Dr Paul Boxer
Managing Director
Paul holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a doctorate in Computer Science.
​
In 1999, Paul founded the first Sentient company and has since built up several successful companies under the Sentient brand. Today, Sentient is a well-established, multi-national group of companies. The group produces high-technology software products for the Defence, Security, Transport, Aviation and Medical industries.
​
Paul’s mission is to make the world a better place through the development of advanced technologies that produce large social and economic benefits.
Michael McCowan
Senior Design Engineer
Michael holds bachelor’s degrees in both Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, and a Master’s degree in Project Management. He is also the published author of a paper on Continuous Improvement within Australian Engineering Firms.
​
After 8 years in the automotive industry, Michael joined Sentient in 2015. During his time at Sentient Michael has worked on a myriad of projects, ranging from designing aircraft camera mounts, and developing prosthetics, through to the design and development of 2 prototype boats. The robotic hand is the next challenge.
​
Michael identifies the tremendous good that a quality robotic hand can enact. He strives to ensure that the hand meets its potential.
Aaron Duivenvoorden
Lead Design Engineer
Aaron joined Sentient Bionics in 2017, as a Junior Engineer, and now leads the product development of the SentOx Oxygen Concentrator. Aaron is a graduate from RMIT University with a Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Honours) and Business Management.
Before joining Sentient, Aaron travelled to Quebec to complete a Research Project with Polytechnique Montreal, where he assisted their mechanical engineering department. While there, Aaron was the main author of a published paper on sensor fusion techniques to detect movement intention for the control of prosthetic arms.
​
Aaron left Sentient in January 2022.
.jpg)
Daniel Zanati
Test and Design Engineer
Daniel joined the Sentient Bionics team in 2020 as a Test & Design Engineer after graduating from Swinburne University with a Bachelor (Distinction Honours) of Mechanical Engineering & Business Finance.
Daniel has previous experience working as a Research Engineer Intern at Defence Science & Technology Group and has a great passion for humanitarian & sustainable engineering which he developed with Engineers without Borders. Combined, this has him well equipped to work on the SentOX Oxygen Concentrator and is excited to be helping those who need oxygen therapy the most.
​
Paul Baron
Commercial Manager
Paul started working with Sentient Bionics in March 2021 and had so much fun he decided to stick around as Commercial Manager.
When he is not hanging with the cool kids at Sentient Bionics, he spends his time working with and investing in startups, helping government and industry in digital transformation, strategic planning, product and relationship development and go to market strategies. He is also an active CFA Volunteer Firefighter with Badger Creek Fire Brigade.
Stephanie Verdier
PR & Promotions Manager
Stephanie joined Sentient in 2021 as our PR & Promotions Manager. She has a passion for digital marketing and joined Sentient to help with promotion and public relations, marketing and brand awareness.
Stephanie studied Marketing & Communications and has worked in various industries. She is passionate about creating engaging content and promoting worthy causes.
James Park
Junior Test & Design Engineer
James joined the Sentient Bionics team in the summer of 2020 through the Defense Industry Internship Program (DIIP) as an intern. He is studying mechanical engineering and biomedical science at Monash University, intending to work in an industry involving medical devices or assistive technologies.
As an intern, James is assisting the test and design engineers of Sentient Bionics, whilst being closely involved with the Sentient Oxygen (SentOx) project development.
Ariel Cherny
Testing Technician
​
Ariel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Melbourne, with a Master's degree in Biofabrication from the universities of Wollongong and Wuerzburg. Over the last few years, Ariel has applied his additive manufacturing experience in a number of different fields from 3D metal printing to the creation of custom medical implants.
He joined the Sentient Bionics Team in 2021 as a Medical Device Testing Technician where he will be working towards the production of SentOx and its goal of saving one million lives!
Nik Martin
Design Engineer
Nik graduated from the University of Cape Town as the university’s top Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering thesis student. For this, he received a merit award from the Mechanical Engineering Society of South Africa.
​
Soon thereafter, whilst on a surfing holiday in Hawaii, he met Dr Paul Boxer which eventually lead to him moving to Melbourne to start a position at Sentient Bionics. When COVID-19 happened, Nik had to move back to South Africa where he is setting up SentOx and still working on its development.