The executive team guiding our growth.

David Griffin

Chief executive officer

David Griffin has over 20 years of utility-scale solar and wind farm development experience in Australia and internationally. He has worked and invested in several development companies including Renewable Power Ventures, Intikon Energy and Terrain Solar.

Most recently, David was the Founder and CEO of Sun Cable.

Previously, he was the General Manager of Development at Infigen Energy. Some of his projects include the Warwick Solar Farm (QLD), Capital Wind Farm (NSW), Alinta Wind Farm (WA), Cookhouse Wind Farm (South Africa) and the Jasper Solar Farm (South Africa). Of the projects David has developed to date, 1GW has been commissioned, with multiple gigawatts at various stages of development or under construction.

David holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts (International Relations) from the University of New South Wales.

Chris McGrath

Co-founder and chief growth officer

In 2013, 5B arose from Chris’ passion to accelerate the global transition to clean energy. Chris' vision has grown 5B from a small start-up to a global organisation, hosting award-winning technology. As chief growth officer, Chris has a strong focus on developing strategic partnerships and new market opportunities.

As co-founder, Chris developed cutting-edge technology - the 5B Maverick - that reduces the cost of renewable energy that reinvented the solar supply chain to simplify how projects are delivered, with fewer materials, lightning-fast deployment, and streamlined logistics.

After graduating with 1st class honors in renewable energy engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Chris and 5B co-founder Eden Tehan designed and installed a micro-hydropower system for the remote Vanuatu village, Imaki. Chris then founded ‘Solar Fields’, where he worked with government, communities and the private sector on various projects from early-stage development through to delivery. His prior experience at Infigen Energy as development manager prepared him to inspire and lead our team at 5B.

Chris is an avid explorer of the natural world. He is a tech diver, a rock climber, and enjoys nothing more than a good adventure with great friends.

Eden Tehan

Co-founder 

Eden is a modern day Renaissance man and the creative mind behind the name 5B - standing for 5 Billion years of sun. His extensive career in the Australian energy industry and drive for the global transition to clean energy has helped make 5B what it is today.

Eden is a photovoltaics engineer. His first project was a micro-hydropower system that delivered renewable energy to a remote village in Vanuatu. Prior to founding 5B, Eden worked in Infigen Energy’s development team. He delivered Infigen’s first solar PV asset, the Capital Solar Farm in 2013, which was also the country’s first solar PV facility participating in the wholesale market.

Born in Tokyo, Eden speaks fluent Japanese. 5B and solar are Eden’s biggest passions, but he can also be found enjoying music, running, food, and seeing the wonders of the world.

Nicole Kuepper-Russell

Chief strategy officer

Nicole joined 5B in August 2020 as chief strategy officer, tasked with developing, communicating, and executing 5B’s strategy. Nicole applies an expert level of organisational efficiency and has reinforced the culture of our growing company. Her expert knowledge in photovoltaics combined with her passion for addressing the reality of climate change makes her a perfect fit for 5B.

Born in Australia to German parents, Nicole is fluent in both English and German and is proficient in Spanish. An excellent communicator, she is always looking at the bigger picture and values diversity and inclusion above all else.

Nicole has over 10 years of management consulting experience with Bain & Co, working across strategy development, innovation, performance improvement, and organisational design in the energy and industrial sectors. She also has deep subject knowledge and expertise in photovoltaics, having completed a PhD in solar cell devices at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

Simeon Baker-Finch

Chief technology and product officer

Simeon Baker-Finch is the chief product officer at 5B. He leads a passionate team with a resolute determination to accelerate the clean energy transition.

In 2012, Simeon graduated from the Australian National University with a PhD in engineering (photovoltaics). He has a decade of diverse experience spanning strategy, research, commercialisation, venture investing, and manufacturing.

Among his notable achievements are the delivery of First Solar's 100MW production line for novel silicon solar cells in 2016, design and delivery of software for AGL Energy's Virtual Power Plant in 2018, and execution of AGL's joint venture and technology agreement with UK energy retailer, Ovo in 2021.

Sharon Markulin

Chief financial officer

Sharon joined the 5B team in February 2022, bringing with her decades of experience as a finance professional and board member for both listed and private companies across multiple industries and countries.

As a CFO, she has driven financial improvements and strategic direction in sectors as diverse as retail, media and financial services. Prior to joining 5B, Sharon was the chief operating officer at agricultural technology company, Green Camel, where she delivered significant sales and profitability growth.

A keen supporter of organic and sustainable food production, Sharon's interest in green industries was formed in her childhood in country NSW, and refined throughout 20 years of experience in the areas of strategic planning, risk management and financial control.

She holds a bachelor of commerce from the University of Newcastle, an MBA from Deakin University, is a Fellow Certified Practicing Accountant and a member of The Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has also conducted research into sustainable food production systems and is passionate about using her extensive leadership, commercial and financial management experience in the renewables industry.

When she’s not driving the profitability of 5B she’s at the beach, spending time with family or cooking up a storm and entertaining friends.

John Alexander

Chief operating officer

John joined 5B as chief operating officer in June 2023 bringing 35+ years of experience in renewable energy operations, corporate finance and transformation..

John joins 5B from CleanPeak Energy overseeing utility-scale solar and battery projects. Prior to this, he was part of the leadership team that took Pangaea Resources from a startup to the most significant private oil and gas concession holder in Australia.

John’s involvement in innovative green financing dates back to his days with 

NM Rothschild and prior to this Westpac, where he was part of a special projects team increasing the bank’s impact and influence on the emerging renewable energy and coal seam gas sectors in the late nineties.

John holds a bachelor of rural science, business management, mixed enterprise production systems from University of New England. 

In his spare time John enjoys cycling, flying, astrophotography and Formula 1.

Matthew Vocale

Chief supply chain officer

Matt has been with 5B since 2020, bringing with him 15 years of broad industry experience spanning manufacturing, heavy industries and renewables.

Matt is a passionate change advocate and resilient leader committed to creating value through the application of continuous improvement methodologies and delivering practical, sustainable solutions in diverse environments. He likes to think big – developing strategy, realising efficiencies and communicating the future.

Matt is an electrical engineer and holds an MBA from The University of Queensland. He has extensive experience in operational readiness, supply chain design, and product development within emerging technologies. He is an avid reader, lover of music, ukulele enthusiast, and loves tinkering in his home workshop.

Alice Lang

Chief of staff

Alice joined 5B in 2021 as head of strategy and has since been promoted to the chief of staff role where she drives business performance and strategy implementation.

Alice joined 5B after 5 years at AGL Energy, where she worked firstly in corporate strategy, then in the future business and technology department, working on the business opportunities needed for Australia's clean energy revolution.

Alice's background is in strategy in the energy industry, having studied photovoltaic and solar energy engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), and philosophy, politics, and economics at the University of Oxford, before joining The Boston Consulting Group. Alice loves getting out for a swim and cooking for friends and family.