Co-inventor of our key enabling technologies, Ratu founded OpenStar with a singular vision: the levitated dipole will define the future of fusion. His rare blend of physics and economics means he builds companies that win on both sides of the equation.

Thomas co-founded OpenStar out of the Robinson Research Institute with the belief that fusion energy could be built faster and cheaper than anyone thought possible. He built the plasma physics team that proved it, and now leads product development and strategic partnerships as OpenStar moves toward commercial fusion.

The world leader in levitated dipole research, Darren led the LDX at MIT - the most significant source of real-world knowledge on levitated dipoles until now. He joined OpenStar in 2023 after serving as a lead physicist at SPARC, where he co-invented their runaway electron mitigation coil. An exited founder of Cambridge Physics Outlet, Darren holds a PhD from MIT, is the author of over 200 publications, and is a preeminent voice in the fusion community.

A Fellow of the Royal Society New Zealand Te Apārangi, Professor Badcock has over 30 years of applied R&D experience, and is a globally recognised expert in superconducting systems and electric machines. As Chief Engineer (Machines) and Professor at the Robinson Research Institute, he has led pioneering work in high-temperature superconducting dynamos, propulsion systems, and compact fusion applications.

Nicole has built, scaled, and transformed companies from the C-suite for over 15 years. As a chartered accountant (BCA, LLB) turned CEO, she has built and led teams, navigated capital markets and strategic funding, delivering results across technology, manufacturing, and engineering sectors. Her expertise spans business model development and execution, financing, strategic capital allocation, risk management, regulatory compliance and strategic stakeholder management.

A true connector, Ben is able to craft lasting relationships between all areas of the fusion ecosystem - technology, business, government, investment, and the general public. Ben has been with OpenStar since the beginning, building a world-class team and first-rate culture, bridging broad technical expertise into a cohesive company towards a shared vision. He understands what makes people tick, and how to bring them along the fusion journey.