THE WHISKEY PROJECT GROUP
WHO ARE WHISKEY
Named after the military call sign "Whiskey" for Australian Special Operations water operators. The Whiskey Project Group founders - former Australian Navy special operations frogmen - set to create a safety and capability advantage to the war fighter, to deliver the world's best on water experience in March 2019
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Since then, The Whiskey Project Group, has grown to be a trusted and proven Australian maritime organisation whose businesses have a collective 100+ years experience spanning the end-to-end design, manufacturing, maintenance, and sustainment of high-performance watercraft.​
The Whiskey Project Group has proudly played a role in the design and build of over 200 watercraft for government agencies, and all of The Whiskey Project Group’s businesses are contracted suppliers to government agencies across watercraft design, manufacturing and innovation projects.
VISION
To continually deliver the worlds best on water experience
MISSION
We deliver on water operational advantage, safety and performance, through excellent design, manufacturing, innovation and development.
OUR VALUES
OWNERSHIP, committed to our purpose. We own and are responsible for our actions
COURAGE, to be honest with each other and ourselves
DEPENDABLE, we have each others backs. Our customers can rely on us
HISTORY
The Whiskey Project Group Company started the 7th of March 2019 and has grown from 2 people in Sydney to a global company with over 100 years combined design and manufacturing experience in the maritime industry across military, law and order, search and rescue, commercial and recreation markets.
OPERATOR FOCUSSED BOATS
The Whiskey Project Group maritime pedigrees include The Whiskey Project's next generation tactical watercraft; the globally acclaimed naval design and engineering performance of Naiad; and VYCOR, a highly regarded utility range of watercraft for the government and commercial market
NAIAD offers high-performance vessels for a range of applications, including recreational, commercial, and government use.
The Whiskey Project specialise in new generation tactical watercraft for the defence industry.
VYCOR provide utility style watercraft such as patrol boats, punts and landing craft to the defence and commercial market.
PEOPLE
DARREN SCHUBACK
CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Darren Schuback is an Australian entrepreneur and award-winning CEO who founded The Whiskey Project Group in 2018 with the mission to create operator-focused watercraft that provide optimal performance and protection for those who risk their lives in the maritime environment. Darren is a former military officer with over 24 years of operational and leadership experience in the Royal Australian Navy and ADF Special Operations. Darren’s naval experience included operational oversight of a warfare operation command centre, a military training institution, naval warships and a special operations counter terrorism unit. In each of these roles he designed and led the deployment of operational strategies to meet Australian Defence Force directives. Darren has a distinguished record in leading, mentoring and guiding staff at all levels within his organisation, through change management projects, cultural improvement and creating efficiencies in capability output. Darren is professionally renowned for ‘making it happen’- converting project plans into successful outcomes. This unwavering focus is now concentrated on The Whiskey Project Group, which he oversees as Chief Executive Officer.
LEISHA JOHNSTONE
CHEIF OPERATING OFFICER
TBC
PAUL MCGAULEY
HEAD OF SUPPLY CHAIN
TBC
JAMIE HOWDEN
GENERAL MANAGER AUS PRODUCT DELIVERY
With over 15 years’ experience in engineering and project/program management within the maritime environment, Jamie’s experience includes supporting complex assets across their lifecycle including design, build and sustainment. Commencing his career as a degree qualified Naval Architect , Jamie worked on the design and build of cutting-edge littoral combat solutions within defence as well as commercial solutions. More recently Jamie has held both engineering and program management roles supporting sustainment and major upgrade programs across the Royal Australian Navy’s Amphibious and sealift fleet.
JOHN MARTIN, ONZM
HEAD OF STRATEGIC BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
John has a national and international reputation for his ability to construct a future vision for organisations. The former Chief of the Royal New Zealand Navy, he has been active in the Pacific promoting development maritime security and a regional approach to countering trans national crime and supporting South Pacific naval and constabulary forces. In a career spanning four decades, John held senior defence and navy leadership positions including Assistant Chief of Defence, Capability and Fleet Commander. He is a strategic decision maker with a proven ability to lead large and small complex organisations. He has a passion for developing environmental leadership and is motivated to make real change for the benefit of the organisation, community and country. John is an independent director, a Gateway Reviewer of large infrastructure projects, a TWPG NZ representative and the Executive Director of the New Zealand Ocean Foundation and serves as a reservist in the RNZN as Rear Admiral.
TONY NAHITCHEVANSKY
VP BUSINES DEVELOPMENT - USA
TBC
ANDREW HOGG
HEAD OF GROUP DESIGN AND GM TWPG NEW ZEALAND
Andrew Hogg completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Canterbury and began his working life in banking prior to joining the Royal New Zealand Navy as a Seaman Officer. Andrew has over 14 years of military service experience including command of HMNZS ROTOITI and Executive Officer onboard HMNZ CANTEBURY and HMNZS ENDEAVOUR. Some of Andrew’s career highlights included drug interdiction operations in the Caribbean Sea, guard ship duties in the Falkland Islands, and multiple humanitarian operations around the Pacific. Andrew left full-time service at the rank of Commander to take up the position of Nelson Harbourmaster and Marine Operations Manager at Port Nelson in 2019. These roles included managing the navigational safety in Nelson Regional Waters, as well as all marine operations and security of the port.
OLLIE SATTIN
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Ollie drives continual innovation to better equip and enable the maritime operator. After a 25-year Clearance Diving and Maritime Special Operations Defence career, Ollie is regarded as Australia’s maritime special operations equipment and development expert. He has prepared and supervised teams, developed, lead and executed mission plans in some of the most challenging maritime environments around the globe. With a keen eye on emerging technologies complimented by decades of practical experience.