Management Team

John Jones

Access Group Australia
Executive Chairman
Member of: Family Office
Chairman of: National Operations Board

John is the founder and Executive Chairman of Access Group Australia. Having enjoyed an illustrious career in previous roles as a General Manager and Director, John has guided several businesses to rapid organic growth and national market dominance.

Since Access Group and its various companies were founded, his business model has proven to be highly successful in Australia and internationally. John has set the highest financial performance benchmarks in the industry and possesses excellent intuition, vision, and strategic planning.

Jason Ponosh

Access Group Australia
Chief Executive Officer
Member of: National Operations Board

As Chief Executive Officer of Access Group Australia, Jason Ponosh leads the Group’s strategic direction, operational performance and continued growth across domestic and international markets. Bringing extensive executive leadership experience across construction, engineering and infrastructure, Jason combines strong commercial acumen with a proven background in managing complex operations, delivering major projects and driving organisational improvement.

He is focused on strengthening business performance, developing high-performing leadership teams and building the capabilities required for sustainable growth. Jason’s leadership reinforces Access Group’s commitment to operational excellence, customer partnerships and delivering long-term value across its diverse portfolio of businesses.

Grant Gardner

Access Group Australia
Chief Financial Officer – Group
Member of: Family Office | National Operations Board

Grant Gardner brings extensive strategic, financial and operational leadership experience across banking, professional services, industrial and mining sectors in Australia and internationally.

Having served as Group CFO for two of Western Australia’s largest private companies, Grant has significant expertise in corporate finance, investment banking, capital management and business strategy. His background also includes senior leadership roles in management consulting, financial services and industrial operations. At Access Group, Grant focuses on financial strategy, commercial performance and supporting sustainable growth. He holds a Master of Chemical Engineering, an MBA and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Nat Harrison

Access Group Australia
Chief Financial Officer – Family Office
Member of: Family Office | National Operations Board

Nat is CFO of the family office, with responsibility spanning the Group’s operating businesses, investment portfolio and international treasury activities. A CPA with more than 20 years’ experience across the Group, he leads financial strategy, capital allocation, investment analysis, governance, risk and commercial performance. Nat works closely with shareholders and leadership teams to protect and grow long-term value, strengthen financial discipline and support sustainable growth across a diverse portfolio of businesses, assets and investments.

Chris Bond

Access Group Australia
Executive Director
Member of: Family Office | National Operations Board

Chris Bond is Executive Director at Access Group International, representing the Family Office and providing strategic oversight across the Group’s diverse portfolio of businesses. He plays a key role in shaping the Group’s strategic direction, strengthening governance and embedding the values and culture that underpin its continued success.

With extensive business experience and industry knowledge, Chris focuses on developing high-performing leadership teams, fostering collaboration and driving organisational performance. His leadership supports the Group’s long-term growth while ensuring its businesses remain aligned with the strategic vision, values and commitment to excellence that define Access Group.

Robert Carlile

Access Group Australia
Executive Group General Manager
Member of: National Operations Board

Robert has extensive senior leadership experience across various industries, including manufacturing and services, both in Australia and internationally. His expertise spans strategic planning, leadership, capital asset management, building strong customer partnerships, and business development.

Robert’s expertise, strategic insights and commitment to building strong client relationships ensures that we deliver tailored solutions and exceptional service to our customers.

Dean Rullo

Access Hire Australia
National and International Sales Director
Member of: National Operations Board

Dean Rullo brings over 20 years of experience in the equipment hire industry, with extensive expertise in sales, operations and international business development. Having held senior leadership roles across Access Group, Dean has built strong relationships with major customers across the mining, construction and industrial sectors.

His deep industry knowledge and commercial experience play a key role in driving the Group’s international sales strategy, identifying new market opportunities and expanding its global customer base. Dean is focused on strengthening international partnerships, securing major accounts and supporting Access Group’s continued growth in domestic and overseas markets.

Tim Helfers

Generators Australia, Globe Power Australia, Globe Power USA
Director
Member of: National Operations Board

Tim Helfers is Director of Generators Australia, Globe Power Australia and Globe Power USA, bringing over 35 years of industry experience.

Having joined the Group in 2014, Tim has been instrumental in expanding its power generation capabilities and driving product innovation. Passionate about Australian design and manufacturing, Tim leads the development of world-leading renewable energy technologies across solar, hybrid and lithium battery solutions. His focus is on delivering innovative, reliable and sustainable power solutions that reduce diesel consumption, improve efficiency and support customers worldwide.

