Our Team
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Dale D’Alessio (USA)
Chairman & CEO
Former CEO of Mellanox's US Federal Business and former VP of NVIDIA's US Federal Business. Dale has a significant background in establishing profitable technology companies. His responsibilities at Aequus include all corporate operations.
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Andrew Kelly (UK)
Founder & Inventor
Andrew has pioneering expertise at the confluence of AI, Cloud, IoT, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). At Aequus, he oversees product management, strategy, delivery, and partnerships.
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Nick Heiliger (USA)
Chief Technology Officer and Head of Delivery
Nick is a senior delivery leader & client partner with 15+ years’ experience in secure cloud, AI/ML, cybersecurity, and open-source development. Nick recently spent 2 years as Strategy Architect and Head of Delivery for key programs at DHS and CISA (US Cyber & Infrastructure Security Agency).
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Jeff Pawlak (USA)
Chief Revenue Officer
Jeff is experienced and well-versed in Critical National Infrastructure. At Aequus, he drives and oversees sales, marketing, and customer success, aligning strategies across teams to maximize revenue, accelerate growth, improve retention, and ensure sustainable business performance.
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Brad Collier (UK)
Head of Business Development, EMEA
Brad has worked in security and intelligence innovation since 9/11, during which he established a powerful transatlantic network. At Aequus, he leads global business development, forging strategic partnerships and channels to amplify company growth.
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Gareth Hughes (UK)
Head of Corporate Development
Gareth has been raising corporate development capital and advising on sustainable business growth for over 4 decades. As a former senior insurance executive, he has a keen understanding of risk management and a first-class network in the finance & corporate worlds.
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Ryan Fouss (USA)
Head of Marketing and Creative
National Geographic and Disney media executive with experience leading content, platform, and brand development. Ryan brings a strong background in audience growth, cross-functional leadership, and digital innovation. At Aequus, he oversees branding, website development, and digital marketing.
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Giles Kyser Colonel, US Marine Corps (Retired) (USA)
Federal Markets
Giles is an exceptional public sector sales and business development leader who is widely known and respected across key Federal Agencies. He has transferred his military experience, training, and skills to the commercial world with demonstrable success.
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Beth Heider (USA)
Head of Communications and Sustainability
Beth spearheads sustainability discourse with thought leaders, decision-makers, regulators, and lawmakers, advocating for policies that drive positive environmental change and safety in the built environment.
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Emily Durand (USA)
Head of Analysis & Research
With a strong background in Life Sciences, Emily directs analysis and research. Her insights drive strategic decisions, fostering innovation and ensuring the company remains competitive and adaptable in an evolving landscape.
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Dr. Jamie Saunders (UK)
Chair, Technical Advisory Board
Is a security and intelligence practitioner with several years of operational experience in UK Government and the private sector. He has previously held senior roles within the UK security, intelligence and law enforcement community, predominantly at GCHQ and latterly as Director of Cybercrime of the UK National Crime Agency (where he was also a member of the main board). Since leaving Government in 2017 he has been providing strategic security advice to a variety of large public and private sector entities in the UK and overseas, as well as providing advice and guidance to a number of tech start-ups operating in cybersecurity and broader security and intelligence markets. Jamie is a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford and is author of several reports on digital risk governance. In 2024 he was appointed as a Non-Executive Board Advisor to NHS England, where he chairs the Cyber Security and Risk Committee.
