unlock the commercial value of these mineral discoveries while reducing the impact of mining on the environment.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Our Values

Safety

Prioritise precaution and vigilance in all tasks.

Sustainability

Integrate eco-consciousness into every decision and action.

Innovation

Foster a culture that welcomes experimentation and learning from failures.

Diversity

Actively seek out diverse perspectives and experiences.

Transparency

Embrace openness and honesty in communication.

Environmental, Social and Governance Principles

Our core values are reflected in our dedication to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. We firmly believe that embracing ESG principles is essential for upholding integrity within our industry.

Consequently, we are devoted to collaborating with companies that not only share our values but also exhibit a track record of rigorous legal adherence, active involvement in local communities, and sustainable practices.

An ESG issue is deemed significant if it has the potential to adversely impact our stakeholders, our reputation, or our operations. We are convinced that integrating ESG practices throughout our operations helps us achieve outstanding outcomes and assures our clients that their supplier is committed to managing risks and the effects of its operations.

We pledge to:

  • Encourage ethical and responsible decision-making.

  • Fully adhere to anti-bribery and corruption regulations.

  • Establish a robust management foundation.

  • Implement frameworks to ensure the integrity of financial reporting.

  • Respect the rights of all stakeholders and provide transparent disclosure.

  • Offer fair compensation to employees and support collective bargaining efforts.

  • Foster inclusivity and diversity by investing in training and educational initiatives.

At EcoHoist, we are always interested in hearing from candidates who embrace new ideas and are keen to join an innovative engineering company. Please direct your expressions of interest and applications to contact@ecohoistmining.com

Careers

Location

Head Office - Core Innovation Hub Adelaide, Space Lab Building, 4 Frome Road, Adelaide SA 5000 Australia