Fact file
Oleg Vornik
The former investment banker is now CEO of the warfare protection company DroneShield. Age 41. Lives in Sydney’s eastern suburbs
Self-professed nerd who now relishes working in a team. “You get better results in the end by having a few people put their heads together.” Moved from Russia to New Zealand at 15; had a boyhood love of chess.
The Sydney-based entrepreneur, who was born in Russia, sounds as if he couldn’t be happier. The Australian/US artificial intelligence company, DroneShield, of which he is chief executive, sells hi-tech systems to detect, track and take down attack drones, including those flying over Ukraine.
“We are in the business of stopping drone attacks,” he explains. “We are purely defensive. We don’t do anything offensive. None of our equipment, or anything we do, can harm a person or a drone. Our equipment safely lands them on the spot or sends them back. That’s the choice of the users of our equipment.”
DroneShield technology listens for connections between drones and their controllers and eavesdrops on them, even when swarms of them are in the air. Developed with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), the technology checks the skies for drones, cutting through any interference from false communication signals.
Vornik likens the system to a household fire alarm: it needs to ring when there’s danger but, just as importantly, it needs to stay quiet when there isn’t any.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
An outrageous, beautiful monopoly
Telstra's mobile business is a cash machine with few competitors, giving it the highest returns in the world.
Drop the anchor to judge value
Buying and selling decisions should be based on where a stock price is going, not where it has been.
Powering the AI boom
Beyond the software and chipmakers, where will the energy come from?
Get into life
Tucked inside super are products that can protect you from life's inevitable uncertainties.
Paths to home ownership
Taking the road less travelled can sometimes deliver unexpected benefits.
Sold! Quick ways to add value
Small, strategic changes can have a big impact on the look and feel of your home. And get you a better price on auction day.
Money lessons the kids need to know
Your children can learn a lot from your past money mishaps. Here are eight financial conversations I have had with mine.
Property-investing rules: are they likely to change?
The pressure for the government to curb the tax benefits of tax concessions, such as negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount, is unrelenting. Most recently, independent senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie proposed five options for paring back investment property tax concessions, with savings to the Federal budget of up to $60 billion over the next decade.
What's love got to do with it?
A rollercoaster of emotions could be driving poor crypto behaviour.
Are we ready to be cash-free?
Saying goodbye to our piggy banks too soon could leave small businesses in the dark when problems arise.