Henk Oudman

Access Group Australia
Chief Production Officer
Member of: National Operations Board

Henk Oudman is Chief Production Officer for Access Group Australia, bringing almost 20 years of experience across the Group’s hire, service and operational divisions. With a strong background in production management and operational leadership, Henk oversees national production performance, operating standards and the Group’s transport fleet.

His focus is on driving efficiency, safety, consistency and continuous improvement across the business. Combining extensive operational knowledge with a practical, people-focused leadership approach, Henk is committed to developing capability, strengthening national operating disciplines and ensuring Access Group continues to deliver reliable, high-quality outcomes for its customers.

Shane Harris-Walker

Access Group Australia
Chief Process & Technology Officer
Member of: National Operations Board

Shane Harris-Walker is Chief Process and Technology Officer for Access Group Australia, bringing over 20 years’ experience in operations, consulting and technology-led transformation across the mining services sector.

With senior leadership experience at Warrikal, SKILLED Group, Programmed and Linkforce, Shane specialises in business improvement, digital transformation and operational efficiency. He combines commercial insight with practical technology solutions to simplify processes, strengthen governance and improve business performance. At Access Group, Shane focuses on aligning people, processes and technology to drive innovation, improve operational capability and build scalable systems that support the Group’s continued growth.

Kate Bickley

Access Group Australia
Chief Marketing Officer
Member of: National Operations Board

Kate Bickley is Chief Marketing Officer for Access Group Australia, overseeing more than 20 brands and leading the Group’s marketing strategy, revenue generation and digital transformation across national and international markets. Bringing executive experience spanning strategy, sales, operations and marketing, Kate is responsible for driving performance across all marketing-generated revenue channels.

With a strong focus on operational excellence and customer experience, she leads initiatives that modernise business systems, streamline customer journeys and strengthen digital capability. Her leadership focuses on building scalable, commercially driven marketing operations that accelerate growth, improve efficiency and deliver measurable business outcomes.

Clinton Phillips

Access Group Australia
General Manager Fleet
Member of: National Operations Board

Clinton brings extensive experience in fleet and asset management, specialising in international procurement, fleet optimisation, commercial management and pricing strategy. Responsible for sourcing equipment from leading manufacturers across global markets, Clinton plays a key role in ensuring Access Group maintains a competitive, high-performing fleet.

His expertise spans international supplier relationships, strategic procurement, demand forecasting and asset lifecycle management. With a strong focus on data-driven decision-making and operational efficiency, Clinton develops fleet strategies that maximise utilisation, control costs and deliver strong commercial returns, supporting Access Group’s continued growth and reputation as an industry leader.

Oliver Jones

Access Group Australia
Director
Member of: Family Office

Oliver Jones is a Director of Access Group Australia and Managing Director of Truck & Trailer Rentals Australia. With hands-on experience across equipment hire, transport operations, sales and mechanical services, Oliver brings a practical understanding of fleet operations, asset management and customer requirements.

His leadership focuses on business growth, operational excellence and building long-term customer relationships across the transport, construction, oil and gas and mining sectors. Committed to Access Group’s values and legacy, Oliver is passionate about developing high-performing teams, delivering reliable customer solutions and driving sustainable growth while maintaining the quality and service standards that underpin the Group’s success.

Courtland Williams

Access Group Australia
Executive Health & Safety Manager
Member of: National Operations Board

Courtland brings more than 20 years of health and safety experience across major construction, engineering and heavy industry sectors, with expertise in critical risk management, systems governance and operational assurance. He provides executive leadership for Access Group’s national health and safety strategy, ensuring the organisation’s systems and risk management framework support sustainable business growth while protecting its people, customers and reputation.

Gareth Jones

Access Group Australia
General Manager-Sales Director-Qld
Member of: National Operations Board

Gareth is a highly accomplished business leader with 38 years of experience across the construction, structural steel, and rigging industries. Having founded owned and successfully managed engineering businesses, he combines deep industry expertise with strong commercial acumen. Gareth has built a distinguished career on trust integrity and long-term relationships, consistently delivering exceptional customer outcomes. His strategic leadership, proven sales capability, and unwavering commitment to service excellence have earned the confidence of clients, partners, and stakeholders throughout his career.

Francine Kjestrup

Access Group Australia
General Manager Finance
Member of: Family Office and National Operations Board

As General Manager of Finance at Access Group Australia, Francine brings extensive experience in financial management, auditing and reporting across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Having been with Access Group for over seven years, Francine has progressed through senior finance roles, developing a comprehensive understanding of the Group’s financial operations and business requirements.

Her background in international accounting and auditing, including experience with BDO UK, provides a strong foundation in financial governance, compliance and reporting. Francine focuses on strengthening financial processes, maintaining reporting integrity and supporting sound commercial decision-making across the Group’s diverse operations.