Our story

Mark Pitcher, Managing Director

Mark is the Managing Director of Clevertar, working with Clevertar’s board to provide strategic direction and support business execution. Mark has extensive experience as a leader across a range of industries including high tech industrials, software retail, health and care. He has been responsible for fast growth start-ups and IPO through to successful exits and presently holds directorships in technology, health and care enterprises.

Martin Luerssen, CTO and Co-founder

Martin is Clevertar’s CTO and co-founder, driving Clevertar’s intellectual and technological direction since the company’s inception. Martin has 10 years applied research in artificial intelligence and 7 years experience successfully developing relational agent technology solutions. At Clevertar he applies his research forte in nature-inspired computing to continually advance its leading edge technologies to deliver real world solutions.

Matt Francis, Head of Product & CX

Matt is responsible for the successful execution of projects, and has extensive experience in customer relationship management, marketing, and project management. Matt leads Clevertar’s implementation team in delivering outstanding results for customers.

Jim Birch AM, Chairman

Along with his role as Chair of Clevertar, Jim is presently Chair of Calvary Health, Chair of Lifeblood (formerly the Australian Red Cross Blood Service), Chair of the Women’s and Children’s Local Health Network (SA) and a Director of a couple of other health and social care services. He is the immediate past Global Health Leader for Ernst & Young and has held a number of CEO roles including Human Services and Health Department (SA) and a number of major health service delivery organisations.

Tanya Newhouse, Non-Executive Director and Co-founder

Tanya is Clevertar’s co-founder, having formed the company as a spin-out from Flinders University. Tanya has 10 years senior management experience in health and human services alongside 7 years in early-stage technology commercialisation and 5 years in enterprise information technology management.

Julian Burton OAM, Non-Executive Director

Julian has over 15 years of leadership in the non-profit sector as founder and Executive Chair of The Julian Burton Burns Trust, and in the private sector in establishing and directing two South Australian-based global biotech companies – SKIN Tissue Engineering and Beta Cell Technologies.

John Lindsay, Non-Executive Director

John is a telecommunications industry expert with a career in the telecommunications industry spanning over 25 years with past roles including CTO at iiNet Ltd, CTO and Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Manager at Internode Pty Ltd and a Director of the Internet Industry Association. John is currently a director of Uniti Group Ltd (formerly Uniti Wireless), the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, TIO Ltd and of Redflow Ltd. He is also a director of a number of private companies including Ultraserve Pty Ltd and jtwo solutions Pty Ltd. John is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

David Sheard, Non-Executive Director

David is the Founder and Managing Director of Virtca, a South Australian focused early-and growth-stage investment and business advisory firm dedicated to partnering with technology-driven businesses. Previously, he was the Managing Director of a technology & software company and Corporate Technology Director for one of the world’s largest private inspection and engineering organisations. Originally from Canada, he immigrated to Adelaide in 2021 after being selected for Australia’s Global Talent Visa due to his internationally recognised software and technology achievements. His qualifications include an MBA in Finance, GAICD, PMP, PSP, certificates in financial disciplines, a commercial pilot’s license, and numerous technology & industry-specific credentials.