Meet The Team

Mark Donaldson is a recognised authority in active noise control and an accomplished business leader with over two decades of experience driving innovation in audio technology. He has a proven track record of guiding companies from inception to successful exits, notably leading SoundChip SA, a global leader in active noise cancellation solutions spanning silicon, software, and acoustics, through its growth and acquisition by DSP Group, a Nasdaq-listed semiconductor firm now part of Synaptics, Inc. Mark holds Honours (First Class) and Masters (with Distinction) degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Digital Signal Processing from the University of Auckland. His contributions to the tech industry have earned him numerous accolades, including being named one of Unlimited Magazine’s “Ones to Watch” in 2005 and winning the 2007 EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in Technology.

Jonathon Beuchat is an experienced Swiss finance and accounting professional. He has collaborated with industry leaders in the pharmaceutical, legal, and consulting realms, both domestically and abroad. Mr. Beuchat is a founder of DYN Group, an alliance of enterprises specialising in accounting, finance, auditing, tax services, and insurance brokerage. Since 2010, DYN Group has taken pride in providing lean financial management services to successful high-growth start-ups, aiding in their financial structuring and reporting. A fluent speaker of English, French, and Spanish, Mr. Beuchat is skilled in international business. His work is characterised by a passionate drive and a staunch dedication to achieving excellence.

Dr. Sergeev holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), specialising in engineering and applied physics, including cold atmospheric plasma. During his master’s studies, Dr. Sergeev spent two years at Schlumberger, working on acoustics-based oil well monitoring technologies. His PhD at EPFL Switzerland introduced the groundbreaking concept of plasmacoustic metalayers, offering a novel approach to broadband active sound control through the interaction of ionised gas particles with sound fields. His doctoral research, recognised by the prestigious ABB Research Award, resulted in several publications in high-impact journals, including those in the Nature portfolio. In 2023, he began collaborating with Sonexos on the industrialisation of plasmacoustic noise reduction technology, later joining the company. Dr. Sergeev holds multiple patents and patent applications in the domain of plasmacoustic-based methods of active sound absorption.

Dr. Hervé Lissek has been leading the Acoustics Research Group at EPFL for two decades, focusing on electroacoustics, active noise control, and signal processing. His innovations include the “electroacoustic absorber,” which turns loudspeakers into low-frequency absorbers, the “electroacoustic metamaterial,” which redefines acoustic physics with small speaker arrays, and the “plasmacoustic metalayer,” using ionized air to absorb sound. Dr. Lissek has collaborated with industry leaders like Safran Group, Stellantis, PSI Audio, Sonova, and Logitech. He has published approximately 100 scientific papers and holds 10 patent families.

Dr. Duleepa J. Thrimawithana earned his BE in Electrical Engineering (First Class Honors) in 2005 and his Ph.D. in Power Electronics in 2009 from the University of Auckland. From 2005 to 2008, he worked as a Research Engineer with Tru-Test Ltd., focusing on power converters and high-voltage pulse generators. Since 2009, he has been an Associate Professor at the University of Auckland. Dr. Thrimawithana has co-authored over 100 publications and holds 25 patent families in wireless power transfer. In 2014, he received the Jim and Hazel D. Lord Fellowship for his contributions as an early-career researcher. His research areas include wireless power transfer, power electronics, cryogenic electronics, and renewable energy.